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It’s cold winter afternoon. With some of the students we stayed after
school to make some braids out of leather straps. We have three colors – blue,
white and red – the colors of both Polish and Israeli flags. The braids have to be long enough in order to
tie them on the wrists. Then we string the beads with letters that form the
word: Narewka. Very laborious though nice work. We talk, laugh and listen to
music. In this atmosphere we manage to create 90 bracelets – small gifts to awaited
students from Israeli school. Three colors of bracelets symbolize our
Polish-Israeli friendship.
- Miss, when are they exactly coming? I
can’t wait! – asks Kasia
- They will be here on Friday, February 24th.
- Has it already been two years since they were here last time? – Ula is
surprised.
- Yes, two years already. Went fast, huh?
- Oh yeah, very fast!
Yes, the time passes fast. But in this
case it’s on our favor as we, both students and myself, are truly looking forward to another visit of the
befriended students from Adar school in Israel.
Far away school close to the heart
In the city of Petah Tikvah, nearby Tel Aviv, there is a school – private religious high school called Adar with about 120 students attending. The students have their own personalized curriculum and classes are lead in small groups. The school observes the principals of Judaism, for example: boys and girls learn in separate buildings. But the question is: what Adar and Narewka school have in common? It’s the principal of Adar – Tzvika Birenbaum – a Jew with the Polish roots. His father came from Narewka – our little town which before the war consisted of 90 per cent of Jews. Now every two years, Tzvika takes his students for a trip around Poland, mostly to the Holocaust memorial places but also to Narewka. It’s his sentimental trip to the place of his father’s young days. He shows his students the house once belonged to his family, the well they were taking water from and Jewish cemetery located nearby. And they also visit our school. This year it’s their third visit. Each time we await them with great anticipation and a feeling that this place belongs to them as well.
The awaited visit
They came in the morning. Energetically and smiling they entered our school. With Hebrew song “Oseh Shalom” (“He who makes peace”) we welcomed them. Our principal, Maria Lewsza, gave a short welcoming speech. The principal of Adar school also said few words and shortly introduced his family history connected to our town. Also our students, Klaudia and Michał, welcomed our guests. In English they expressed the joy from the meeting and encouraged everyone to get to know each other.
The dancing chain of friendship
The official part of the meeting ended at the moment of exchanging gifts. We gave them our handmade bracelets and they gave us the key rings with Israeli flags and candies with Hebrew words of joy, hope and blessing. It was during that exchange when the first chats begun, first smiles showed up, pictures where taken and first friendships tied up – all this in English, of course. The school hall was filled with hubbub of conversations in three languages – English, Polish and Hebrew. It was a nice view to look at. In moments like that, when the cultural exchange of both countries appears, friendship happens by itself - naturally and spontaneously. It was also very nice to give a hug to the teachers from Adar. The short “Nice to see you again” expressed all the joy we felt while meeting them again. Though, when the song “Happy” by Pharell Williams filled the air, the most unique moment of the whole event happened. All students from both schools were dancing and jiggling all around the hall. It was short but such a joyful celebration.
Narewka – a place for many nations
Right after that, our guest went on to meet Mr Roman Malinowski – the local artist who built a model of no more existing Narewka Synagogue. The Synagogue that was burnt in 1940 has no piture, just one drawing. And this drawing was the inspiration for Mr Malinowski. Our guests were really impressed. From the school we moved to the nearby Jewish cemetery. We silently watched as Adar students were praying and singing over the tombstones of the Jews who had once lived in Narewka. It was very touching and reflective moment. The candles were lit and the little stones were placed on the tombstones in order to express our unity in memory and mourning. Here, by the old Jewish cemetery we had to say goodbye. In the rain drops we said “See you again!”.
The roots of
friendship
The visit of Adar school was short this
year. It left us unsatisfied. We know what it means to spend more time with
those full of live and joy Israeli students and teachers as it has been our
third meeting so far. The time spent together on this day was intense and provided
unforgettable memories but most of all - it touched our hearts and the world
view. Experiences like that open our minds to what’s new, unknown, forgotten
and, as far as history of Jews in Poland is concerned, what is unspoken. This
meeting, as well as the previous ones, fired up our need of closer contact and
deeper friendship. For when the two nations who had once lived on the same land
as brothers, meet again after so many years, there cannot be any other reaction
as to joyfully fall into each other’s arms with tears in the eyes. Our schools
have met for the third time now. And it has also been the third time when I met
with Tzvika this year. The Jewish traditions says: those who meet three times, those
put the roots down together. So in our Polish-Israeli friendship we have put
some roots down now – the roots that had been torn out in the past. And even
though there are different students visiting us every second year, each year we
wait for them as we have known them for ages.
PaulinaWeremiuk
English teacher in Narewka
photographs by Krzysztof Onikijuk
