However, they both had one thing in common – archives! We spent roughly two hours each in both Zamosc and Warsaw researching my mom’s family. We found many interesting facts about relatives we didn’t know existed and we were able to trace one line back to the late 18th century. Of course, most of this research we are waiting to confirm with archivists and relatives. Regardless, it was amazing to see enormous books filled with birth, marriage, death, housing, and travel records. In Zamosc, some records were in Polish and some were in Russian because this region’s boarders have changed over time. To help us understand what we were looking at, we hired a wonderful Polish translator. With all research, the discovery of new information leads to answers, as well as to more questions. Therefore, there is more research to be done to uncover the mysteries of our pre and post war Polish ancestry.
Additionally, in Zamosc, we were able to visit the school my great grandmother attended, which is still in use as a school. We also found the previous homes of some of our relatives. We spent time walking around the main square, and eating great Italian and Polish foods.
We were very fortunate to have help from an older lady at the Zamosc train station who spoke no English, and a friendly train attendant in Lublin who helped guide us to the right trains and seats from Zamosc to Warsaw (because we had not made train reservations prior to getting on the train). During the train ride, we enjoyed watching the movie "Inception." When we arrived we promptly found our hotel just steps from the train station in the center of Warsaw’s bustling downtown. After settling in, we went to the Warsaw Uprising Museum that told the story of Poland’s resistance during WWII. My mom and I were both impressed with a 3D video of Warsaw after the war because it revealed how the war's destruction was so far-reaching and devastating to the city’s infrastructure. It is obvious that Warsaw is still recovering, as there are many building projects and some buildings that are still filled with bullet holes. The subsequent day, we spent exploring different monuments commemorating the Warsaw ghetto, uprising, etc. Not open to the public, yet impressive in size and scope was the building for the new Museum of the Polish Jews (scheduled for Summer 2013). We also went to a restaurant that specializes in perogies, Warsaw’s old city, and the Chopin museum (which had an impressive collection of Chopin memorabilia and was very interactive), as well as strolled by the Copernicus Science Center along the Vistula River. Our final meal was spent in Tel Aviv, an Israeli restaurant.
All in all, this was a pretty amazing trip. We began unraveling many mysteries, learned about Polish and Jewish history, and ate great perogies! Of course, a trip with your mom during Purim would not be a trip without homemade hamentashen and her helping you polish your boots! Thanks for everything, Mom!
Doing Research:
Mom in the main square in Zamosc. Behind her is Ormianska Street, where we believe our relatives lived:
The Nozyk Synagogue, which survived WWII and is situated in downtown Warsaw (notice the skyscrapper in the background):
Warsaw's old city:
Memorial to the Warsaw Ghetto:
View of the Palace of Culture and Science from our hotel room:
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