Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I think that people sometimes read through the line what they want.

As Kartofel said he is not very religious, he speaks polish, he wants to assimilate and he will be still Jews. Is it bad? As his family originates from Poland he has some roots, sentiment. Quite simple for me.

What is the difference to lots of polish living abroad.

I have noticed that the only people who see it as positive are polish.

When I was growing up Kazimierz in Krakow was a ********. Full of drunks. Now it is renovated, with some charm. (Property prices are growing up there madly).I would quite like to have proper jewish district there.

People say that Poland is so homogenous. Maybe we need some of emigration like this. We have clearly much more in common with Jewish than with any arabic/muslim culture.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Maybe so, but Ukraine on the brink of war and totalitarian Belarus....not so good advice.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I think that we should look at it in some context. That is true that German were extremely nasty towards Jews and wanted to exterminate them as a nation but Polish were not treated much better. They clearly as civilian didn't lead nice leisure life ( like English did) .They were also sent to death camps. My dad was telling me like one of his relations was arrested at 'lapanka' in centre of Krakow.Without any reason people were surrounded by German , few big vans arrived ,everyone was put in and taken to death camp. So you could leave your house in the morning and never come back. People lived in permanent terror and threat.

That is why anyone who helped Jewish people to to survive, hiding them ( risking their life and their families) was a hero. But lets be honest- how many brave, heroic people are in each nations? If it was for French, Dutch ,American....Would they help more ???

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I am not sure why all this attack on kartofel just for general questions?
Where does he suggest that Poland was actively involved in holocaust.?

As for Bieganski- Your posts are not objective as you have clearly some grudge against Jews and you support Palestinians.

For me personally ( even I don't live in Poland now) I would much more prefer jewish communities in Poland than from Arabic/muslim ones. And I am entitled to my opinion as anyone.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I don't think that kartofel means about 'talking to tourists' but about settling in Poland and feeling accepted.

I think it comes with time finding job, having new neighbors,friends...Polish seem to be more reserved ( than south nations) for a start but when you make some good friends they can be very loyal and hospitable.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Ha, ha you don't know it yet but it is a local secret - People from Krakow and people from Warsaw - are not always the ' mates' - but in a nice bickering way :-).

Both towns are good choice- Krakow is more artistic, laid back...Warsaw is more of a business town. I am not sure what is your profession if you would be looking for a job. if it is a case you would have more opportunities in Warsaw.

I know what you mean about these body guards - it could be some local hooligans ,even terrorists. Especially as they are usually in big groups. The problem is that it alienates them from local polish community.That is why it creates some animosity. I am not sure what is the solution- maybe organize meeting with some local young people? It is different with you as you have polish roots but lots of these kids know about Poland only what they hear at school,read in a press . Maybe if they organize some meeting with local people they will realize that we are not so bad and probably not so different.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Do you speak fluent polish? if yes- I don't see the problem.

You would be surprised how many similarities we have ( a guess it is part of our history) - I went to Jewish bakery in Paris and it made me smile- cheese-cakes, poppy-seeds, chalka ...all the same like in Poland.I vaguely remember they were even called similar.

I am not sure to which part of Poland you consider to emigrate - I came from Krakow and there is Kazimierz disctrict nicely renovated there Jewish music festiva...In general l would say it is town rather friendly towards jewish culture. But.!...what you mentioned before I remember these group of young people from Israel visiting Auschwitz. I guess they stayed in Krakow hotels . They were with some security guards, I assume as you said they brainwashed them about our hostility.....it doesn't create great atmosphere and you can't blame us for it.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I think that language is always the biggest problem.If you knew language, some history and culture - of course you would be accepted.

And as you say you are not very religious - I think in bigger towns with younger generations religion doesn't take so big part of people's life.

Why wouldn't you be accepted ? In the end of the day does it matter so much where you are from?

Another question- who is accepted on emigration for 100%- ? I have been living in UK for 11 years with all this (daily mail, UKIP...l) anti-polish attitude latey I don't feel overly comfortable to say everyone where I am from.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I have never researched reason for it but it could be few factors like geographical location of Poland and fact that maybe? we were tolerant country with big population of Jews living and working happily in Poland.

I have sometimes impression that the way how it is portrayed all Polish who were killed by Germans don't matter but there is only big importance on Jewish.

I don't really follow this subject but from time to time randomly in USA, UK appears some anti-polish articles written in local press by Jews.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

And I would say that Israel is one of the most anti-polish country in the world.

Conclusion?

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I don't think that anti-semitism is really so strong in Poland. Some half-brained football hooligans writing stupid graffiti ...or brainwashed people listening to Radio Maryja?

It is a bit amusing reading some expats patronizing opinions ....As I am aware it was in USA racial segregation for quite long time, It was in UK that black people were killed with racial reasons but it looks that these countries are very civilized now but we are so backwards :-(

UK, Ireland / Prices of Clothes in Poland and England [35]

England is very good with clothes. I assume the main reason is big competition and cheap labour. Hardly anything is made in UK.

After 11 years in UK I hardly ever buy any clothes in Poland - you have either design, expensive shops or markets where stuff is not great. It think that it is much to do with design- in english clothes ( even cheap from primark) you look more stylish I think it is shape-design. I bought last year silk blouse from Wallis ( Krakow Galeria) after few weeks it just desintegrated. Contrary clothes from UK Wallis are very good quality.

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

I worked in a big bank in Krakow and don't remember people swearing at work. Maybe things changed now or it depends on industry ( in some companies it is ashionable to swear) and maybe as you said 'young' people- it is cocky showing off?

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

I think falki cooked properly are quite nice. but....yes, it is better not to think what they consist of :-)

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


Is it? I didn't know. Where is it ?

I haven't been in Poland for a while. Next year I will have to look but last time
( 1.5 years ago) I didn't see many fat people on the streets and none obese like in UK or USA.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


That is why people are more mobile in Poland and are slim and fit not like in UK or USA: drive to big supermarket - fill car with lots crisps, coca-cola, ready meals, veg or meat in plastic, clinical wraps ...drive home, switch on tv , sit on the sofa and eat,eat,eat....

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [574]

I was born in Krakow and lived there . I moved to England 7 years ago.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


I find it amusing that people from USA, Uk ( countires with top processed, greasy, unhealthy food iand streets full of obese people) criticise polish food.

Ok- people have different tastes and like different food but polish food is at least freshly cooked.

Not baked beans from tins...carrots from tins....potatoes from tins....soups from tins.....

Life / IS CHEATING ON EXAMS OK? (younger Poles don't think so) [30]

I don't think that it is ok- but it is true some polish people cheat on exams.
Someone told me once- if a future doctor cheats on exams how he will treat patiens later properly.....

Life / Why there is always around a horrible smell of sweat in Poland [188]

>>>onion and garlic is quite pedestrian now>>>

French eat lots garlic ( Allo , Allo..) but they don't seem to smell so much-:)

Life / Why there is always around a horrible smell of sweat in Poland [188]

There is some true in it- some people don't have need to wash very often in Poland. I think that they have enough money for water bills, and deodorant they just don't bother.

I rember some old saying - czeste mycie skraca zycie i skora sie wyciera.