The Jewish Historical Institute focuses entirely on the study of the history and culture of Polish Jews. It is the largest depository of Jewish-related archival documents, books, journals, ritual and art objects.
The preservation of collections that document ten centuries of Jewish experience in Poland allows for research and education to be carried on. We believe that education makes people aware of the history that Poles and Jews shared and helps to overcome stereotypes.
Polish Parliament decided that year 2012 is dedicated to Janusz Korczak, Polish-Jewish writer, thinker and the great leader in the fight for children's rights and innovative pedagogics. On January 5, 2012, the Janusz Korczak Year has been officially inaugurated at the Jewish Historical Institute by its director, Professor Pawel Spiewak. The Ombudsman for Children in Poland, Marek Michalak, said: "I am so happy that the act on the Janusz Korczak Year has been passed on by the Parliament so unanimously. It means Janusz Korczak and his ideas continue to unite people of various ideological perspectives. It is no accident that we are starting here. Good luck!"
Professor Paweł Śpiewak has been nominated the director of the Jewish Historical Institute by Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of culture and national heritage. The ceremony took place on October 3rd, 2011, in Warsaw, at ZIH.
We kindly inform all visitors that the Painting Gallery at ZIH has been closed due to the preparations for a new special exhibition.
We wish you a Good and Sweet New Year 5772, Shanah Tovah!
Due to the holiday, ZIH will be closed to visitors on Thursday, Sept.29th.
We are appalled by the murders at the Jewish school in Toulouse. Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the victims.
France and the entire Jewish world is grieving. All of us have been painfully struck by this attack, another anti-Semitic assault.
We pray for the victims of the attack. Our thoughts are with them. We are saying “no” to hatred and violence.
Poland’s 1996 Nobel Prize-winning poet Wislawa Szymborska has died at her apartment in Krakow. She was 88. The death of the great poet brings to our mind her 1957 poem about the Shoah.
Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw is in the group of twelve organizations taking part in the major European project Judaica Europeana. ZIH joined eleven institutes and organizations from London, Frankfurt, Athens, Bologna, Paris and Rome to digitize the cultural treasures of European and render them accessible to the public.
The Jewish History Quarterly, a journal published by the Jewish Historical Institute, has been included in the Master Journal List as the only Polish historical journal beside Acta Poloniae Historica. Master Journal List is the major index of key scientific journals in the world. It is edited and updated by the Institute for Scientific Information.
