The second edition of Polin Meeting Point summer school, organized thanks to the Nissenbaum Family Foundation’s Educational Fund, concluded on 31 July 2016.
This year’s summer school explored issues related to post- World War II reconstruction in Poland and Germany, and the emergence of Israeli statehood and citizenhood. Together with invited experts, from Poland, Germany and Israel, participants discussed a number of major problems: the rebirth of Jewish communities in Poland and Germany, dealing with Holocaust trauma, and postwar violence. They also tried to determine how the history and memory of World War II had influenced reconstituted postwar identities, both individual and collective, in their three countries.
Behind us are two weeks full of lectures, workshops, discussions, study tours and almost daily meetings with timewitnesses. Within the framework of this year’s program participants talked to witnesses of history about their postwar experience related to movement of various kinds (exile, emigration, displacement). Participants were introduced to the basics of oral history: how to prepare and conduct an interview, and how to use oral testimonies in educational, research, artistic and political projects. Their interviews with witnesses of history served as a point of departure for further work on preparing a final presentation about the experience of postwar witnesses of history and of the project participants themselves in talking about the past.
Aline Bludau
Thanks to POLIN Meeting Point we got to spend two weeks in Poland and experienced an exchange which enabled discussions and broadened our fields of interest. The interchange between Polish, Israeli and German culture and history was a rewarding adventure. We have extended our knowledge and gained new perspectives, but most importantly, we made new friends.
Beata Tomczyk
The POLIN Meeting Point program gave me an excellent opportunity to learn something new about postwar history and meet fantastic people interested in history and Polish-Jewish-German relations. I am very grateful that I have had a chance to get to know better Israeli and German historical narrations. Especially Israel’s narration, because in my opinion it is less known in Poland that the German one. Taking part in the project was also a good lesson in critical thinking for me and it has given me a lot of considerations about the Polish point of view of history.
Devra Katz
The POLIN Meeting Point – Summer Education School offered a wonderful platform to meet students from various countries, learn from prestigious scholars, utilize state of the art resources at the POLIN Museum, and explore historic Warsaw. The seminar sparked very interesting discussions and broadened the perspectives of students coming from different backgrounds and national narratives. Furthermore, it fostered relationships, both professional and personal, among the participants and the staff. I learned a great deal during the two week program and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have participated. I strongly encourage students from Germany, Poland, and Israel to apply!
Gilad Shiram
The seminar succeeds in creating a meaningful "Meeting Point" not just by bringing together students from three different countries and creating a dialogue and a unique shared experience, but also by shedding light on previous historical meeting points that greatly influence our lives today. The deep understanding of past events, dilemmas and choices from different perspectives (political, social, cultural, moral and even philosophical) brings history alive and draws a fascinating line between past and present. For me, the seminar was a journey through generations, nations, and my own family history. As someone who has family roots in Poland, specifically in Warsaw, coming here for this experience had an intense and important meaning.
Jonas Philipzen
A seminar like this is important because we all have to come into contact with different nations. A seminar like this, a gathering of nations, gives us a chance to make these contacts. But this is not the only reason, it is also very important that our generation does not forget the horrible tragedy that took place 70 years ago. We have to learn more about this event from the view of other nationalities. We are all accountable to prevent comparable events, especially today in a time where nearly everywhere nationalism, discrimination and war is having a renaissance.
Kinga Górowska
I am really grateful for the chance to take part in POLIN Meeting Point. Thanks to the program I met really creative, broadminded young people from Israel, Germany and Poland. I learnt much more than I had expected from the lectures on the post-war reality. POLIN Meeting Point helped me discover my real interests and academic ambitions. It was a very productive, efficient and above all unforgettable time.
Lara Muller
Especially regarding the current political situation in Europe and the entire world it is crucial to organize seminars like POLIN Meeting Point. Right wing and extremist partys are getting stronger and I perceive in everyday conversations that people tend to have more prejudices than a few years ago. That’s why I think that every international meeting of young people contributes to intercultural understanding and peace. This is even more important for students from countries that have such a connected history full of war and cruelty such as Poland, Germany and Isreal.
Rebecca Weiss
The POLIN Meeting Point-Summer Education School is a great opportunity for students of many different backgrounds who are interested in exploring and learning about Jewish history and memory in Poland, Germany and Israel! In my mind it is great in two ways: first, it gives you a great academic perspective by working with international scholars and second, it gives you a chance to meet many different people to discuss various perspectives on what you learned before.
