POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw

1000 years of Jewish history in Poland

The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Polin, in Warsaw, opened in 2013, is the result of a visionary project aimed at celebrating and commemorating the rich Jewish history in Poland. The name "Polin" means "rest here" in Hebrew, evoking a legend of the arrival of Jews in Polish land. It symbolizes the long presence and significant contribution of the Jewish community in the country. The funding for this ambitious project was jointly provided by the Polish government and the Foundation for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, with financial support from national and international donors. The foundation stone was laid in 2007 by the Polish President Lech Kaczyński.

The Warsaw Polin Museum, inaugurated in 2013, is an iconic architectural work designed by the renowned Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki. The building itself pays tribute to the rich Jewish history in Poland, with modern and innovative architecture that blends elements inspired by Jewish tradition and Polish topography. Mahlamäki's innovative vision for the Polin Museum has been acclaimed by the global architectural community, and the building has won several prestigious awards. Notable distinctions include the Museum of the Year Award from the European Museum Council in 2016 and the European Museum of the Year Award in 2018. These awards highlight the exceptional quality of architectural design and the significant cultural impact the museum has had since its opening.

The architecture of the Polin Museum is not merely aesthetic; it plays an essential role in telling the story of Polish Jewish history. It creates an immersive experience for visitors by establishing a connection between the past and the present, reinforcing the museum's mission to preserve and share the complex narratives of the Jewish community in Poland.

The permanent exhibition at the Warsaw Polin Museum, launched in 2014, is the result of an ambitious project and the enlightened vision of Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a prominent cultural anthropologist and historian. Of Canadian origin, she is also deeply connected to a significant Jewish history. Her father, Mayer Kirshenblatt, was a painter who visually documented Jewish life in Opatów, a small town in Poland, before World War II. This personal connection to Jewish history in Poland undoubtedly influenced her commitment to preserving and presenting this rich history at the Warsaw Polin Museum. As the director of the exhibition program and academic advisor to the museum, Kirshenblatt-Gimblett played a central role in the conceptualization and implementation of this outstanding exhibition, tracing a thousand years of Jewish history in Poland.

The permanent exhibition at the Warsaw Polin Museum, spanning 4000 square meters across eight galleries, offers an in-depth exploration of a thousand years of Jewish history in Poland. Each of these galleries is meticulously designed to guide visitors through the ages, capturing key moments in Jewish life in Poland, from the early medieval communities to the post-war period.

The first gallery begins with the arrival of Jews in Poland in the Middle Ages, providing an overview of the early communities and their contribution to Polish society. Subsequent galleries explore periods of cultural flourishing as well as challenges faced, including tumultuous periods such as the pogroms, notably those in the mid-17th century in Ukrainian lands, as well as the development of Jewish communities, the emergence of Hasidism, the rise of Haskala, and the cultural and scientific contributions of Jews during the industrial revolution. At the heart of this remarkable exhibition is an extraordinary reconstruction of the majestic dome of the wooden Gwoździec synagogue, dating back to the 18th century. This reconstruction is presented in a dedicated gallery, highlighting the artistic and cultural significance of these places of worship. Interactive and multimedia galleries along the journey offer visitors a dynamic experience. Carefully selected works of art, historical documents, and personal testimonies are presented to tell a nuanced story of Jewish life in Poland. These sequentially numbered galleries provide a comprehensive immersion into various facets of the culture, religion, and intellectual contributions of Polish Jews over the centuries.

Bookend Orthodox Jew presented at the POLIN museum gift store in Warsaw

The Polin Museum is also a dynamic venue that hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, and debates in its auditorium. This versatility reflects the museum's ongoing commitment to offering a complete and diverse cultural experience.

The planning of temporary exhibitions at the Polin Museum is meticulously done to present specific aspects of Polish Jewish history, explore contemporary themes, or showcase contemporary artists. These temporary exhibitions allow the museum to remain dynamic and current, attracting a diverse audience throughout the year. The diversity of topics covered reflects the constantly evolving understanding and interpretation of Jewish history.

The museum's auditorium is a versatile space that hosts concerts and debates. Concerts showcase the richness of Jewish music and classical or contemporary Jewish composers and are an integral part of the museum's programming, creating a lively space where visitors can engage further with Jewish culture. This holistic approach reinforces the role of the Polin Museum as a cultural, educational, and community meeting place.

The Warsaw Polin Museum is more than just a place for preserving Jewish history in Poland; it is a living testimony to the past cultural diversity of the country, annihilated by Nazi ideology, and the need to preserve and share complex historical narratives for future generations. Its innovative architecture and captivating exhibition make the Polin Museum a must-visit for history and culture enthusiasts in the Polish capital.

The museum was erected in the Muranów district on the foundations of the former Crown Artillery Barracks built during the second half of the 18th century and later transformed into a military prison during the Russian occupation in the following century. During World War II, the building housed the Judenrat of the Warsaw Ghetto after the liquidation of the small ghetto in July 1942. It is located across from the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes erected in 1948, at 6 Mordechaj Anielewicz Street (formerly Gęsia Street), named after the former commander of the Jewish Combat Organization during the ghetto uprising of April-May 1943.

Judaica themed decorations

Bookend Chasidic Jew presented at the POLIN museum gift store in Warsaw

We began our cooperation with the museum store as soon as it opened in 2013 with a first collection of wall decorations on the themes of the Star of David and the menorah. A pair of Judaica bookends was created back in 2014 with a first version of our Orthodox and Hasidic Jew model. Given the very positive reception of these models, we developed a second pair of Klezmer bookends on the theme of Central European Jewish music, featuring two musicians, a violinist and a clarinetist. Also designed for Warsaw's National Museum, another bookend model entitled The Jewess with Oranges is presented, inspired by a famous painting by Polish painter Aleksander Gierymski in 1881. We've also created beautiful laser-cut cards on quality cardboard on the theme of Jewish Life, with shabbat, klezmer and shtetl designs, which can then be put under glass for personalized interior decoration.

Judaica wall ornaments - Design Jacques Lahitte - © Tolonensis Creation

Judaica Jewish Life theme cards - Design Jacques Lahitte - © Tolonensis Creation