Memory of the Jewish presence in Poland, remembrance of the Holocaust, and an encounter between two religions in shared prayer. The city of Płock is hosting the celebrations of the 29th Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland.
“All Church documents issued after the Second Vatican Council point in this direction: showing the bonds between Christians and living, contemporary Judaism,” emphasized Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Kraków and Chairman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Committee for Dialogue with Judaism.
Płock as host city
This year, the main celebrations are being held in Płock, a city with a centuries-long Jewish presence, documented as early as the first half of the 13th century.
The first part of the Jewish–Catholic meeting took place at the Museum of the Jews of Masovia, housed in the former building of Płock’s Small Synagogue. The turbulent history of the building reflects the complexity of the centuries-long fate of the Jewish community in Poland.
“Płock is a proud, historic, princely capital city—proud of its history, which for centuries was the history of Poles, including the Jews who lived here. Today, we are the guardians of this history. This place itself bears witness to that memory,” said Andrzej Nowakowski, Mayor of Płock, adding that the revitalized former synagogue has become a space for encounters between religions and cultures.
Cardinal Ryś on the meaning of the Day
Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś spoke about the historical and spiritual dimensions of the Day of Judaism.
“The first motive is the memory of the centuries-long presence of Jews in Poland,” said the Chairman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Committee for Dialogue with Judaism. In this way, the Archbishop of Kraków referred to the shared history and its tragic rupture caused by the Holocaust. Referring to Płock, he recalled that the loss of 10,000 Jewish residents left a lasting mark on the local community.
At the same time, Cardinal Ryś stressed that the Day of Judaism also has a clear religious dimension, rooted in shared prayer and the reading of the Bible, leading to an encounter with “living Judaism.”
“We want to listen to one another, because for each side, the other perspective matters. All Church documents after the Second Vatican Council move precisely in this direction—showing these bonds between Christians and living, contemporary Judaism. Not only biblical Judaism, in a sense belonging to the past, but Judaism as it exists today. This is what the Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church is always meant to serve,” Cardinal Ryś said.
Voice of the Bishop of Płock
Bishop Szymon Stułkowski of Płock also highlighted the significance of hosting the central celebrations of the Day of Judaism, citing the long history of Jewish–Catholic coexistence in the Diocese of Płock. Speaking to Heschel Center News, he emphasized that the Day of Judaism combines historical memory, spiritual reflection, and a shared outlook toward the future.
“This history matters. Knowledge about the people who lived here matters. Seeking what remains after them matters. Conversation about this coexistence matters,” Bishop Stułkowski said. Referring to contemporary challenges, he added that there is also a need to draw together from the shared roots from which both communities grow.
He also highlighted the importance of the joint prayer held at Płock Cathedral.
“The Word of God has power—it guides us and heals us as well, including the shared wounds that history reveals to us. But above all, it is about thinking together about the future of the world, about peace and unity,” Bishop Stułkowski stressed.
Meeting at the Museum of the Jews of Masovia
The importance of the Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church was also emphasized by Jaakow Finkelstein, Israel’s Ambassador to Poland. The diplomat referred to the recent 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's document Nostra aetate, as well as to Pope Leo XIV's message for the World Day of Peace.
The Holy Father expressed concern that, increasingly in today’s world, “words of faith are being drawn into political struggle, the blessing of nationalism, and the religious justification of violence and armed conflict.”
“Therefore, alongside concrete action, more than ever it is necessary to cultivate prayer, spirituality, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue as paths to peace and as languages of encounter among different traditions and cultures,” the Ambassador said.
A moment of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust was the reading of excerpts from Pages from the Inferno by Symcha Guterman, a Jewish resident of Płock. Prayers for the murdered victims were offered by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś and Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich.
“Our commandment is this: never to remain silent. When there is even a single word, a single act of antisemitism—we must never be silent,” Rabbi Schudrich said, adding that he is observing a rise in antisemitism and hatred.
Walking in the footsteps of Jews in Płock
Participants in the Day of Judaism celebrations also took part in a commemorative walk tracing the memory of Płock’s Jewish residents. Walking along Synagogalna, Jerozolimska, Grodzka, the former Canonical Market Square, and Tumska Streets toward the square in front of the cathedral, they learned about places connected to the history of Płock’s Jews.
Significance of the Day of Judaism
The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church is a special time of communal reflection and prayer. Drawing on biblical texts and the Church’s Magisterium on Catholic–Jewish dialogue, this reflection aims to help Catholics rediscover the Jewish roots of Christianity.
The motto of this year’s Day of Judaism comes from the Book of Ruth:
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
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Heschel Center News/ Karol Darmoros, Płock