Polish communities

Jews have been living in Poland for over 1000 years. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth century, the Jewish community flourished and enjoyed a certain amount of autonomy in Poland. Following the Polish partition of 1795, many Jews were subject to anti-Semitism, pogroms, and poverty. Despite this persecution, Poland remained an important centre of both Jewish religious learning, and was the birthplace of many influential Jews in politics, law, science, literature, and economics. Many of the leading Zionist leaders first joined the Zionist movement in Poland. By the onset of World War II, over three million Jews were living in Poland; by the end of the war, about eighty-five percent of the community had been murdered. Learn more about the long and complex history of the Jewish community of Poland through photographs, articles and historical artifacts. This resource pack was made in collaboration with Centropa​​