How to strengthen Polish/Jewish dialogue during the lockdown? For Forum for Dialogue, an organization that for more than 20 years has been fostering people-to-people connections, the global pandemic of COVID-19 posed a significant challenge to both regular operations and continuing its mission. To further cultivate relations with a growing community of Forum’s supporters from Poland and abroad, we sought new ways of communication in lieu of the currently impossible in-person meetings, study visits, and other international exchange initiatives.
As early as April 2020, we introduced the Zoom in on the Forum series of online talks in Polish and English as an immediate response to the lockdown. These virtual thematic sessions are addressed to Forum’s program participants, Polish and foreign friends and allies, as well as people interested in Forum’s work. In the past year, Forum held 50 Zoom meetings with a combined audience of almost 600 people on topics ranging from building connections with the descendants of Polish Jews through the expertise of the Leaders of Dialogue to socio-political issues of contemporary Poland.
In addition to individual Zoom meetings, Forum held two series of four weekly sessions. The first entitled “How is Poland Important to Jews?” featured Kamil Kijek and Konstanty Gebert who shed light on complexities of Jewish life in prewar and modern Poland and how they resonate with identity issues to this day.
Though in the beginning, when I and my husband first learned about the Forum, my attitude was ‘what for, what does it matter, it’s water under the bridge’, an attitude I had also about Jewish culture festivals – your seminars changed my mind. The people that lead your programs, the people that use your programs – where did you find these diamonds?
Ilana Braun, Friend of the Forum, New York, USA
“Teaching about Jewish History in Poland” was the topic of the second series dedicated to challenges, methods, and rewards of introducing young Poles to the historical, cultural, and social knowledge of the Jewish past of their country. Through meetings with Forum staff, educators, and collaborators, the audience had a chance to better understand the idea behind the School of Dialogue program. They also learned about the challenges and gratifications of working with youth, as expressed by Mirosław Skrzypczyk, Leader of Dialogue and teacher, invited to share his experience.
Forum’s series … was marvelous, informative, and thought-provoking. I really appreciated the deep dive into the issues at the heart of the Forum’s work … The depth of experience, knowledge, and commitment that the speakers (and the audience) demonstrated was more than impressive: it was deeply moving and emotionally complex.
Glenn Kurtz, author of Three Minutes in Poland, New York, USA
The Zoom in on the Forum program had a significant impact on enhancing lasting relations with the descendants of Polish Jews who in the past 20 years had sought to connect with local communities of Polish towns. The Zoom series was hence a great opportunity to present stories of successful reconnections to Poland by descendants of Jews from Siedlce, Gródek, Nasielsk, and Radom.
Virtual meetings are also a meaningful way to cultivate connections with Forum’s friends and allies from all over the world. In 2020, we could count on Polish and American Friends of the Forum, who embraced our work by devoting their time, enthusiasm, and resources to ensuring that we continue realizing the mission we all believe in. To honor connections Forum for Dialogue developed over the years, we released a short video capturing the story of Sara Minash and her mother, Ester, who reestablished their ties to Poland thanks to the School of Dialogue students from Krzepice and Brzeziny. Forum would not be where it is today without the support and faith of our friends and allies, and we are incredibly grateful for this international community of open-minded courageous people.
I believe that … the work of the Forum for Dialogue … is sacred and amazing, because it shows that no matter what there are always people of good will who believe in what they do and remain faithful to their values. They continue, even in adverse circumstances. That is why I am always happy to join the Forum to debate, to share experience, to pose questions, and to give answers. Because it really comforts me that there are still people for whom it is important.
Daniel Wolniewicz-Slomka, researcher of collective memory in Israel, guest speaker of the Zoom in on the Forum series
The online platform enabled the Forum to build new connections even when face-to-face encounters were not possible. As a result, in 2020 we have been honored to share our mission and achievements with various international audiences who would never have heard about the Forum otherwise. Thanks to our devoted friends, we were honored to speak at the Summer Teachers Institute 2020, organized by Jewish Museum of Maryland in Baltimore, Partnership2Gether between Milwaukee Jewish Federation and Sovev Kinneret in Israel, and members of the Jewish Heritage Club, Florida. Thanks to the courtesy of Marilyn Harran, our Friend and director of the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education at Chapman University, School of Dialogue alumni from eight Polish schools participated in the Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest dedicated to stories of Survivors. Moreover, Forum was asked to address issues of antisemitism in Polish society today to the participants of the Western States Center masterclass series aimed at Jewish donors and professionals, as well as artists and cultural workers. We were glad to contribute our experience and expertise in facilitating Polish/Jewish relations to various international audiences.
Online and offline, Forum for Dialogue lives by the strength of the connections we have been fostering for over two decades. The unique context of 2020 has allowed us not only to test the ability of the organization to adapt to the new situation, but also showed us new ways of creating and maintaining bonds crucial for successful dialogue.