Reviving Jewish cultural heritage in Europe and combatting anti-Semitism

A new museum relating the thousand-year-long history of Poland’s Jews was opened in Warsaw to mark the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in Poland. Norway has provided NOK 22 million in funding to the museum through the EEA and Norway Grants.

“The last, desperate attempt to save those remaining in the ghetto will always be a symbol of the ability of people under threat to offer resistance even in the face of a seemingly invincible war machine, such as that of the Nazis. The picture of the Jewish boy with his hands in the air being led out of the ghetto with a group of terrified women is one of the best-known images from the Second World War,” said Mr Eide.

Before the Second World War, Poland was home to the largest population of Jews in the world. There were 3.5 million Jews in Poland before the War. Now they number only a few thousand.

Interest in Poland’s thousand-year-old Jewish heritage has recently gained renewed interest in the country. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which will be opened on the anniversary day, will present the history of Polish Jews – a story of cooperation and tolerance, but one that also contains some very dark chapters. It is a story that is little known in Poland or in the rest of Europe.

The funding from Norway will, among other things, support the museum’s information and awareness-raising activities targeted at young people in and outside Poland. Norwegian centres of expertise on Jewish heritage and anti-Semitism will take part in this project.

“Poland has a unique Jewish heritage that is important not only for Poland but also for the Europe as a whole. I am pleased that Norway is helping to make this history better known through the EEA and Norway Grants,” said Mr Eide.

The museum has been built on the site of the former ghetto, where the uprising started 70 years ago. It is situated next to the monument to the victims of the uprising, in front of which German Chancellor Willy Brandt knelt down on his visit to Warsaw in 1970. The museum will be one of the most important museums of Jewish history and heritage in the world.

Poland is beginning to experience a revitalisation of Jewish culture with more popular festivals, new education programmes and more active synagogues in local communities.

Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Norway has also supported other projects aimed at promoting Jewish heritage, religious tolerance, and the fight against anti-Semitism, as well as the restoration of several synagogues in Poland.

NGO funds in the 15 beneficiary countries of the EEA and Norway Grants focus on human rights, tolerance and anti-discrimination. During the last few years we have registered continued and renewed violations of fundamental rights, including physical and verbal attacks on minority groups, immigrants, and on organisations defending human dignity in Europe. Under the Grants €146 million is set aside to 16 NGO funds being established and launched in 2013. The funds will support projects advocating for vulnerable groups and combatting rising intolerance and hate speech, including anti-Semitism in Europe.

In addition, cultural exchange programmes amounting to €26,1 million in 10 countries will support projects promoting cultural diversity and dialogue and fostering minority culture.

Supported projects

Poland Reviving the memory and raise awareness of Jewish history and culture in Poland. The project is implemented by the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in cooperation with Norwegian partners.

Grants: €3,000,000

Poland

"Yiddish for all". Promoting knowledge about Yiddish language and culture in Poland and Norway.

Grants: €315,000