Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry - 30: Jewish Education in Eastern Europe

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An emphasis on education has long been a defining aspect of the Jewish experience, evident in the historical records of schools, teachers, libraries, and youth movements in the tumultuous environment of nineteenth- and twentieth-century eastern Europe. While historians often recognize the importance of educational institutions within Jewish society, many view them merely as reflections of the surrounding culture. This volume seeks to fill that gap by presenting education as an active force for change. It broadens the definition of Jewish education to include both formal and informal training across various subjects, illuminating the roles of schools, informal educators, youth groups, and textbooks in shaping Jewish society. The essays featured here place male and female education on equal footing and consider students of diverse ages, religious backgrounds, and social classes. Spanning two centuries of Jewish history, from the Austrian and Russian empires to the Second Republic of Poland and the Polish People's Republic, the interdisciplinary approach draws from east European cultural history, gender studies, and language politics. Collectively, the contributors emphasize the central role of education in the aspirations of Jewish individuals and institutions, revealing how these aspirations interacted with internal and external forces affecting Jewish communities.