IDENTITY AND NEGOTIATION OF BOUNDARIES AMONG YOUNG POLISH JEWS

Abstract

In this chapter, I would like to look at the processes of building the cultural identity of the young generation of Polish Jews, primarily including the models of constructing modern identifications with the Polish society, the Jewish people and the State of Israel. I will present the results of my own studies, and of those conducted by a few other young researchers dealing with these issues. My main theoretical sources are within the interpretive paradigm. The research methodology was based on the grounded theory, which assumes the induction procedure when building theoretical concepts. The basic material for analysis included free-form, in-depth interviews. At the same time, I conducted a monographic study in Jewish schools in Warsaw and Wroclaw, and in five Sunday schools in Poland.