Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak

Will Wikipedia Withstand the Test of Historical Truth?

By Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak 06/07/2023 Leave a Comment Filed Under: Freighted Legacies

The Rewriting of Holocaust History on the World’s 7th Most Popular Website

For the past few years, a group of Wikipedia editors has been spreading disinformation on the history of the Holocaust. With no obvious ties to any government, they slowly but relentlessly hack away at reason and accuracy to promote ideological zeal, prejudice, and bias. Due to this group’s handiwork, Wikipedia’s coverage of Holocaust history follows a narrative touted by right-wing Polish nationalists. Its articles whitewash the role of Polish society in the Holocaust and bolster stereotypes about Jews, spinning fantastical tales about Jews’ involvement in large-scale crimes against Poles, and wildly inflating the scope of Jewish collaboration with the Nazis.

Healing Tools

By Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak 05/02/2023 2 Comments Filed Under: Responding to the Ukraine Refugee Crisis, Ukraine Relief

Educational Book Fosters Parental Emotional Support to Traumatized Young Children

Dr. Claudia Kohner is contributing to building a response to the trauma that Ukrainian children and their mothers and grandmothers are coping with in Poland. Her approach may help adults in understanding the feelings of preverbal children.[…]

Zoe and Audrey’s Time in Gdansk

By Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak 05/01/2023 Leave a Comment Filed Under: Congregational Happenings, Visiting Poland

Beit Trojmiasto welcomed two rabbinic students from Hebrew Union College, Audrey Honig and Zoe Dressner-Wollberg, for Passover 2023. They spent several days with the community preparing Seders and leading them with our community. We thank Karina from the Joint Distribution Committee and Dominika Zakrzewska’s connection to Hebrew Union College and look forward to future learning opportunities.

The Passing of Professor Paweł Śpiewak

By Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak 04/04/2023 Leave a Comment Filed Under: Lifecycle Events

Professor Paweł Śpiewak passed on March 30. The funeral was held in Warsaw on April 2. We extend sincere condolences to his wife, Hania Gawronska-Spiewak, and his children and grandchildren. Hania Gawronska-Spiewak is the new chair of Beit Polska and Beit Warszawa. While closely tending her husband, during his illness she continued in her leadership […]