Hasidic Stories (PL / EN)

How does one pass through the Gate of Mercy and bring the Messiah? And is it true that the log at that gate is as big as the whole town of Międzybóż? How did the tzaddik from Warka pass through the palace gates, and why did he become invisible at that moment?

During the meeting, we will explore the development of Hasidic tales and the culture of Hasidism, the most significant religious-mystical movement to have emerged on Polish soil. What do these tales reveal about the Hasidism and their unique culture? We will also consider how Poland is portrayed in these stories and how the image of Polish literature would change if we were to include several hundred volumes of Hebrew and Yiddish Hasidic narratives. We will also discuss how the tradition of Hasidic literature has developed in North America and Israel following the Holocaust.

Live: jewishfestival.pl

We will hear all about this from Wojciech Tworek and Marcin Wodziński, the editors and translators of an anthology of Hasidic tales, a monumental volume published in September 2025 as part of the National Library series by Ossolineum Publishing House.