Invisible Jewish Heritage in Central-Eastern Europe: “(post)JEWISH… Shtetl Opatów Through the Eyes of Mayer Kirshenblatt”: A Review of the Exhibition at the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Abstract

The review discusses the preservation of Jewish material heritage in Central-Eastern Europe using the exhibition (post)JEWISH… Shtetl Opatów Through the Eyes of Mayer Kirshenblatt, organized in 2024 at the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews, as a case study. The exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of the Jewish heritage in Opatów through Kirshenblatt’s paintings and contemporary curatorial research. The review presents the structure of the display and delves into details related to selected exhibits. It further examines the Authorized Heritage Discourse, a term used in critical heritage studies to describe the official mechanisms of heritage protection. The review argues that the exhibition highlights the significance of preserving material remnants of everyday Jewish life, which are often overlooked in official heritage practices that prioritize grand and monumental sites. It draws attention to the underrepresentation of Jewish heritage sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List and advocates for broader recognition and preservation efforts beyond the Holocaust narrative.