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From the Middle Ages until the Holocaust, Jews were a significant part of the Polish population. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, known for its religious tolerance as a "Jewish paradise", attracted numerous Jews who fled persecution from other European countries. By the Second World War Poland had the largest Jewish population in the world (about 3 million), most of whom were then killed by the Nazis. Poland was therefore a major spiritual and cultural center for the Ashkenazi Jewry for many centuries, and many of Europe's famous Jews were born in Poland.

Many Polish Jews contributed to Jewish culture and religious teaching. There were also many who assimilated with Poles and made great contributions to Polish cultural, economic and political life; including Jews who were ardent Polish patriots.

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Religious leaders (rabbis, tzadiks, etc.)

• Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov (ca 1700-1760)
• Dovber of Mezeritch (d. 1772)
• Elimelech of Lezhinsk (1717-1786)
• Jacob Frank (1726-1791)

Soldiers, fighters

• Berek Joselewicz
• Mordechaj Anielewicz (1919-1943)

Writers, poets

Writing in Polish

• Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855)
• Bruno Schulz (1892-1942)
• Julian Tuwim (1894–1953)
• Jerzy Brzechwa
• Stanisław Jerzy Lec
• Jan Lechoń
• Antoni Słonimski

Writing in Yiddish

• Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)

Other artists

• Władysław Szpilman (1911-2000), composer
• Roman Polański (b. 1933), film director

Politicians

In Poland

• Bronisław Geremek

In Israel

• David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973)
• Menachem Begin (1913-1992)

Journalists

• Jerzy Urban, Nie
• Adam Michnik (b. 1946), Gazeta Wyborcza

See also

• History of the Jews in Poland
• List of Jews