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Jan. 26, 2021
In January, a swastika was sprayed on the outer wall of the Jewish cemetery in the Polish city of Oswiecim.
Antisemitic graffiti at Jewish sites isn’t rare in Europe, even 76 years after the end of World War II. But this time the target was only three kilometers from the Auschwitz concentration camp, and thus it made headlines.
Shlomi Shaked, a 29-year-old Israel who has been living and working in Poland for several years, was shocked, but was relieved to discover that the graffiti was quickly erased and suspects were arrested.
Shaked feels a special connection to the town of Oswiecim, which had a thriving Jewish community until World War II and is where his mother’s family came from. His great-grandfather Moshe Greenbaum owned a large flour business; his grandmother, Rivka, who eventually ran the family business, was also born in the town, as was his grandfather Shlomo Kupperman, after whom he is named. Kupperman was descended from a family of rabbis, s
Why a young Israeli went to live next door to Auschwitz haaretz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from haaretz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.