Before leaving for Israel, Polish students took part in an intensive educational programme, preparing themselves to take part in a youth exchange and to work on the exhibition. During lectures, workshops, and guided tours, they learned about Jewish history and religion, as well as artistic and cultural life of pre-War Jewish Kraków, and about the life and work of Ze’ev Aleksandrowicz. The educational programme also included Hebrew classes and a series of meetings concerning their future exhibition. All activities were led by the Galicia Jewish Museum staff, experienced tour guides, and lecturers from the Institute of Jewish Studies at Jagiellonian University.

During their visit in Israel, Polish students and their Israeli friends spent two days in Tel Aviv as they looked for places documented by Ze’ev Aleksandrowicz’s photographs from 80 years ago. They also had the pleasure to meet the photographer’s sons: Mr. Danny Aleksandrowicz agreed to be their guide in Tel Aviv and Mr. Sinai Aleksandrowicz gave a lecture about his father’s life and works and presented the family archive.

Polish and Israeli students participated in special workshops based on materials from the exhibition Poland and Palestine. Two Lands and Two Skies, on display at the Galicia Jewish Museum in 2011-2012, which presented a selection of Ze’ev Aleksandrowicz’s photos.

The participants of the youth exchange also visited Jerusalem, Akko, and Masada. They took part in a study visit to Yad Vashem and visited the Polish Institute in Tel Aviv.

The Polish-Israeli youth exchange was made possible due to the financial support from the Polish Ministry of Education.

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