Żydzi Wschodniej Polski. Seria IV: Uczeni żydowscy

Abstract

The present volume collects the material of the 4th edition of the International Conference “Jews of Eastern Poland”, inaugurated in 2012 with the conference whose main idea was defined in very general terms as „Culture – Tradition – Writings” (19 June 2012). In 2013, the conference was held under the theme “In the blazes and shadows of history”, while in 2014 it was entitled “The Jewish Woman”. The fourth volume, entitled “Jewish scholars” is a publication of materials from the conference, which took place on June 15-16, 2015. The patron of the conference was Leo Wiener (1862-1939) from Białystok, a pioneer of Slavonic studies in North America. In 1896 he became the first professor of Russian, Polish and Old Church Slavonic languages at Harvard University. Although he did not have any scientific degree, in 1901 he was appointed an assistant professor, and in 1911, he became the first titled professor of Slavonic studies in North America. At Harvard, he worked until 1930. The conference was organized by: Chair in Philological Studies “East – West” of the University of Białystok, Center for the Education of Citizens “Poland – Israel”, Department of Philology of the University of Białystok, Łukasz Górnicki’s Library in Białystok, Galery of Sleńdzińscy and Learned Association “Oikoumene”. It is worth noting that the Centre of Civil Education “Poland – Israel” was the organizer of the 7th Festival of Jewish Culture “Zachor – Colour and Sound” (13-16 June 2015, Białystok), the event that traditionally accompanies the conference. The conference participants could attend all the events of the festival. The conference was held under the auspices of major regional and national institution. The honorary patronage was taken by: The Provincial Governor of Podlaskie Voivodeship, The Speaker of Podlaskie Voivodeship, The President of Białystok, The Dean of Faculty of Philology of the University of Białystok and The Ambassador of Israel in Poland. The field of scholarly research (specified in 2015) included the following: Jewish scholars and scholars of Jewish origin coming from Eastern Poland: fate, biographies, careers; The scientists of Jewish origin from Central and Eastern Europe and their fate in America, Europe and other continents; Literary images of a Jewish scholar; Art and other artistic visions of Jewish scholars; Scribes – reality, metaphor and artistic image; Jewish female scholars from Eastern Europe; The fate of Jewish scholars during the wars and the Holocaust; Historical entanglement and contexts of the work of scholars with Jewish origin; Emigrant scholars of March ‘68 in Israel and around the world; Jewish scholars in Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia; Jewish collectors, art historians from Central and Eastern Europe. The conference discussions lasted for two days and took place at the Faculty of Philology, the University of Białystok.. The opening ceremony took place on June 15, 2015. Participants of the conference were welcomed by: prof. Jaroslaw Ławski, the head of the Chair in Philological Studies “East – West” and Mrs Lucy Lisowska from the Centre of Civil Education “Poland – Israel”. The official opening was performed by prof. Bogusław Nowowiejski, the dean of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Białystok. During the opening, there was also a ceremony of handing the Diploma of “Senior Professor of the University of Białystok” to Professor Halina Krukowska, who also actively participated in the conference. On the first day of the conference, the discussions were held in two parts. The first part included presentations by: Prof. Michał J. Mikoś (Uniwersity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA), Prof. Halina Parafianowicz (University of Białystok), Dr. Ewa Rogalewska (The Institute of National Remembrance, Białystok) and Dr. Grzegorz Czerwiński (University of Białystok). In the second part, papers were presented by: Prof. Jan Ciechowicz (University of Gdańsk), Dr. Nina Taylor-Terlecka (University of Oxford, UK), Prof. Lucyna Aleksandrowicz-Pędich (University of Social Science and Humanities, Warsaw) and MA Anna Piątek (University of Warsaw). On the second day of the conference, the discussions were held in four parts. The first part included presentations by: Dr. Irmina Michalak (University of Łódź), Dr. Jolanta Wróbel-Best (Northwest College / Houston Community College, USA) and Prof. Daniel Kalinowski (Academia Pomeraniensis, Słupsk). The second part: Prof. Andrzej P. Kluczyński (Christian Theological Academy, Warsaw), Prof. Halina Krukowska (University of Białystok), Dr. Monika Szabłowska-Zaremba (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin). The third part:: Prof. Leonarda Dacewicz (University of Białystok), Prof. Kazimierz Trzęsicki (University of Białystok), Ryszard Löw (Tel-Awiw, Israel) and MA Joanna Matyjasek and prof. Jerzy Matyjasek (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin). The fourth part: Dr. Anna Polakowska-Jeziorkowska (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin), Dr. Jan Mikas-Frankowski (University of Gdańsk), Prof. Dariusz K. Sikorski (University of Gdańsk) and MA Sebastian Kochaniec (University of Białystok). The 5th edition of the conference (June 2016) will be dedicated to “Judaism in Central and Eastern Europe”.