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The first find of the weekend, at the National Library in Warsaw: my great grandfather Hil Majer Piwko’s death notice in Nasz Przegląd, one of the main Polish-language Jewish newspapers in interwar Poland.
Chil Majer Piwko’s death notice in Nasz Przegląd, June 16, 1929.
The text reads:
B. P. [Blessed in memory] Chil Majer Piwko died in Włocławek after brief but heavy suffering on the 12th of June 1929 (4 Siwon), at the age of 75, and was buried the same day.
To everyone who helped him on his final road, lamenting our husband and father, and especially the Funeral Brotherhood with its honorable president at its head. Wishing to express “God bless,” left in deep sadness,
Wife, sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The size and placement of the notice indicates my great grandfather held a position of relative prominence in the Jewish community. Also, appearing in Nasz Przegląd as opposed to any of the Yiddish or Hebrew language newspapers indicates that he identified as a Pole as well as a Jew. He was assimilated into the broader society, even though he maintained conservative modes of dress and religious practices.
I’m also struck by the mention of great grandchildren in the death notice. That’s also me, even though I wouldn’t be born for another 35 years
Uncovering Jewish Heritage 
Wow. Thanks for sharing. I know we have had this discussion before and appreciate the anthropology perspective, but I always cringe with the word “assimilated.” We don’t use that word about Christian, Muslim or other faiths. To me, it seems a bit offensive and perpetuates the anti-semetic beliefs that one can’t be a Pole and a Jew. They are not mutually exclusive. Being a Pole is a nationality not a religion. May be appropriate for me to reassert my message from when we were together in Poland this fall. I wonder if growing up not Jewish even though you were very much exposed provides you with a different perspective. I always knew I was Jewish but as you may recall from time with us that my parents stressed Judaism was/is our religion and our nationality was American/USA. It is much more than semantics. As Jews, we must continually remind and educate others that it is a religion not a nationality. Otherwise, as centuries of history have proven, the segregation will continue.
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You’re not the only one who took issue with my use of the term assimilated. It probably was not the best word to use because it misinforms more than it informs. The main point I want to make here is that there are hints that even my conservative great grandfather identified as Jewish AND Polish. It helps to challenge common contemporary assumptions that these two identifications were mutually exclusive. In this regard, I think we’re in total agreement.
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Thank you! Interestingly, I suspected this is what you meant based on our discussions. I would hazard to guess that your grandfather was a bit more religious than conservative would tend to imply. I absolutely love the idea of challenging the common contemporary assumptions which is also one of many reasons I follow your work so passionately. It truly is intriguing because we grew up with such difference perspectives. I understand the concept of identity and you are correct concerning the legitimate academic/dictionary meaning of assimilation. Of course, most only know the contemporary slang meaning of assimilation highlighting differences. In terms of your view of nationality and religion, I still submit, however, they are two different things. Your grandfather proudly identified his nationality as Polish and his religion as Jewish. While they co-exist, they are not the same. This is also my issue with Zionism. I am an American citizen who happens to be Jewish. While I support Israel, I do not aspire to make aliyah to Israel. This in no way diminishes my Jewishness. It has to do with my nationality. I appreciate this sounds like subtle distinctions but believe they are critical issues. If we blur those lines, it allows for folks to diminish the concepts. It was this subtle distinction that Hitler expertly exploited. It is the foundation of why many still don’t trust enough to identify themselves as other than their nationality, gender or anything other than religion. I hope you know how impressed and proud of you I am. This is a tough subject and hard to appreciate all perspectives dispassionately. I think the best way I can describe this is that by you not knowing your heritage, you did not grow up with any underlying fear of same. I grew up “safer” in America then others especially on Long Island where we were. It is not the same elsewhere even in this country. Even as recently as a few weeks ago, was at a dinner with a number of folks who are quick accomplished and educated. Yet, they did not know I was Jewish and the conversation was totally inappropriate. I won’t bring up the specifics but am certain if they realized I was Jewish, they would have tempered or refrained. Having my last name has been a blessing in some ways as you and I have discussed. Rarely, do folks recognize the heritage and as such, I often get to hear what they “really think.” I can sadly say the distinctions are alive and well.
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I want to thank my cousin, Marysia Galbraith, for uncovering this rare treasure, a document that helps us understand so much more about the life and identity of our great-grandfather, Chil Majer Piwko. I have always thought he looked so cold in the family photo at the top of this site; now, perhaps, we can discover his warmer aspects–a man of the community, a Jew and a Pole, respected, beloved, and mourned.
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