MI POLIN in Toronto

October 27 to November 10, 2019

MI POLIN (Hebrew for “From Poland”) is the first Judaica company in Poland since the Second World War. MI POLIN is run by accomplished artist Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar, an award-winning photojournalist. Their original Jewish ritual objects are in the permanent collection of the Jewish Museum (New York) and are carried by the most prominent Jewish museums internationally.

The FENTSTER window gallery, the Miles Nadal JCC and the Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre have partnered to bring the artists to Toronto from Warsaw for two weeks filled with over ten events. Discover their inspiring story to locate and preserve mezuzah remnants across Poland, making new art from traces of the past.

For details, scroll down & click on the event links or go to: holocaustcentre.com/mi-polin

EXHIBITIONS

Mezuzah Okno
October 29, 2019 – March 1, 2020
FENTSTER @ Makom, 402 College Street
Opening + Artist Talk: Tuesday, October 29 | 7:30 PM
A multimedia installation using the symbolism of the Vistula River and the Jewish ritual object, the mezuzah to explore home, identity and place.

On the Doorposts
October 31 – November 27, 2019
Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Avenue
Artist-led Exhibition Tour: Tuesday, November 5 | 2:30 PM
Presenting MI POLIN’s original photography, archival research and bronze mezuzot, to tell the story of how they are creating new Jewish art from traces of a Jewish past in Poland.

TALKS

Holocaust Education Week Legacy Symposium for Young Professionals
Sunday, October 27 | 11 AM
Oakham House, Ryerson University, 55 Gould Street

The Other Shelf: In Conversation with David Bezmozgis
Monday, November 4 | 6 – 7 PM
Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street

Limmud Festival
Sunday, November 10 | 3:30 – 4:15 PM
University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 78 Queen’s Park

WORKSHOPS

In addition to running in-class workshops for school groups, the artists will offer one public workshop:

Intergenerational Mezuzah-Making Workshop
Sunday, November 3 | 4 – 6 PM
Danforth Jewish Circle, 310 Danforth Avenue
Advanced registration required, space is limited

For more information: 416.631.5689 | holocaustcentre.com/mi-polin

Presented by FENTSTER, the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre and the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre as part of Neuberger Holocaust Education Week. Made possible by the Kultura Collective of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and many community partners.

IMAGES from top to bottom: Photo courtesy of MI POLIN, selection over 100 mezuzah traces they have located across Poland, 2019 | Photo of the artists by Krystian Bogucki, 2018 | Photo by Aleksander Prugar of a mezuzah and scroll discovered by the artists in Przemysl, Poland, 2014.