Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent

@mafketis

Your first paragraph makes sense. Being a secular Jew and very flexible when it comes to religion I don't think I'll have a problem assimilating as long as it depends on my own behaviour. Hell I even eat pork and shrimps every once in a while. I would like to celebrate my Jewish holidays kinda in my house - but I don't expect anyone to help me with it of course, its just for myself as a tradition.

As for changing my name is rather avoid it - the bureaucracy is not tempting and I don't think my parents would like KT if I changed the name they gave me, its kinda like an insult or a sign of disapproval.

I can, however, adopt an unofficial Polonization to my name just to make it easier for fellow Poles to communicate with me, can't I? I'm not sure about the translation of my name though, if you would be so kind to help me with it I could PM you my thoughts on the practical side of the issue ;)

Thank you for your answers of course!

What's your name, or what is its meaning?

It translates as "Glory", which I believe corresponds to the common -sław suffix or sława in general?

what's your original name? it might sound pronounceable enough to Polish ears as it is. or, if you are male, you could call yourself "Sławek" which is a form of Sławomir (to keep with the Glory meaning). the female name "Sława" also exists (see Sława Przybylska) but is almost never used, so you would stick out if you used it.

Yes. There are many names with this suffixes. And one main question, you're male or female?

I wanted to mention Sławomir either :) It means "Sławo-" (glory) and "-mir" (peace). However, there are also many names with suffix "-sław", there are some options. For example, Mirosław means the same as Sławomir.

I am a male. Sławomir sounds good, I wonder if there's a pure translation for Glory? :p

There is old-Polish name "Sławosław" that consists of same root and suffix. But I never met anyone with this name.
There is also "Stanisław", quite popular and means "to become glorious" or "to gain glory". Something like that.

These are of Slavic origin. I need to think also about Roman, Greek, Hebrew and Germanic. Give me a moment ;)

Frankly does the guy have to change his name to fit in?? Sounds a bit harsh.

I wonder if Stanisław would be more accurate than Sławomir or Mirosław for my purpose :P

My name basically means that I have Glory, am glorious or "full of glory" so to speak haha.

The prefixes are very tricky and obviously Bronisław is different than Rościsław. I like it though :D

Of Germanic origin there are 2 I have in mind, and quite common:

1) Eryk (Scandinavian) - it means a person who has "much of honor/glory".
2) Waldemar - a person who is "famous/glorious due to his reign".

Of Latin origin I know only 1 which is quite common:

1) Wiktor - means glorious, victorious.

I don't know of Greek origin, and of Hebrew origin I think every single name refer to Jahwe.

Maruspial, finding fitting name in different languages may be simply a curiousity, not obligatory.

@Marsupial

Don't worry,, its not like I'm going to change my name tomorrow of course ;) I just find it all very interesting because I'm into linguistics and such :P

No, unless his name is "Hadar" - then he probably wouldn't have an easy life with fans of "Game of Thrones" lol

Zabawka, you could introduce yourself with your original name and when you make friends use "Sławek" as your nickname, for example. But, seriously, you could use your original name, like Omenaa Mensah, for example - I don't think it makes her any less Polish...


(Or he's our regular PF troll :))

Actually Wiktor sounds like a great "replacement" if you ever need one :-) though frankly - I don't think it will be necessary. I would keep my original name to be honest!

Yeah your original name zabawka, play with me!

Thank you all :)

I am not going to change my name anytime soon xD it was interesting and curious to discuss the whole names part though, and I might just end up using a Polish nickname like Sławek one day. :)

Thanks for all of the suggestions again :D

I didn't mean formally and legally, just finding a similar Polish name for informal everyday use, as in "call me Jerzy (instead of Giorgio or Jorge)" or "My name Blasfork but you can call me Bolek".

I pronounce my last name differently in Polish and English (though the written form is the same) just because it makes things easier.

@mafketis

You are correct, its like my friend whose name was Eitan in Hebrew and in English he used it as Ethan. :)

My name is zabawka and I vibrate when you press here....you got it made.

Look at this thread: merged



Looks kind of familiar, doesn't it?

And as f_stop wrote also in that thread:


It didn't end at "a very predictable place" this time, but it still looks fishy to me.

In either case, stay in Israel; and certainly make sure that you vote in the elections. You have the opportunity of having been born a sabra. There are Jews like me who have not even had the choice about whether or not we make aliyah. Besides, you will be doing exactly what Agudat Yisra'el wants you to do if you leave Israel to live anywhere else; and they are keeping enough of us in the Diaspora as is the case.

Some people prefer that - it's their life. A friend in PL who's recently joined the Gmina Zydowska went to visit, said it was interesting enough but wouldnt want to live there and takes his holidays in Egypt. He's Polish through and through.

It sounds like he's a ger (gentile convert), though, not a Yehudi yalid (Jew by birth).

[moved from]


I don't think that it is the case. I was born and educated in Krakow and unfortunately I don't live there now but we have Jewish culture festival in Krakow, there is small Jewish community which is settled very well , Kazimierz has changed from rundown area to pleasant ,booming district....In general I was brought up in quite positive attitude to Jewish culture but since I emigrated my feeling cooled down. I think there is quite strong anti polish feeling among some Jews in America which is quite sad.

Fine, Iwonka! Kraków, Warszawa, Wrocław or Poznań etc. are NOT the countryside!! A black might well be considered "exotic" there, whereas a Jew might indeed have cause to be fearful, perhaps not as during the War years (or immediately thereafter aka Kielce, Jedwabne..), but instead run the risk of having their car tires slashed etc...

The latter I have on good authority from Polish Jews returning to their parents' villages during the late '80's, early '90's, and being identifiably Jewish, had less than positive experiences:-)

"The latter I have on good authority" That is not good enough take it first hand from someone who lives here , see below.

We have bus loads of Jewish people in Silesia wombling round looking at the places where their family once lived, I have never seen or read about any trouble for Jews here , the local businesses are more than happy to have Jewish visitors, It is a nonsense to think that modern Poland is anti semitic, most poles under the age of sixty have never has a chance to know Jewish people let alone draw negative conclusions.

Were the busloads of Jewish visitors on an escorted or private excursion, then I believe you. Apart from that, I've heard both from gentile Poles as well as Jews from Poland that outwardly "Jewish" symbolism aka wearing a kipa outdoors, being seen in a schreimel and paeis in public (once again, as Iwonka noted, save for Kraków or the capital) while traveling through Polish villages might well yield stares, occasional cat calls or unwanted comment!

I think that as dolnaslask said it is different generation.I think lots of older people could have not so good memories about Jews action too ( joining UB special services in 50 -ies which tormented and broke lots people.)

To be sure, when I was in Szczecin, round about 1995 or so, while I felt ZERO anti-Jewish feeling, I'm tall, light-eyed and spoke more or less comprehensible Polish, thus, was not identified as Jewish, merely as foreign (possibly GermanLOL).

This makes a tremendous difference, in my opinion:-)

Remember- life in little villages is dull like dishwater water so looking at someone who is different is quite a bit entertainment.:-) they would look at anyone different.

Couldn't agree more, Iwonko! As here in the States, the more conservative the environment, the more primitive the inhabitants:-)