Dear Sir or Madam,
We are honoured to invite you to participate in a unique academic event, which will take place on 25 and 26 May 2026 in the Senate Hall of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Collegium Minus, ul. Wieniawskiego 1).
The conference entitled “Two Hundred Years of Progressive Judaism in Poland” is being organised to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Leo Baeck. This is a unique opportunity to explore, together with distinguished scholars from Poland and abroad, the rich heritage of progressive thought that has shaped Jewish identity in our region for two centuries.
Why is 2026 a special year?
The coming year brings together several key anniversaries that form the thematic focus of our meeting:
- The 200th anniversary of the founding of the Warsaw Rabbinical Seminary (1826–1861): An institution pivotal to acculturation and modern religious education in Poland.
- The 100th anniversary of the founding of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (1926): A global organisation that has supported the renewal of Jewish life for decades.
- The 90th anniversary of the Congress of Progressive Synagogues (1936): A moment of consolidation for the movement in the Second Polish Republic.
- 70th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Leo Baeck (1956): An outstanding thinker whose work “The Essence of Judaism” remains to this day the foundation of modern Jewish philosophy. This figure bridges history and the present, serving as a symbol of dialogue and steadfastness.
What’s on the programme?
During the two-day conference in Poznań, speakers from prestigious academic institutions will take the floor, including those from Potsdam, Edinburgh, Tel Aviv, Kraków, Wrocław, Szczecin and Warsaw. The programme comprises five thematic sessions, including:
- The Legacy of Leo Baeck: An analysis of his ethical thought and biography (including the ‘Opole episode’).
- History and Centres of Progressive Judaism: From Warsaw and Poznań to Kraków and Szczecin.
- Culture and Education: The influence of the ‘Israelites’ on Polish society and the role of the Warsaw Rabbinical School.
- Synagogue Music: A lecture and presentation on the musical tradition of the Great Synagogue in Warsaw.
- Contemporary Perspective: The place of Progressive Judaism in today’s Poland and interfaith dialogue.
Accompanying Event
The first day of the conference will culminate in an organ concert, which will take place on 25 May at 7.30 pm at the Church of St Anthony of Padua in Poznań (ul. Franciszkańska 2). Dr Jakub Stefek will perform pieces of Silesian synagogue music, paying tribute to the memory of Rabbi Leo Baeck.
We warmly invite academics, students and anyone interested in history and culture to join us in reflecting on this living tradition
