Archive of Previous News Posts

Feb 6
2 min read

Updated: 21 hours ago

August 2025:

Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland was an integral part of the 2025 IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Fort Wayne, Indiana USA. Sponsored in part by FJHP, historian Krzysztof Bielawski, staff member of the Foundation for Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, presented two lectures, including one about his new book “The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland.”

During our FJHP Birds of a Feather meeting, he met meet informally with descendants interested in supporting or preserving their own ancestral Jewish cemeteries. FJHP President Dan Oren is Program Chair for this year’s conference. Along with Dan, Jeri Ann Karlsberg, Krzysztof Bielawski, and Edward Janes were all happy to share their latest insights fresh from their travels in Poland this summer.

February 2025:

Bill Brostoff described the new FJCP "Guidebook for Jewish Cemetery Restoration: Descendant's Guide to Restoring Your Ancestors; Cemetery in Poland" at a joint FJHP-FODŻ webinar on Feburary 18th.

February 2025:

Krzysztof Bielawski presented his newly-translated "The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland" (Academic Studies Press) at an FJHP-FODŻ webinar on February 4th.

January 2025:

On January 5th, we presented our first "Distinguished Service" awards to Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich and Mr. Adam Bartosz, founder and chair of the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Tarnów.

With decades of devoted service to the protection of Jewish heritage in Poland, we recognized

Rabbi Schudrich for his leadership of a Jewish community challenged by the catastrophes of 20th century Jewish life in Poland and for his commitment to the protection of the abandoned and neglected Jewish cemeteries of our ancestors.
Mr. Bartosz for his unparalleled leadership in the preservation and restoration of the Jewish cemetery of Tarnów and in leading care of other Jewish cemeteries in Galicia.
The dedication and kindness of Rabbi Schudrich and Mr. Bartosz.

November 2024:

Led by local teacher Robert Kobylarczyk, working in partnership with descendant Ellen Mains and the Atelier of Skills Foundation and FJHP, dignity has been increasingly brought to the devastated Tuszyn Jewish cemetery by the placement of tons of bark stones in the vicinity of surviving tombstone fragments, an informational signboard, and a boulder displaying the surnames of Jewish families who once resided there.

November 2024:

In Korczyna a few trees have been endangering the Jewish cemetery. FODŻ and the local town have found a volunteer who will cut the trees for free! Thank you to FODŻ, Krzysztof Bielawski, the local volunteer, and all involved in this small but vital act of protecting memory.

Photo credit: Henryk Bielamowicz/Wikimedia Commons.

October 2024:

We are now working with descendant Krzystof Wołek and his father to raise funds to repair the wall and care for the Bytom Jewish cemetery. Please help us protect this cemetery where 1000 tombstones still stand.