How to Talk About Jewish Heritage: Good Practices and Narrative Challenges

events Programme

On November 16, 2025, at the Ilan Hotel on Lubartowska Street in Lublin, the Zapomniane Foundation conducted a training session entitled "How to Talk About Jewish Heritage: Good Practices and Narrative Challenges." The event was organized in cooperation with the Lublin City Hall's Tourism Development Office and the "Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre" Center. Lublin city guides who regularly lead tours dedicated to the city's Jewish heritage participated.

The training began with a welcome and an introduction to the program, followed by an educational session led by Agnieszka Nieradko-Pająk and Iwona Hermon from the Zapomniane Foundation and Dr. Teresa Klimowicz from the Department of Jewish Culture and History at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. The speakers addressed the importance of language and sensitivity in conversations about minority communities, avoiding stereotypes in shaping historical narratives, and the complexity of presenting Jewish history and traditions in a respectful and informed manner. Particular attention was paid to cemeteries and burial sites as unique heritage spaces that require careful and expert interpretation. The session also addressed the responsibility of various institutions and communities in preserving Jewish heritage in the Lublin region.

During the training, we presented the ReActMem project website—difficultheritage.eu—and used examples, materials, and case studies developed within the project to demonstrate narrative challenges and methods of memory activism. Participants familiarized themselves with practical tools, guidelines, and guides developed within previous NeDiPa and MultiMemo projects, gaining insight into how such materials can support professional guide work, especially in the case of complex or sensitive heritage.

After lunch, participants took a tour of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, led by Monika Tarajko from the Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre Center and Iwona Hermon from the Jewish Religious Community (Lublin Branch). The story of the Yeshiva combined historical and religious perspectives, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of the building's significance, its role in prewar Jewish Lublin, and its place in contemporary commemorative practices.

The training provided an important professional development opportunity, enabling guides to expand their knowledge, strengthen their skills in working with diverse audiences, and hone their skills in presenting Jewish heritage in a thoughtful, responsible, and engaging manner.

📸 Zapomniane Foundation