The first modern jewish school in Warsaw

91 years ago on the 19th of February 1928 the Institute for Judaic Studies was opened in Warsaw. It was “the first Jewish school in Europe with a scientific curriculum including not only theological subjects but also secular Judaic studies.”

At first the Institute did not have a permanent location and classes were held in rented rooms. The breakthrough came in 1936 when the Great Synagogue Committee assigned the Institute lecture halls, workshops and offices in the newly built building of the Central Judaic Library, free of charge. This also expanded the scientific resources of the Institute since its students now had access not only to the Institute’s but also to the Great Synagogue’s library. Currently the same building houses the Jewish Historical Institute.