Christian-Jewish relations The case study of the former Polish shtetl of Przysucha A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy To the Department of History and Cultural Studies of Freie Universität Berlin by Sabina Sklepik Berlin, 2019 1. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Giulio Busi 2. Supevisor: Prof. Dr. Silvana Greco Date of defense: 06.06.2019 Acknowledgements “All you need in life is one person who will believe in you.” (Hassidic saying) I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Prof. Dr. Giulio Busi, who was the first to believe in me and took my dreams seriously. From all of my heart I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Silvana Greco for her priceless guidelines and encouragement, without which it would have been impossible for me to complete the thesis. I am grateful to all the Respondents who opened their doors and hearts to me. I dedicate my work to Mom and Dad, my Husband Błażej and our Children - Ala and Franek for their unfailing love and support. Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Aim and scope of the research .......................................................................................... 7 1.2 Research questions .......................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Theoretical framework: Symbolic Interactionism .......................................................... 15 1.4 Methodological framework: Grounded Theory .............................................................. 24 1.5 Literature review: current state of research .................................................................... 35 1.5.1 Literature about Przysucha and Polish Jews from the region .................................. 39 1.5.2 Literature about Christian-Jewish relations ............................................................. 44 2. The social and cultural context of the research .......................................... 49 2.1 Selected issues and events crucial for mutual relations .................................................. 49 2.1.1 Rights and privileges of Jews in Poland ................................................................. 50 2.1.2 Anti-Semitism .......................................................................................................... 56 2.1.3 The Holocaust .......................................................................................................... 63 2.1.4 Revival of interest in Christian-Jewish history in Poland ....................................... 68 2.2 The research setting - Przysucha .................................................................................... 72 2.2.1 Spheres of Christian-Jewish interaction before the extermination .......................... 73 2.2.2 Spheres of Christian-Jewish interaction after the extermination ............................. 87 2.2.3 Jewish heritage in town ............................................................................................ 93 3. Methodology and techniques of the research ........................................... 100 3.1 Grounded Theory Methodology (Kathy Charmaz’s version) ....................................... 101 3.1.1 Data collection and analysis in Grounded Theory ................................................ 104 3.1.2 Coding interviews (texts and field notes) .............................................................. 111 3.1.3 Developing categories ........................................................................................... 114 3.1.4 Criteria for evaluation of Grounded Theory research ............................................ 116 3.1.5 Limitations of Grounded Theory ........................................................................... 118 3.2 Use of Grounded Theory for this research ................................................................... 118 3.2.1 Ethical considerations ........................................................................................... 123 3.2.2 Development of interview questions ..................................................................... 124 3.2.3 In-depth interviews ................................................................................................ 131 3.2.4 Transcribing interviews ......................................................................................... 136 3.2.5 Data analysis .......................................................................................................... 137 4. Research findings ........................................................................................ 138 4.1 Prewar relations between Christian and Jewish Poles in Przysucha ............................ 139 4.1.1 Prewar reality- context of tensions ....................................................................... 140 4.1.2 Tension - ambivalence ........................................................................................... 158 4.1.3 Strong tension - anti-Semitism .............................................................................. 181 4.1.4 No tension - acceptance ......................................................................................... 187 4.1.5 Jewish isolation and supremacy ............................................................................. 192 4.2 Contemporary Christian-Jewish relations in Przysucha ............................................... 209 4.2.1 No relations ........................................................................................................... 210 4.2.2 Hope for relations .................................................................................................. 217 4.2.3 Relations and local authorities ............................................................................... 225 5. Conclusions .................................................................................................. 242 5.1 Limitations of the study ................................................................................................ 244 5.2 Implications for future research .................................................................................... 244 LIST OF CHARTS 1. Population of Przysucha in 1775 and 1777 ................................................................. 11 2. Population of Przysucha in 1820 and 1860 .................................................................. 12 3. The objective/subjective dimension ............................................................................. 18 4. Quantitative vs. qualitative research ............................................................................. 24 5. Administrative affiliation of Przysucha after the third partition of Poland .................. 37 6. The number of modern/traditional/anti anti-Semites in quantitative studies conducted by Krzemiński in 1992, 2002 and 2012 ............................................................................ 60 7. Population of Przysucha between 1775-1939 .............................................................. 75 8. The percentage of literacy in the parish of Przysucha between 1810-1855 ................. 84 9. Constructivist position on selected issues in Guba and Lincoln ................................. 101 10. Linkage between theoretical concepts of Symbolic Interactionism and interview questions ......................................................................................................................... 129 11. Four types of out-groups, combinations of status and competition, and corresponding forms of prejudice as a function of perceived warmth and competence ...................... 199 12. A synthesis table of interviewees .............................................................................. 248 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................ 249 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 251 IMAGES ................................................................................................................................. 266 Abstract/Zusammenfassung……………………………………………………….………...269 1. Introduction “...There were Jews in Poland, in the 15th century there were 40 thousand, in the 17th century - 400 thousand, in the 19th century - 2 million, in the first half of the 20th century - 3 million, in the second half of the 20th century - 20 thousand.” (Krall 1989:66) I have decided to open my dissertation with the above quotation by Hanna Krall, a famous Polish reporter, known for her interest in Christian-Jewish relations. Not only does Krall seem to touch upon the tragic history of Polish Jews, but she also encourages reflection on the daily life they led on Polish land. The citation, although short and seemingly monotonous, appears to shed light on Christian-Jewish history. It tells us that the Jewish history of settlement in Poland dates back hundreds of years and suggests that the Jewish Diaspora in Poland was especially imposing. It also implies that Christian-Jewish co- existence has virtually ended or, at least, has dramatically changed its character. However, that is not all. If we read between the lines we can learn about the rights and privileges that made Poland a substitute homeland for Jewish pilgrims and turned the country into the largest, most vibrant