Coming of Age in Poland: Jewish Life Stories from the 1930s

What was life like for Jews coming of age in Poland during the interwar years? In the 1930s, scholars at the YIVO Institute set out to study Jewish life in Poland through an innovative approach: holding a series of autobiography contests for Jewish youth. Over 600 Jewish adolescents responded from across the social spectrum: religious and secular, rich and poor, from large cities and small towns. In his talk, “Coming of Age in Poland: Jewish Life Stories from the 1930s, at the Museum of the City of New YorkJeffrey Shandler, Professor and Chair of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University, will explore the insights that these youths’ stories provide into the rich, complex lives of a singular generation. During the program, members of the audience will be invited to read excerpts from several of the autobiographies.

Co-presented with YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in conjunction with Letters to Afar: By Péter Forgács, music by the Klezmatics.











When: Wed., Dec. 3, 2014 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Ave.
212-534-1672
Price: Free for Museum and YIVO members; $12 students/seniors; $16 general public.
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What was life like for Jews coming of age in Poland during the interwar years? In the 1930s, scholars at the YIVO Institute set out to study Jewish life in Poland through an innovative approach: holding a series of autobiography contests for Jewish youth. Over 600 Jewish adolescents responded from across the social spectrum: religious and secular, rich and poor, from large cities and small towns. In his talk, “Coming of Age in Poland: Jewish Life Stories from the 1930s, at the Museum of the City of New YorkJeffrey Shandler, Professor and Chair of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University, will explore the insights that these youths’ stories provide into the rich, complex lives of a singular generation. During the program, members of the audience will be invited to read excerpts from several of the autobiographies.

Co-presented with YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in conjunction with Letters to Afar: By Péter Forgács, music by the Klezmatics.

Buy tickets/get more info now