| Revision as of 23:16, 22 April 2004 edit62.64.166.184 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:24, 22 April 2004 edit undo62.64.166.184 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
| ===In ]=== | ===In ]=== | ||
| * ] (1886-1973) | * ] (1886-1973) | ||
| * ] (1913-1992) | |||
| * ] (b. 1923) | * ] (b. 1923) | ||
Revision as of 23:24, 22 April 2004
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.
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
Religious leaders (rabbis, tzadiks, etc.)
- Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov (ca 1700-1760)
- Jacob Frank (1726-1791)
- Elimelech of Lezhinsk (1717-1786)
- Dovber of Mezeritch (d. 1772)
Soldiers, fighters
- Mordechaj Anielewicz (1919-1943)
- Berek Joselewicz (1764-1809)
Writers, poets
Writing in Polish
- Jan Brzechwa (1900-1966)
- Stanisław Jerzy Lec
- Jan Lechoń (1899-1956)
- Bruno Schulz (1892-1942)
- Antoni Słonimski (1895-1976)
- Natan Tenenbaum (b. 1940)
- Julian Tuwim (1894–1953)
Writing in Yiddish
- Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)
Other artists
- Roman Polański (b. 1933), film director
- Władysław Szpilman (1911-2000), composer
Politicians
In Poland
- Marek Borowski (b. 1946)
- Bronisław Geremek (b. 1932)
In Israel
- David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973)
- Shimon Peres (b. 1923)
Journalists
- Adam Michnik (b. 1946), Gazeta Wyborcza
- Jerzy Urban (b. 1933), Nie
- Dawid Warszawski (Konstanty Gebert)
Business people
- Izrael Poznański (1833-1900), textile tycoon
- Wanda Rapaczyńska (b. 1947), publisher
- Lew Rywin (b. 1945), film producer