"To Bring Memory Back" edition 2006-2007

ŁÓDŹ - Hufiec Łódź - Widzew

Who are we

Polish Scouts of Łódź-Widzew

Why we do this project

Gone now are those little towns where the shoemaker was a poet,
The watchmaker a philosopher, the barber a troubadour


Gone now are those little towns where the wind joined
Biblical songs with Polish tunes and Slavic rue
Where old Jews in orchards in the shade cherry trees
Lamented for the holy walls of Jerusalem.


Gone now are those little towns, they went away by shadow
And the shadow will fall between our words
Until will come closer brotherly and will join again
The two nations fed by centuries of suffering




Antoni Slonimski

 Every third inhabitant of the prewar Lodz was Jewish. Jewish culture and art were flourishing in our city. The Jewish nation gave birth to many illustrious people who became famous not only in Poland, but also throughout the world. The Jews from Lodz were dedicating themselves to many political and cultural activities, becoming and inseparable part of the city’s life.

The Word War Two brought the Holocaust and stirred up the already existing anti-Semitism, forever changing the face of our city. Jewish population practically disappeared from the streets, the synagogues became deserted… It is up to us now to decide if the work and history of Lodz Jews will be forgotten or will become an important element for us, young inhabitants of Lodz. It is our duty to remind and to prove the fact that Lodz was not always ethnically and culturally homogenous, that our city was an extremely interesting mosaic of cultures. Is our job to bring the memory back.  

What we do in the project

Discover the mulricultural history of our town, with a special regard for the role the Jews played in it, explore the past and present of Jewish nation, take care of the places of remembrance in Łodź and its surroundings, meetings, discussions, photo expositions, happenings. 


- a visit to a Jewish cemetery in Lodz;

- "Meeting the Jewish Culture" – workshops for kids;

- Brownie Scouts meeting: "Jew? Who’s that?"

- a visit to a Jewish Community in Lodz;

- inquiry among the students of High School „How do we perceive the Jews”?