create a park of remembrance and reflection on the site in collaboration with the people of Oswiecim. The project was initiated by our institution and implemented through a fundraising effort involving local residents and entrepreneurs, public institutions, and descendants of Oświęcim's Jews. Created less than four years ago, the park is not only a much-loved leisure space for locals and tourists but also a unique educational site. It is increasingly frequented by groups visiting Oświęcim and the Auschwitz Memorial.
Another unique project is currently underway. It is being created on a site whose history is also uniquely linked to the II World War. It is a Jewish cemetery that was destroyed during the war and, in recent decades, has also been cared for by the Jewish Museum.
During the war, a labour camp operated in the area. The cemetery currently contains post-German bunkers and parts of the wartime fence. During the German occupation of the city, the matzevot located there were destroyed and used as building material for pavements, streets and cobbling the banks of the Soła river. In the subsequent decades, however, they were discovered, and in recent years, the inhabitants of Oświęcim and the surrounding area have brought them to us. Given their dilapidated condition, erecting them like the other matzevot was unfeasible. For this reason, we are creating a 'Bunker of Remembrance' - as we have named our project - on one of the concrete bunkers mentioned earlier. The fragments of the matzevot found are mounted on a concrete bunker. Its intention is two-fold: to commemorate and symbolically dominate the object that the Nazis built on the site of the cemetery. We want to finalise the project on 17 September. This is when the cemetery will be open for guided tours as part of the European Jewish Heritage Days. I cordially encourage the public to take advantage of this opportunity.
A visit to the Jewish cemetery, Jewish Museum, and synagogue is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Auschwitz Memorial. We depict the rich Jewish history of Auschwitz and educate that the Holocaust was not born
out of nowhere. It was brought about by the politics of prejudice and hatred. Thus, we undertake activities in the scope of anti-discrimination education.
Are there any additional sources that discuss these issues in more depth?
Feel free to visit our website, oshpitzin.pl and social media profiles. We also have a YouTube channel in operation, where we have produced a series of over 20 videos entitled "The Digital Heritage of Oshpitzin". The channel provides a better understanding of the town's history, which its Jewish inhabitants called Oshpitzin. One can also find additional information on our website about visiting the Jewish Museum and our educational offers for diverse groups - from pupils and students to teachers and educators. I urge you to take advantage of these options and to visit or contact us directly.