History of European and Poland's anti-semitism

She was always at the top of the class and has always been an overachiever, but the elderly prof kept leading her on for ulterior motives -- she wanted to move to Sweden in her old age where her daughter lived and dropped her PhD student after she had secretly made all the arrangements. But no-one holds it against her, she has long been dead and buried -- but she did achieve her goal which we might term her personal "survival strategy".

One must accept that in business, politics and personal life one person's success is often someone else's setback. That also pertains to nations, ethnic groups, religions and other communities. That's life, so it's nothing get paranoid about.

well then she could have made a complaint and worked under a different professor.
or is it just easier to whine about 'the Jews'?

We've all had our experiences. I personally was wronged by a Polish-born PolAm from California who had cheated me out of money refused to return a non-carbon-copied book MS, and once had a suit stolen from my car in Michigan by an old black guy. Is that whining or just reminiscing -- I don't know.

I hope you're not one of those that say Jews can do no wrong.

I just dont see whether or not your wife's supervisor's ancestors possibly herded goats in Beersheva has to do with your wife failing to complete her PhD.

Back to the topic please

I really don't care to discucss on a personal level and made the mistake of introducing some personal experiences. What's the point of belabouring the point? We were discussing issues, namely anti-Semitism.

oh yes Anti Semitism in Poland, not America....
What I found fascinating when I taught classes in Poland, is that there were even any Jewish names left at all on the class regisiter, what with the terrible history of WW!! as well as a later expulsion of Jews.

Yet one name I remember was 'Seder' surely a Jewish name?
I suppose there will always be survivors but surely any left would have departed for Israel?

Many of the survivors were forced out in 1968 sadly, however there are still many thousands of Poles who don't necessarily identify as Jewish but do have Jewish surnames.

But since Poland ditched communism many have been rediscovering their roots. There are now numerous opporunties -- classes in Jewish religon and culture, clubs, a sporing union, etc. bankrolled by generous foundations in teh West. Some parents purposely did not tell their kids of their roots to protect them from anticipated discrimination and abuse. Often the kids end up being more Jewish than their de-Judaeised parents. If interested, chat with Rabbi Schudrich about this.

That's something I am personally familiar because I experienced as a child. Glad you brought it up Polonius3.

Not all Poles who have Jewish roots have chosen to go down that path. Rabbi Schudrich by the way would be happy to tell you how many enquiries he's had compared with those who have actually done something about it. And that's probably the tip of the iceberg. Anti-semitism, especially out in the sticks and/or among the lower classes is so entrenched that many Poles prefer to emphasise a different heritage.

Don't mean to pry, but I would be most itnerested and appreciative if you cared to share some of your impressions of what it was like growing up in PRL.

I should have been clearer, that happened at a different place but for similar reasons. Feel free to write to me and I will be more than happy to share.