Bericht über Das Liberale Judentum in Westpolen und den angrenzenden Ländern

Poland with 3 million Jewish citizens is the largest Jewish community in Europe. However, they are not unified or heterogenous and shaped by the history of having been part of different countries and cultures in the past. On the one hand there are Russian influenced Hassidim or Atheists or a slightly different version in the form of the Galician Jew, whereas Jews in Western Poland are a comparative minority (10% - 30,000). They have been exposed to Western influences and are more liberal. The Eastern brethren are either religious and not political (Hassidic) and loyal to the government, or atheists but politically active (Bundists). Zionism is opposed by the Aguda. Many Jews of West Poland had to leave because they were persecuted twice, as Jews and as Germans. Remaining reform minded communities like in Myskowitz were voted out of their synagogues by immigrants from Galicia and congress Poland.