And There was Love in the Ghetto

A Guided Tour of the Former Northern District of Warsaw

For years, Marek Edelman, one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, told stories about life in the ghetto to his confidante, Paula Sawicka. Sawicka wrote them down in their book “There was love in the ghetto” which was published in 2009. I invite you for a tour to the former Northern District of Warsaw where you will learn about the events which took place there during World War II, walk above the city which still exists beneath our feet, and hear stories of people who loved their wives, husbands, children, and parents and who, because of that love, were capable of heroic deeds.

One highlight of our visit will be the former Nowolipki 68 Street where, in the beginning of August 1942, the first part of the Ringelblum Archive was buried. This will be an occasion to hear a story of the artist Gela Seksztajn, her husband Izrael Lichtensztajn, and their little daughter Margolit. What did they write in their testaments buried with other documents from the Archive? What else did they hide in the metal boxes? And what did they wish to happen knowing what fate awaited them? The Lichtensztajns’ story will be one of few on our tour that will clearly show: there was, indeed, love in the ghetto.

Duration: about 2.5h
More information, costs, and booking: alicja@jccwarszawa.pl
The tour is available in English and in Polish.

Alicja is an officially certificated guide of the JHI.