Political and cultural life

Political and cultural life

The early twentieth century was a period of intensified revolutionary movements, ranging from nationalism to communism. These movements responded to the negative effects of modernization: capitalist exploitation, economic collapse, a crisis of identity, and the rise of antisemitism. In response, Poland’s Jews developed a variety of political movements, ranging from assimilationist and conservative-religious to Zionist. These groups sought to educate and agitate their followers, running schools and cultural institutions, and promoting sports clubs. The Zionist movement, which aimed to establish a Jewish state, also sparked a wave of emigration from Poland to Palestine. Audio includes excerpts from “Marseleyz” (perf. Marcus Eisenberg) and “List do Palestyny” (perf. Adam Aston).