"Who do Poles see when they see a Jew…?"

Source: Polin, GEOP

“Looking at comments on the internet, analyzing memes and newspaper headlines, or observing the emotions aroused by international conflicts, it is easy to see that images of Jews continue to feature strongly in the Polish collective imagination,” write the authors of the report "Who do Poles see when they see a Jew... after October 7, 2023?".

The report is based on semiotic analysis, a method that allows for the examination of meanings, symbols, and narratives present in popular culture. The authors, Marzena Żurawicka and Krzysztof Polak from Semiotic Solutions, attempt to deconstruct stereotypes about Jews that are present in Polish social discourse, both overtly and covertly.

The publication is a continuation of a 2022 study conducted by the POLIN Museum as part of its “Comprehensive program to study and combat anti-Semitism and other prejudices in Poland.”

The project was developed in cooperation with the Jewish Historical Institute Association in Poland, thanks to the support of the Sills Family Foundation.

Download the report:

2023 Report Summary

Published in 2023, the report ‘Who Do Poles See When They See a Jew?’ was developed as part of the research program of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The research project behind the report was intended to help develop a deeper understanding of the cultural mechanisms that influence the way Jews are perceived in Poland.

The research project was both diagnostic and educational: on the one hand, it identified predominant cultural codes; on the other, it provided concrete tools to counter stereotyping and hate language in public life.

The main objective of the research project was to map the most important cultural codes that shape representations of Jews in contemporary Polish culture. 

These codes are considered to be cognitive scaffolding, or unconscious patterns through which we f ilter reality. Concerning the image of the Jew, the patterns may lead to bias and xenophobia just as well as they may result in empathy and understanding.

The report attempts to capture which linguistic f igures, images and narratives dominate the collective imagination of Poles and which emotional directions they are organised on.

The final conclusions suggest the need for:

• • shattering the false belief in one’s knowledge about Jews by fostering a picture of a diverse, contemporary Jewish culture,
• • tailoring communication to the age and competence of the audience (speak to young people differently than to public officials),
• • using local micro-histories to build empathy,
• • the creation of educational and communication resources to identify antisemitism in everyday language and social practice.