Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow - Interview with Robert Gadek, Deputy Director

The New York Jewish Travel Guide had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Robert Gadek, Deputy Director of the 27th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, about the world’s largest celebration of Jewish culture.

NYJTG: Thank you, Robert, for taking the time to see me. I’m very excited to be here for the first time in Krakow and to attend the 27th Jewish Cultural Festival. Can you tell us about your background and what a Deputy Director does?

Robert Gadek: I joined the Jewish Culture Festival in 2005, which was about 12 years ago, as my second job. My first role was as Director of the Center for Jewish Culture here in Krakow. At the festival, my responsibilities primarily involved promotional tasks such as public relations, fundraising, and various aspects of production. Additionally, I handled media relations and responses as part of my job description.

NYJTG: How would you compare this year’s program to last year’s? Have there been any significant changes or additions?

Robert Gadek: In essence, the festival’s structure has remained consistent over the past several years. It comprises a blend of educational and cultural events, spanning a wide spectrum. This includes concerts, mostly held in the Temple Synagogue, as well as the renowned cultural spectacle on the streets, which draws an impressive crowd of around fifteen thousand people. We feature concerts, some D.J. parties, workshops, tours, seminars, lectures, exhibitions, and a myriad of other events designed to pique people’s interest in Jewish culture. Our aim is not only to generate interest but also to provide an opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in and gain a deeper understanding of Jewish culture. This aspect is particularly vital from a Polish perspective, especially given the societal challenges we’ve faced in recent years. We view the festival as fostering greater cultural understanding and harmonious coexistence among various cultures and minorities.

Tempel Synagogue in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, New York Jewish Travel Guide

NYJTG: Would it be accurate to say that the festival acts as a bridge of reconciliation between Poles and Jews?

Robert Gadek: Absolutely, but on a more ideological level, it’s about building bridges between Jews and Poles in Poland and beyond. At the heart of it, this was initially about reminding Poles that their history and development were deeply intertwined with Jewish contributions across various aspects, from culture to politics. Unfortunately, there was a period of what some refer to as “programmed amnesia,” where the contributions of Jews were forgotten, perhaps because it was uncomfortable to acknowledge their significant impact.

With Poland’s return to democracy and independence in 1989, people began to explore previously forbidden aspects of history, including Jewish culture. The festival took on the mission of reintroducing Jewish culture to Polish mainstream society and emphasizing that Jews were not confined to ghettos but played a vital role in shaping the country’s development. This was the initial mission.

As Poland has become more educated and resources have become more available, the festival has evolved. We’ve moved from simply reminding people of the Jewish past to presenting contemporary Jewish culture. This sets our festival apart because we don’t focus on the past or reiterate stereotypes; instead, we create a space for encounters with contemporary Jewish life and culture, with the hope of fostering a better attitude toward Jews in Poland.

In more practical terms, the difference between this year’s festival and the previous one lies in the theme. Last year, we explored the diaspora and Sabbath. This year, we are marking the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase the complexity of Jerusalem, which exists not just as one point on a map but in the minds of people, with diverse constructions, understandings, meanings, emotions, and histories. We aim to present this multifaceted Jerusalem through concerts, DJ parties, multilingual activities, lectures, seminars, discussions, exhibitions, and guided tours. We want people to experience the Jerusalem theme at various levels, making it accessible and engaging for a diverse audience.

Our festival caters to a wide range of attendees, including children, youngsters, young professionals, and older individuals, and this year, we’ve introduced a special program for senior citizens. We offer content in different languages and formats so that anyone interested can access, understand, and explore the theme of Jerusalem.

NYJTG: When you mention languages, are you referring to different forms of cultural expression and communication?

Robert Gadek: Yes, precisely. By languages, I mean various forms of cultural expression. We employ a wide range of mediums to convey our message. We utilize multimedia, music, discussions, and literature, among others. If you examine our festival’s program, you’ll notice that we strive to showcase the entire spectrum of the Jewish world. This is something unique about our festival in Krakow. Often, when people hear about Jewish cultural festivals, especially in this region, they associate them solely with classical music or specific traditions. However, our festival embraces both classical and contemporary aspects, including Yiddish and Sephardic influences. Our aim is to demonstrate the incredible diversity within Jewish culture and encourage people to look beyond stereotypes and discover their own experiences, which can lead them closer to the truth.

Farewell to Shabbat during the Melave Malkah ceremony at the Tempel Synagogue in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, Poland on 24 June 2017. The event was a part of the program of the 27th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow. New York Jewish Travel Guide

NYJTG: It seems like there’s something to cater to everyone’s tastes and interests.

Robert Gadek: Indeed, there is a wide range of offerings to suit various tastes and interests, including those outside the Jewish community. In fact, most of our attendees are not Jewish, and for many of them, this festival serves as their first exposure to the rich and diverse world of Jewish culture.

NYJTG: What led to the decision to choose the Kazimierz district of Krakow as the festival’s location?

Robert Gadek: The answer to that is quite straightforward. Jews have been living in the Kazimierz district for centuries. When they were expelled from the old town, they settled in Kazimierz and created a truly unique community. Kazimierz is a mixed neighborhood with both Jewish and Christian inhabitants, but before the Second World War, most of the city’s population was Jewish. However, after the war, the neighborhood was neglected, and the Jewish community was forced to leave. Although people disappeared from Kazimierz, the cultural heritage remained.

When we sought to showcase this Jewish heritage and its significance for Polish culture and society, there was no better place than Kazimierz to host the festival. Krakow is the natural home for this event. Holding the Jewish Culture Festival in the city center square or the main market square would not be authentic; it would lack the genuine atmosphere we aim to provide. Authenticity is one of the core principles of our festival. We strive to present real culture and heritage in their natural environment. We are fully aware that Kazimierz plays a pivotal role in the festival’s success, and it would be challenging to replicate the same experience anywhere else.

NYJTG: It seems the festival has a unique and irreplaceable charm here in Kazimierz.

Robert Gadek: Absolutely. You could technically relocate the same events, such as our concerts, lecture series, workshops, and so on, to a different location, but they would lose their profound significance by not being here in Kazimierz. The festival isn’t just about the individual events; it’s about the atmosphere that surrounds them and the deep-rooted heritage of this place. Without these historical roots, which are intrinsic to our festival, it would simply be an event. Here in Kazimierz, it becomes a genuine celebration of contemporary Jewish life, right in the place where it thrived for centuries and is experiencing a revival, especially within the Jewish community in Krakow.

NYJTG: Could you provide more details about the backgrounds of the artists and performers participating in the festival? Also, how long does the festival last?

Robert Gadek: Certainly. The festival runs for nine days, starting on June 24th and concluding on July 2nd. We have a packed schedule with a total of 212 events, making it a very intensive program. To bring this festival to life, we’ve invited 206 individuals, the majority of whom hail from Israel. So, Israel, Poland, and the United States are the three primary sources of our artists and participants. Additionally, we have contributors from other countries like Germany, Great Britain, and Morocco, but Israeli and U.S. citizens make up the bulk of our artists, presenters, instructors, and lecturers.

NYJTG: How many participants are you expecting for the festival this year compared to last year?

Robert Gadek: For last year, this number of participants is quite on the same level, and it circulates around thirty thousand people. So, the audience is very international, however, majority, we conducted some research a few years ago at the festival and it turned out that almost seventy percent of our audience are Poles and predominately not Jewish and thirty percent comes from Israel, the United States and various European countries and those foreign members of our audience, they are mostly Jewish but still, the majority of the participants are not Jewish.

NYJTG: The festival’s goal is to strengthen cultural connections between the Jewish and Polish communities, and it has notably changed Polish perceptions of Jewish culture. Would it be accurate to say that some individuals have been inspired to embark on journeys of rediscovery, including traveling to Israel, as a result of the festival?

Robert Gadek: Absolutely, indeed. This was especially true in the festival’s early years, as it was inaugurated in 1988. During that time, there were Jewish residents in Poland, including Krakow, but they often led somewhat concealed lives. The experiences of past decades had left them somewhat hesitant and cautious about openly embracing their Jewish identity. They were often treated as outsiders, and society wasn’t entirely ready to fully embrace them.

As a result, for many years, our festival stood as the sole Jewish event in the public sphere. It’s worth noting the interesting fact that many of these Jewish events were actually organized by non-Jews.

NYJTG: It’s fascinating to see how the festival has influenced Polish perceptions of Jewish culture. It seems that some individuals have used this opportunity to reconnect with their Jewish heritage or even travel to Israel. Is this an accurate reflection of the festival’s impact?

Robert Gadek: Absolutely, that’s accurate. When the festival started in 1988, there were Jewish residents in Krakow and Poland, but many of them lived somewhat discreetly, not openly embracing their Jewish identity due to the historical experiences of previous decades. Society wasn’t entirely ready to fully accept them. For a considerable period, our festival was essentially the sole Jewish event in the public sphere.

Concerts in the Tempel Synagogue, Cheder, and Teatr Nowy, as well as Shalom on Szeroka Street,

NYJTG: Would you estimate that around seventy percent of the festival participants and organizers are not Jewish?

Robert Gadek: Yes, that’s correct. Approximately seventy percent of our participants and organizers are not Jewish. We do have some Jewish volunteers and staff members who are Jewish, and they have been with us for many years. For a significant portion of our attendees, the festival serves as their first encounter with Jewish culture and heritage. Many individuals who are now active members of the Jewish community here, including some who serve on the JCC council in Krakow, have shared that they felt a profound connection to their Jewish identity during the festival. It’s because, during the festival, they felt like part of the Jewish community, engaging with Jewish families and visitors from abroad. It’s a gradual process of discovery, both of their heritage and family traditions.

NYJTG:It’s truly remarkable how the festival creates a space for people to explore their roots and participate in seminars, lectures, and various events.

Robert Gadek: Absolutely, and I must emphasize that while the events themselves are significant, what often matters most is the interaction that occurs between people outside of these events. It’s through these interactions that individuals get to know one another and forge connections. Many festival attendees have shared their experiences, even through email, saying that it was the first time they had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with people from Israel, and it helped them form a more nuanced understanding of the country beyond what they may have seen in media reports.

NYJTG: Which of your programs tend to attract the highest attendance? Are seminars, conferences, or cantorial performances particularly popular?

Robert Gadek: Music has truly become the festival’s trademark, and as a result, concerts are the most attended. Most festivalgoers participate in these concerts, in part because the concert hall at the Temple Synagogue is quite large. Other events, like workshops or guided tours, while excellent, have limited participant capacity and tend to sell out quickly.

Surprisingly, lectures have also garnered substantial interest. It’s hard to believe, but during the festival, more than a hundred people gather every two hours to attend lectures. These lectures run from noon to 8 p.m., with a different topic each time, and the lecture hall is consistently filled with attendees, often accommodating a hundred to a hundred and fifty people at a time.

NYJTG: I came across information about “Taxi Link: A Journey Through Jerusalem.” Could you elaborate on the project’s concept and its objectives?

Robert Gadek: Certainly! Taxi Link: A Journey Through Jerusalem is an innovative project within the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow. It’s a unique and immersive experience that takes participants on a virtual journey through the diverse and complex city of Jerusalem. The project uses multimedia and technology to provide an engaging and interactive exploration of the city’s history, culture, and significance.

Participants are placed inside a specially designed taxi, where they embark on a virtual tour of Jerusalem. Through the use of multimedia presentations, including videos, soundscapes, and visual effects, participants get to experience different aspects of the city, its neighborhoods, and its various communities. The project aims to convey the multifaceted nature of Jerusalem, where different cultures, religions, and traditions intersect.

Taxi Link provides a powerful and educational experience, allowing festival attendees to gain a deeper understanding of Jerusalem’s complexity and significance in a highly engaging and interactive manner. It’s an example of how the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow seeks to go beyond traditional events and embrace innovative approaches to cultural exploration.

NYJTG: Robert, I truly appreciate your time and the valuable insights you’ve shared about the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow. Thank you.

Taxi Link: A Journey Through Jerusalem – New York Jewish Travel Guide

For more information, visit:

To plan a trip to Poland, contact the Polish National Tourist Office in North America or go to:

https://www.poland.travel/en and www.krakow.pl

This article and its accompanying photography were generously contributed by Meyer Harroch from the New York Jewish Guide and New York Jewish Travel Guide. The author participated in a press trip sponsored by the Polish National Tourist Office in North America