by Staś Kmieć
September issue of The Polish American Journal
September issue of The Polish American Journal
Poland,
throughout most of the country’s thousand-year history has remained a vague
concept geographically and ethnographically.
The history of the Jews in Poland dates back over a millennium. For
centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community
in the world. It was the center of
Jewish culture thanks to a long period of statutory religious tolerance and
social autonomy.
From the
founding of the Kingdom of Poland in 1025 through to the early years of the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created in 1569, Poland was the most tolerant
country in Europe. As a shelter for
persecuted and expelled European Jewish communities and the home to the world's
largest Jewish community of the time, it was known as paradisus Iudaeorum (Latin for "Paradise for the
Jews"). According to some sources, about
three-quarters of all Jews lived in Poland by the middle of the 16th century.
The first Jews arrived in the
territory in the 10th century by travelling along the trade routes leading
eastwards to Kiev. Jewish merchants
(Radhanites) crossed the areas of the Śląsk region (Silesia). Jewish exiles arrived
in the
eleventh-century from Spain and Prague. For centuries they converged on Poland from
all over Europe, fleeing political or economic persecution in their home
countries. Many came, not as a result of
external threats, but were drawn by the opportunities in the most tolerant
country of the continent.
As transliterated into Hebrew, names for
Poland were interpreted as "good omens: “Polin” (etymologically “po”
meaning “here” and “in” meaning “peace” or “rest”); “Polania” (“po” = “here,” “lan”
= "dwells,” “ya” = "God”).
This feeling of security was derived from
the strict laws of the country and the protection policies of the Polish
rulers. Polish masters needed Jewish
traders and craftsmen and their knowledge of commerce. With these privileges,
they were able to develop their arts of engraving stamps
and coins, and trade.
Acts of Hebrews
(Dzieje Hebrajczyków)
The Acts of Hebrews were
divided into epochs associated with history. Initially, the year commemorated important
historical events of the nation of Israel (from leaving Egypt to Babylonian captivity). Later it
was established that the beginnings of history would start with the most important
date – the creation of the world. According to the Hebrew priests this occurred in 3761, before our
era. Thus the
year 2012-2013 on the Jewish calendar year
is 5773.
The week ended with a day
of rest – the Sabbath (Sabat, Szabas, or Szabat), which begins
at Friday's sunset, and lasts into Saturday
evening. Biblical law forbade all work, travel, and kindling of fire. It also required the kosher standard (ritual purity) of all products, dishes, tableware and
cutlery. Shabbat meals
were prepared the day before.
The observance began with prayer in the synagogue – house of prayer.
On Friday – just before dusk, men in prayer
shawls (tallis) returned home – their families assembled before the Sabbath table. Two Sabbath candles
were lit in the home by the head mother figure "to light up the
house" (“by dom rozświetlić”). The welcoming
song, “Shalom Aleichem”
was sung. Over a chalice
of wine, the prayer blessing - Kiddush was recited
by the oldest man in the household; a gala supper followed.
With the Havdalah (“separation” from Hebrew)
ceremony, the Sabbath ended. Fragrant roots were burned in richly decorated silver containers.
Note: Polish synagogues were built
of wood, in a style that was more
harmony with the surrounding architecture than in Hebrew
tradition.
Rosh Hashanah (Rosz Haszana)
Most important in the holiday calendar was the cycle of high holidays – Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. Yom Kippur, and the seven-day feast of Sukkot, were once
celebrated after the harvest of crops.
Rosh Hashanah (literally: “the head of the year”) is a holiday that has a deep sense of
Jewish affairs beyond and outside Judaism – whose meaning is universal, as it
concerns all of humanity. Holidays, such as Pesach (Passover, Exodus), or Shavuot (receiving the Torah) refer to the most important events in Jewish history, and only Jews. Rosh Hashanah does not relate directly and specifically with the Jews. It is a festival celebrating the completion of divine creation, and specifically the sixth day on which man was created – a man who was not Jewish, but the “father” of all people.
It is not a commemoration of the creation of the world in a physical sense - galaxies, stars, planets, oceans, animals, but the emergence of a human being. Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the month of Tishri (Tiszrej), begins the next year in the history of the world – the New Year.
Blowing of the shofar (ram's horn, much less from an antelope or gazelle) is the commandment of the Torah; the customary fulfillment of obligation.
Typical,
traditional cuisine for the first evening meal on Rosh Hashanah is dishes which symbolize the hope for a successful,
prosperous new year:
· apples in honey – "Thy
will be done to give us a good, successful year"
· the head of a fish
– "Thy will be done, we went to the head, and not the back"
· pomegranate – "Thy
will be done to ensure that our merits be as numerous as the pomegranate
seeds"
· challah bread plaited in a round shape (chałki) – symbolized a balanced, harmonious life in the new year
· challah formed in the shape of birds – symbolized
prayer which flies like the birds in the sky to God
· challah traditionally
dipped in honey
· honey cake (lekach)
In Poland, the ritual of tashlikh is performed on the afternoon
of the first day of Rosh Hashanah.
Prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one's sins are symbolically
cast into the water. The custom to throw
bread or pebbles into the water, to symbolize the "casting off" of
sins is also practiced. The service is recited individually and includes the
prayer "Who is like unto you, O God... and You will cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea", and Biblical passages including Isaiah 11:9 –
"They will not injure nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth
shall be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea,” as
well as personal prayers. Though once considered a solemn individual tradition,
it has become an increasingly social ceremony practiced in groups.
“Shana Tova” is the traditional greeting on
Rosh Hashanah, which in Hebrew means "A Good Year."
Yom Kippur (Jom Kipur or Sadny Dzień)
The Day of Atonement
– Yom Kippur is the holiest
and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Crowds collected in synagogues to
pray for the dead, and in the confessional
prayer called Aszamnu, would loudly
profess their faults. Its central themes are atonement and
repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of
fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue
services.
Kapparot (expiations) is a ritual custom that was practiced by some Jews on the eve
of Yom Kippur. In this practice, a
live chicken (rooster for men, hen for women), literally becomes a religious
and sacred vessel in place of man. The
chicken was swung over one's head three times, symbolically transferring one's
sins to the chicken. The chicken was then slaughtered and donated to the poor
for consumption, while the guts were thrown to the birds. It alludes to the ancient
rituals of sacrifice, and was based on the
reconciliation of Isaiah 1:18 in the Hebrew Bible.
This ritual appealed to Kabbalists, who
recommended the selection of a white rooster as a reference to Isaiah 1:18 and
who found other mystic allusions in the prescribed formulas. Consequently, the
practice became generally accepted among the Jews of Eastern Europe.
In the Middle
Ages some rabbis criticized
and strongly opposed this practice as a
pagan custom. They considered
it a non-Jewish ritual that conflicted with the spirit of Judaism, which knows
of no vicarious sacrifice outside of the Temple in Jerusalem. The chicken was replaced with a bundle of coins, which was then given as an offertory
donation to charity or it was simply passed over the head of an individual.
Erica Silverman wrote a children's book, “When
the Chickens Went on Strike,” which is adapted from the short story –
"Kapores" by Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem. The story takes place in
a 19th century Russian village, where the residents are preparing to celebrate
the Jewish holidays.
Sukkot (Kuczkami)
Four plants were connected to the joyful holiday of Sukkot
– the Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths: a palm branch (lulaw), lemons (etrog), three branches
of myrtle and willow twigs,
which once had a symbolic meaning
in prayers concerning rain for the harvest. It is a Biblical holiday which lasts seven
days (eight in the diaspora) and is celebrated on the 15th day of the month.
Huts (sukki) were built as reminiscence of the type of fragile
dwellings in which the Israelites lived during their 40 years of travel in the
desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
Throughout this time the holiday meals are eaten inside these huts, and
many sleep there as well. Each day, a
blessing is recited over the lulav
and etrog. The Feast of Tabernacles ends with the holy joy of the Torah.
In Leviticus, God told Moses to command the
people: "On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees,
branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook"
(Lev. 23:40), and "You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in
Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I
made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of
Egypt" (Lev. 23:42-43).
Simchat Torah
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Marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings,
and the beginning of a new cycle,
Simchat Torah (also Simkhes
Toreh; "rejoicing with/of the Torah,” in
Hebrew) is one of the happiest days in the
Jewish calendar. Over time became an independent ceremony. It shows the dream reading
the Torah (the Pentateuch of Moses)
and respect of the rights of the Bible. After
a festival parade of the Torah scrolls amidst singing and dancing, the last
section of Deuteronomy and the first section of Genesis are read in succession.
In Poland on the 23rd of Tishri, it was the
custom to sell the privilege of executing various functions during the services
on Shabbat and Jewish festivals to the members of the congregation. The synagogue used this occasion as a
fund-raiser. People who made these donations were called up to the Torah and
given a congregational blessing.
***
The Jewish calendar date begins at sundown
of the night beforehand. Thus all observances begin at sundown on the first
secular date listed, and conclude the following day at nightfall.
· Rosh Hashanah begins in the
evening of Sunday, September 16, 2012, and ends in the
evening of Tuesday, September 18, 2012.
· Yom Kippur begins in the
evening of Tuesday, September 25, and ends in the evening
of Wednesday, September 26.
· Sukkot begins in the
evening of Sunday, September 30, and ends in the evening
of Sunday, October 7.
· Simchat Torah begins in the
evening of Monday, October 8, and ends in the evening of Tuesday, October 9.
