Mateusz Mattisyahu Kos
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Interlocutor biogram
Mateusz Mattisyahu Kos was born in 1972 in Warsaw. He is the son of Łukasz Kos - poet, philosopher, physicist and publisher; and Ninel Kameraz-Kos – artist-painter, employee of the E. Ringelbum Jewish Historical Institute, author of the "Święta i obyczaje żydowskie" ["Jewish Holidays and Customs"] book.
In 1985, Mateusz Kos's bar mitzvah took place in the Nożyk synagogue - it was the first such celebration in Warsaw after a long break. In his adult life, Mateusz Kos initially worked in a bank. In 2001, he began his studies at the Monsey yeshiva, and in 2006 he received his rabbinical smicha. He is currently the rabbi of student communities in the UK.
Recording circumstances description
The interview was recorded at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Recording summary
1. The interviewee's family (mother Ninel Kameraz-Kos, father Bohdan Kos, brother Łukasz), the story of grandfather Chaskiel Kameraz - his escape to Poland; 00:00:53
2. Anti-Semitic repressions in 1968, the family's decision to remain in Poland; 00:12:35
3. The artistic work of Ninel Kameraz-Kos, publication of the "Święta i obyczaje żydowskie" ["Jewish Holidays and Customs"] book, mother's work at the E. Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute; the impact of the Holocaust on the mother's creativity and work, the family's apartment as an "unofficial Jewish living room in Warsaw"; 00:14:23
4. Contacts with other Warsaw Jews (Bella and Dorota Szwarcman, Dawid Boguchwał, Mojżesz Szapiro); 00:20:59
5. Visits to the Nożyk synagogue in the 1980s, learning Hebrew, Mojżesz Szapiro; 00:24:45
6. Bar Mitzvah in 1985; 00:35:05
7. Awareness of Jewish origin; 00:40:29
8. Relationships with peers and teachers at school; 00:42:32
9. Participation in Catholic religion classes; 00:44:24
10.No Jewish education at home; 00:47:31
11. Jewish holidays in the interviewee's home; 00:52:10
12. Jewish religious life in Poland after 1968; 00:56:43
13. Visits to the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw, Pinkus Szenicer, Zygmunt Warszawer and his kosher butchery, Jankiel Kułakier, Natan Cywiak, Aleksander Zajdeman, saying prayers by Pinkus Szenicer; 00:58:23
14. Prayers in the synagogue, education of the interviewee, preparation and conduct of the bar mitzvah; 01:03:56
15. Fight between rabbis Pinchas Joskowicz and Zeew Wawa Morejno; 01:12:36
16. Activities of Rabbi Pinchas Joskowicz, studies with Mojżesz Szapiro, discovering religiosity by young Jews; 01:14:41
17. Warsaw Jewish community in the 1980s and 1990s, TSKŻ [Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland] club, Lauder Foundation camps; 01:23:31
