ABOUT HILLEL

Mission. Hillel Poland

 

Hillel Poland is building a vibrant, open, and inclusive Jewish community where young Jews in Poland can discover, strengthen, and celebrate their identity. Hillel Poland supports these individuals on their journey of self-discovery through education and a joyful, supportive community.

 

Vision. Hillel Poland

 

Hillel Polska envisions an engaged and vibrant community of young Jews who proudly celebrate their identity, actively participate in Jewish life, draw inspiration from shared values, and work together to strengthen the future of Jews in Poland and beyond.

To create it, we must engage young Jews in Jewish life now, at a time when their identity is being formed, engaging them through shared, inspiring Jewish experiences.

 

Basic information about Hillel Polska

 

Many Polish Jews who survived the war abandoned their Jewish identity to protect themselves from further persecution. They hid who they were and what they had experienced from their families and friends. This has led to the third generation of Jews in Poland—now entering adulthood—learning about their roots and family history as teenagers or young adults.

 

As unbelievable as it sounds, this is the experience of nearly 60-70% of the people we work with at Hillel Poland. Intergenerational trauma has left them feeling inadequate and disconnected from their own identity for years.

At Hillel Polska, we help young people recover parts of their lost heritage so that they can rebuild their full identity and sense of belonging.

 

Hillel Poland creates and strengthens a community of active, engaged, and curious young Jewish leaders in Poland who, inspired by Jewish values, can face the challenges of tomorrow. Our organization serves as the Jewish home they never had in childhood and provides a springboard for Jewish life.

 

We focus on addressing the effects of decades of hidden trauma and lost opportunities to learn and live a Jewish life. We help make the journey toward a new identity less overwhelming and transform it into a pleasant and joyful journey of learning and rediscovery in a supportive, open, and caring community.

 

Since 2022, Hillel Poland has also become a home for young Jews from Ukraine who have left their homeland and found a new community and family in us. We support them in discovering their identity, but more importantly, in regaining a sense of security and stability in their new home after fleeing a war-torn country.

At Hillel Polska, we create an open space for everyone who wants to discover their Jewish identity, regardless of their country of origin.