Jewish Poland Revisited: Heritage Tourism in Unquiet Places

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Indiana University Press, Jul 19, 2013 - History - 296 pages
National Jewish Book Award Finalist: “A fresh and delightful portrait of Jewish renewal in Poland . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice

Since the end of Communism, Jews from around the world have visited Poland to tour Holocaust-related sites. A few venture further, seeking to learn about their own Polish roots and connect with contemporary Poles. For their part, a growing number of Poles are fascinated by all things Jewish.

In this book, Erica T. Lehrer explores the intersection of Polish and Jewish memory projects in the historically Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz in Krakow. Her own journey becomes part of the story as she demonstrates that Jews and Poles use spaces, institutions, interpersonal exchanges, and cultural representations to make sense of their historical inheritances.
 

Contents

Poles and Jews Significant Others
1
History Mythology Authenticity
25
Mass Jewish Holocaust Pilgrimage
54
Scratching the Heart
91
Polish Stewards of Jewish Spaces
123
5 Traveling Tschotschkes and PostJewish Culture
159
Expanding the Collective Self
176
Toward a PolishJewish Milieu de Mémoire
197
Notes
217
References
243
Index
263
About the Author
277
Copyright

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About the author (2013)

Erica T. Lehrer is Associate Professor of History and Anthropology and Canada Research Chair in Post-Conflict Memory, Ethnography, and Museology at Concordia University, where she founded and directs the Centre for Ethnographic Research and Exhibition in the Aftermath of Violence.

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