Jewish culture in the capital

From September 2 to 9, Warsaw will find itself in the Jewish cultural spotlight. The Shalom Foundation is inviting Varsovians to its fourth annual celebration of Jewish culture - the "Warszawa Singera" festival. The event is named after famous Yiddish writer Isaac Singer, who immortalized pre-war Warsaw through his writings.

Throughout the week Plac Grzybowski, ul. Próżna and the Jewish Theater at Pl. Grzybowski will host dozens of performances, concerts, exhibitions and open lectures with prominent guests from around the globe. Visitors will be given a chance to learn some basic Yiddish and Hebrew, prepare a kosher meal or participate in the setting of the new world record in Hasidic dance.

Fans of traditional Jewish music will be in for a treat. The festival will be opened with a concert by the Fifth Avenue Synagogue Cantor Joseph Malovany. Prior to the festival, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (MHZP) will host Mizrach, a two-day celebration of traditional Jewish music. During the concert, which will be held September 1 and 2, Polish jazz and alternative music bands will entertain the crowd with works inspired by traditional Jewish music.

"We invited young and very interesting groups to interpret some traditional songs in order to prove that Jewish music is still alive," says MHZP's Judyta Nekanda-Trepka. She hopes the music's heritage will be rediscovered.

For more information log on to: www.shalom.org.pl

www.jewishmuseum.org.pl