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In a recent archaeological excavation on Góra Chełmska in Chełm
a mysterious burial site has been uncovered
sparking renewed interest in medieval beliefs about the supernatural
were found during renovation work on the fence surrounding the gardens of the former Uniate bishops’ palace
a site of historical and religious significance in the region
One of these burials has been identified as a “vampire burial,” a term used to describe specific practices intended to prevent the deceased from rising from the grave and causing harm to the living
an archaeologist with the Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments
His team discovered two children’s skeletons buried in an area that
had not previously been associated with any known cemetery
The remains were uncovered while workers were removing tree roots as part of the renovation project
What sets this discovery apart is the unusual treatment of one of the skeletons
Gołub explained that the skull of the child had been intentionally separated from the body and placed face-down in the grave
Heavy stones were also positioned on the torso
These practices are consistent with anti-vampire rituals found in various parts of medieval Europe
where folklore about vampires and revenants—reanimated corpses—was prevalent
such measures were believed to prevent the deceased from returning as malevolent spirits or vampires
“The burial clearly shows signs of anti-vampire practices
which were aimed at stopping the dead from rising again,” he said in a statement
The burials were found in gypsum soil and oriented along an east-west axis
No coffins or funerary items were discovered
which adds to the mystery of why these children were buried in such a way in an area not designated as a cemetery
According to the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments
but the presence of these graves raises questions about whether an undocumented burial ground once existed there
a city rich in Byzantine and Slavic cultural influences
was a religious and administrative center during the Middle Ages
was home to fortifications and religious buildings but had no known cemetery
Archaeologists believe the remains date to the 13th century
based on the stratigraphy of the site and nearby pottery fragments
The broader implications of this discovery are profound
Anti-vampire burials reflect deeply rooted fears in medieval society about the supernatural
It was widely believed in some Eastern European cultures that certain people
threatening the living by spreading disease or feeding on their blood
Such beliefs were often linked to those who had died under unusual or suspicious circumstances
such as suicides or individuals believed to have been possessed by malevolent spirits
Researchers hope to gain more information about burial practices and living conditions at the time
This find adds to the body of evidence from archaeological excavations across Eastern Europe
documenting the widespread fear of vampires and the lengths to which communities went to protect themselves from the perceived threat of the undead
Lublin Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments
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Yael Elisheva invites you to a roast of the Jewish men in their life by retelling stories from Jewish folklore with a modern twist
it’s packed with witty commentary about religion
masculinity and even current day politics in Israel and Palestine
is Yaya and plays as themselves and as a number of Jewish American and British characters
It’s a physical undertaking which they pull off with enormous skill and ingenuity
music and video projection all come to their aid in welcoming the audience into Yaya’s very own “City of Fools”
These will be familiar stories for many Jewish audiences but
for the benefit of those who aren’t clued in
The Wise Men of Chelm are East European stories set in an imaginary city called Chelm inhabited by fools who imagine that they are wise men and come up with very foolish solutions to problems facing the people of Chelm
The one-hour show starts with an old movie-style projection which immediately gets laughs from the audience
and it’s refreshing to give in to the nonsensical——especially in today’s heightened political climate which problematically polarises Jewish representation
“Yaya As… The Wise Men of Chelm” offers a much-needed respite
and of a Jewish history and culture that existed before
Yael gives the disclaimer that this is not a man-hating show
Just John is a cisgendered heterosexual feminist and loves to take every opportunity to prove it to his date whilst monologuing the night away
It’s a little embarrassing how familiar I was with the Just Johns of the world but vindicating to see the artful caricaturing by Yael which included a hilarious sex scene with a wig on a mic stand that verged on the acrobatic
gives us an insight into the American Jewish tradition of summer camps and Aaron into the pressures of the coming of age ceremony
The way Yael slips into different personas is seamless
and the rapid-fire costume and accent changes keep the audience on their toes
“Yaya As… The Wise Men of Chelm” is an hour of pure
unadulterated joy that will leave you laughing and thinking long after the curtain falls
Whether you’re familiar with Jewish folklore or not
Yael Elisheva’s performance transcends cultural boundaries
inviting everyone to appreciate the humour and wisdom found in the tales of Chelm
The Wise Men of Chelm is next showing at the Camden People’s Theatre on 12 and 13 August and the Kings Head on 17 August
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Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsOne of the two sets of medieval remains recently unearthed in Chełm
Archaeologists from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments recently announced the discovery of a “vampiric” child burial in the gardens of the Palace of the Uniate Bishops
The palace in Chełm is part of the larger cathedral complex of the Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary
As All That’s Interesting has previously reported
“vampire” burials were commonplace in Poland during the medieval and early modern periods
as misconstrued notions about diseases like tuberculosis
in combination with Polish folk literature
stoked fears about the dead returning to life
various practices were put in place to ensure that the dead did not rise from the grave
Some of these practices are present at this newly unearthed burial
with the child’s head having been chopped off
and the skeleton weighed down beneath heavy rocks
archaeologists are certain this burial shows clear signs of “anti-vampire” practices
Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsHeavy “anti-vampire” stones placed atop the skeleton’s torso
According to a translated announcement from the Lublin Provincial Conservator of Monuments
the discovery of these remains came about rather serendipitously while workers were removing tree roots from the gardens
one burial showed evidence of “anti-vampire” practices
This skeleton’s head had been removed from its body and buried face down
while the whole corpse was weighed down by heavy stones meant to prevent the dead from rising up out of the grave
The burial was also likely marked with above-ground posts
so that church officials could return to see if the grave had been disturbed due to supernatural activity
Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsThe skeletal remains were found while removing tree roots
“The burial clearly shows signs of anti-vampire practices
which were aimed at stopping the dead from rising again,” said Dr
archaeologists urged people not to “look for cheaper sensation” when one Facebook commenter suggested that a priest had perhaps murdered the children because he sired them while unwed
And though these burials may seem strange in hindsight
these practices were in fact prevalent for centuries across Poland
Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsArchaeologists at the site marking off the burial
Indeed, this is just the latest in a string of discoveries that reveal a macabre history of burials in Poland. Last June, for instance, All That’s Interesting reported on the discovery of a mass grave of more than 400 presumed “vampires” near a Church in Luzino dating to the 18th century
Two months later, All That’s Interesting reported on another child “vampire” whose remains were discovered near Pień
the child was once again buried face down with an “anti-vampire” padlock around their ankle
“Such practices originated in folk beliefs and are sometimes described as anti-vampire.”
Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsArchaeologists working to examine and excavate the skeleton
“Ways to protect against the return of the dead include cutting off the head or legs
placing the deceased face down to bite into the ground
and smashing them with a stone,” he added
That discovery came just under a year after another “vampire” grave was found near Pień
this time with a sickle across the skeleton’s throat and a padlock on its toe
Poliński was involved with that discovery as well
noting that the sickle had been placed in such a manner so as to decapitate the dead if they attempted to rise from the grave
Lublin Provincial Conservator of MonumentsArchaeologists recording their findings at the site of the medieval “vampire” burial in Chełm
“Anti-vampire” burial practices were not utilized solely in circumstances where death was caused by tuberculosis
Allegations of vampirism were also levied against those who died in an untimely fashion of another variety
and the dead against evil spirits,” researchers said
“It also had a role in rituals designed to counter black magic and witchcraft.”
While these discoveries are certainly not uncommon
each new “vampire” grave that is unearthed shines an even brighter light on the macabre history of Polish burial practices centuries ago
After reading about these “vampire” burials across Poland, read up on the history of vampires. Then, read about nine terrifying accounts of allegedly real vampires throughout history
The Wise Men of Chelm is a humorous one-hander that presents five brief portrayals of Jewish males in just over 60 minutes
Its title refers to Jewish folklore centred on supposedly wise men who frequently find ludicrous solutions to different problems
the “wise men” are people from diverse walks of life exploring their masculinity in various ways
None of the characterisations are particularly deep or serious; it’s largely played for laughs
despite some of the darker themes that are tackled
John is an arrogant Londoner who thinks way too highly of himself
and whose central conflict in life centres around whether it’s still acceptable to enjoy Kanye West’s music; Mordy is an American camp counsellor who tries a little too hard to be liked by the children; Aaron is a flamboyant boy coming to grips with his approaching Bar Mitzvah; Yoni is a parody of Ben Shapiro at his worst; and the last is a teacher giving detention who gets too involved with the students
who seamlessly switches from role to role in a performance that requires immense flexibility
Their comedic timing is strong and they demonstrate nuance in conjuring certain characteristics in the diverse cast – such as the nervous laughter in Aaron or Yoni’s quick-paced speaking
The heart of the play is the exploration of Jewish values
although at times some topics could have been explored in greater depth – such as Aaron’s homosexuality in a conservative setting or John’s apparent struggles with being Jewish at all
It’s simply the result of such a breadth of characters: it offers variety and enjoyment
but detracts from what might have been done
But this only mars what is a lovely piece of fringe theatre to a small extent
it’s an enjoyable experience well worth a look
Michael Higgs Photos: Brandon Hepworth for Bones Productions
The Wise Men of Chelm is at Camden People’s Theatre from 12th until 13th August 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here
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The “Borat” star is dipping into Jewish folklore with a new kid-friendly animated special about the silly shtetl
(JTA) – Imagine a village full of Borats
and you’re close to realizing the absurdity of Chelm
The real-life Polish shtetl, a popular subject of Jewish folklore and Yiddish authors including Isaac Bachevis Singer
took on a mythic identity as a village of fools: a land populated and governed entirely by idiots
who solve problems in hilarious counterintuitive fashion
Now Chelm is getting the screen treatment, headlined by an appropriate figure: the British Jewish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, whose Borat character may be the closest thing modern popular culture has to a Chelm-like figure
Cohen will develop the animated special “Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth” for HBO Max alongside Mike Judge and Greg Daniels
known for “King of the Hill,” and Michael Koman
a former writer on “Nathan For You” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Cohen will also narrate the special
The HBO Max press release indicates that the show will be geared towards younger audiences
marking a departure from most of Cohen’s adult-oriented humor
hysterical life into the nonsensical Chelmic wisdom that originated from this imaginary city of folks who aren’t quite the sharpest tools in the shed,” Amy Friedman
head of kids and family programming at HBO parent company Warner Bros.
The shtetl special does not have a release date yet
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where Jewish men and boys were ordered to gather before being marched to their deaths
thousands of Jews were led out of the Polish town of Chelm in what would become the first death march of the Holocaust
and which has been almost totally forgotten
Most researchers have not defined the Chelm event as a "death march" because people generally think of the death marches as having taken place toward the end of the war
The Chelm march was a sort of trial by the Nazis to test – among other things – whether the mass murder of Jews would be acceptable to the local population and international opinion
whose Jewish community once numbered 18,000
The families pass on the story of what took place – how thousands of Chelm's Jews were murdered in the space of a few days
Nearly all of those who survived the march are now dead
and the only survivors were children at the time
It's the second and third generation who continue to keep the story that was nearly lost alive
It was three months after the start of the war
but they retreated following the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
but even then the Jews couldn't foresee what was about to happen
"The first few months were characterized by confusion," says Hila Blatt-Arad
some people were already warning the Jews about what was about to happen
who said that the ground was burning and they should flee
But most of the town's residents chose to believe everything would be all right
"I don't know if they ignored [the warnings]
They thought it would pass," says Blatt-Arad
recorded his story about what took place that day in Chelm before his death in 2011
who saved himself by following the Russian army
the German invasion of Chelm was not orderly and the Russians
who were supposed to stop their retreat at the nearby Bug River
but even when the Germans were in charge there wasn't any killing or humiliating treatment
"I wasn't yet eight years old," recalls Ben Zion Drutin
"They hung huge notices that said that all Jewish men aged 16-60 had to come to the town square one morning
but my mother blocked the doorway and argued with him
he gave in and decided to go to my grandfather's village."
Yehoshua Blatt says that "it was the last time I saw my father." At the time
Blatt's father was working for the Germans in their nearby warehouses
who was in the middle of the morning prayer
that he would share in everyone else's fate," Blatt-Arad says
which saved the latter's life because the Nazis didn't want to lose cheap labor and ordered the workers to stay in the factory
The death march set out from Chelm on a Friday afternoon
she remembers how as a three-year-old child she was horrified
I grew up – from age three to 30," she recalls
"I saw them bury the chief rabbi alive in the square and force the other Jews to watch
so a German grabbed him and impaled him on a fence
the Germans separated the community leaders and strong men
Yehoshua Blatt heard the shots from the factory where he was working
but he didn't know what hell was taking place only a few miles away
with a lot of them losing their shoes along the way
They walked miles and miles to the next town over
where they added another 2,000 Jews," Blatt-Arad says
Zvi Hirsch Blatt was having trouble keeping up
The Nazis were on horseback while the Jews were shoeless
Anyone who dared to help those who fell was brutally shot
The rest continued marching until they reached the border between Nazi-occupied Poland and the Russians – the Bug River
"The Nazis forced the survivors of the march to jump into the river
saying that anyone who made it to the Russian side would be saved," Blatt-Arad says
"The problem was that they were shooting at them from one side
the Jews were marched a distance of 52 to 60 km (32 to 37 miles) in unimaginable conditions
an ongoing nightmare that would end in death
Only a few dozen people survived the terrible march
most of whom managed to cross the river and then remained in Soviet territory until the end of the war
which was how the town's Jewish residents learned what had happened to their loved ones and friends
Others had heard about it from Polish villagers who lived nearby
"I'll never forget the huge notices and the hesitation about whether or not to arrive
People left normal and returned as fragments
We heard the stories of the few who returned
some 2,000 of the Jewish men and boys from Chelm had been murdered
Most of the Jews of Chelm were later murdered in ghettoes and deported to the Sobibor death camp
Netali-Gonen and Drutin somehow managed to survive
while Drutin was secreted in a small apartment
"Just before the third deportation we were warned
so we ran away and hid at the home of a Gentile man who had promised my father that if we were in trouble
For two years we didn't see the light of day
We were hidden in the basement and we heard the Nazis flirting with the girls in the shop next door," Drutin says
taking an unusual route that brought them almost as far as Iran
Nechama spent the period immediately after the war in four different DP camps and was eventually allowed to leave for either the U.S
She made her choice without hesitation: "We arrived in Israel on board the ship Galila
which docked at Atlit exactly two days after [David] Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the state." She served in the army and a few years later moved to the U.S.
She works as a docent in the Holocaust Museum in New York and shares her memories with anyone who will listen
and the survivors of the Chelm death march passed away one after the other
The youngest people in the march would now be 96 had they survived
Their children and grandchildren have taken on the mission of keeping the memory of the atrocities alive
They founded the Chelmer Organization of Israel
"The descendants of the communities that were destroyed set up organizations to commemorate their families and friends
People were left orphaned and had a burning need to commemorate their relatives
So there was a need for the second and third generations to take charge," Levkovitz says
the descendants of the Jews of Chelm plan to set off on a commemorative march that will follow the path their murdered family members were forced to take
and we have made it our goal to make people aware of it," Levkovitz explains
Members of his group reached out to the Chelm city authorities and received approval to hold a series of ceremonies in the same square where the Chelm Jews were gathered and at five sites of mass graves
and it took a long time for people to come back from labor camps and death camps
That handful pledged its word to not forget and to tell the story
It's a shame that the first deportation isn't remembered
Anyone who survived it went through so many things
Five years passed before we were freed from the nightmare," Drutin says
Israel has launched Operation "Port City," striking concrete plants
and cargo docks at the Houthi-controlled port in coordination with..
Indications obtained by Israel Hayom suggest that in recent weeks
The British police launched an urgent operation to stop Iranian terror cells operating within the country
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Jews are known for being by and large intelligent people
There are plenty of us who put the rest of us to shame
Perhaps this is why we love to tell stories of the famed village of Chelm – you know
the one that is filled with people of highly suspect intelligence
The resident of Chelm who displays these characteristics best
goes by the name “Chaim Yankel.” So without further ado
here are the top ten jokes about Chelm and Chaim Yankel
Two men from Chelm were watching the 11:00 news featuring a story about a guy jumping off of a bridge
Chaim says to Yankel “I bet you $10 he jumps."
The guy jumps so Yankel goes to give Chaim the money
I saw the 10 O’clock news and they showed the same story."
Yankel says "So did I but I didn't think he would jump again!!!"
made his neighbors proud by being the first member of his town to be accepted into medical school
a doctor points out an X-ray to a group of the medical students
"the patient limps because his left fibula and tibia are radically arched
what would you do in a case like this?"
Goldstein opened a walk in clinic in the famed city of Chelm
a fellow named Chaim Yankel walked in and said
“I know for a fact that your body is fine,” said Dr
“How could you know such a thing?” asked Chaim Yankel
"Because your finger is broken."
His wife Ruchie decided to leave the new baby with him for the day while she went out to do some shopping
She found the disposable diaper full and leaking
Didn't you bother to check the baby's diaper all day?"
The box says it's good for up to eight pounds!"
The Epsteins were mourning the passing of their beloved Bubbie Bayla
Bubbie Bayla always had a soft spot for Chaim Yankel
a perpetually unsuccessful businessman in their community who had recently opened a funeral home
so the Epsteins decided to give him the business
David Epstein marched into Chaim Yankel's office
"I don't?" replied David Epstein
"Would you be upset if you received a bill from the funeral home
where on the bottom of the receipt it reads
Chaim Yankel recently opened up a flower shop and he was trying his best to win new customers
although he always seemed to get himself in trouble
One day an angry man came storming into his store
“What the heck is going on here?” he demanded
“I just lost one of my main clients and it’s your fault!”
“Why don’t you calm down a bit sir” said Chaim Yankel
“Explain to me what exactly happened.”
“Well,” said the man “My biggest client
and to be nice I called you guys up and asked you to send him some flowers with a note saying “congratulations.”
“What’s the big deal with sending me flowers with a note that says ‘My condolences’?!”
“Are you sure your client's name is Abe Cohen and not Abe Epstein?” asked Chaim Yankel
well I guess now I know why I got that nasty message from the funeral parlor.”
John walked into work and saw his co-worker Chaim Yankel looking particularly sour
“Hey what’s wrong buddy?” he asked
Chaim Yankel looked up with a forlorn expression on his face
“You remember last month how my great aunt passed on and left me $2,000?”
“Yes,” said John nodding his head
“And you remember how the month before my great uncle passed on and left me $5000?”
“Well this month is almost over,” said Chaim Yankel with a wave of his hand
Chaim Yankel was overdue for his appointment with Dr
Epstein called him at home to check up on him
“You're over a month late for your appointment
Don't you know that nervous disorders like yours require prompt and regular attention
“What are you talking about?” asked Dr
“Sure you did,” replied Chaim Yankel
“You told me to avoid people who cause me stress and irritate me.”
Chaim Yankel was sitting at the bar just staring at his drink for half an hour when this big biker sits next to him
grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig
I was just giving you a hard time," the biker says
"I can't stand to see a man crying."
"This is the worst day of my life," Chaim Yankel says between sobs
I overslept and was late to an important meeting
I found my car was stolen and I don't have any insurance
I discovered my wallet was still in the cab
So I came to this bar trying to work up the courage to put an end to my life
and then you show up and drink the poison!"
Chaim Yankel called the doctor in Chelm and shouted frantically into the phone
"My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor asked
"What kind of question is that?!" Chaim Yankel shouted
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Poland – According to Jewish folklore
this hardscrabble town 15 miles from the Ukraine border was created after God entrusted an angel with a sack full of unwise souls
and they all tumbled out in one place: Chelm
True or not, the convoys of buses and trains that steadily arrive with refugees from war-torn Ukraine prove that Chelm is anything but a place full of fools
"It's amazing, it's just amazing," beams Olea Khomenok, 37, from Lutsk, in Ukraine's northwest
as she describes how her son was welcomed in a Chelm school on his eighth birthday with more toys
sweets and companionship than he knew what to do with
an assistant dean at a university before the war
arrived here several days after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb
She straightaway volunteered as a translator for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians following in her footsteps
crossing into Poland and farther into the European Union via Chelm
which sits on the banks of the Ochrza River near Lublin
At least 2.8 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, according to the United Nations' refugee agency
More than 1.7 million have crossed into Poland
streaming into border towns such as Chelm to a fulsome welcome that includes everything from hot meals to warm beds
In Poland's largest cities, officials plead for international help to deal with the refugee crisis
warning that resources are stretched too thin
It's not clear when Chelm will reach a tipping point
the town's residents have been overwhelmingly generous in their response
transforming hotels into refugee havens and cellphone stores into free charging stations.
Khomenok's son is the only Ukrainian speaker in his new
He's been consumed by dark thoughts about what might happen to his country and his father
who like all Ukrainian men ages 18 to 60 was ordered by Ukraine's government to stay behind to help with the war effort
"He's destroyed inside," Khomenok says of her son
Live updates: 35 killed, 134 hurt in Russian attack targeting Yavoriv military range near Lviv
pulls into Chelm station at 10:44 a.m.
several hundred different stories and circumstances of escape
disquiet and confusion eagerly prepare to disembark
Children press their hands against the train's windows or stand on seats to get a better look at what awaits them in Poland and beyond
Mothers gather up small bags and backpacks
stick woolen hats on teenagers and gently rock crying babies
Everyone keeps one watchful eye on elderly relatives, particularly vulnerable to the hardships of forced displacement because of physical decline, limited foreign language skills and little experience of life on the move compared with younger generations
"Everyone needs to help in a situation like this
It's what makes a good person," says Andrzej Wencka
managing a group of trainee firefighters at Chelm station
They prepare to offload everything from prams to plastic bags filled with potato chips
"It's really hard to see the old people disoriented and not knowing what's happening," he says
War crimes: Putin war crimes in Ukraine will be investigated, but Russian leaders unlikely to be prosecuted
the train's automatic doors open for the first few carriages
escort passengers to an adjacent makeshift border control office
then waited 11 hours in Lviv before a final five-hour ride brought them to Chelm
She has no idea how they'll get there or whether Spanish authorities will let them into the country – or permit them to remain
"We want to go to a safe country," his mother says before being swallowed up by a passport line
cardboard boxes stuffed with food and toys are collected in corners
Mariupol under attack: 'Worse than hell': Mother fears for her daughter as Russia lays siege to the Ukrainian city
Volunteer paramedics and nurses from France and Germany
who came to this small Polish city after seeing photos on the news about the flood of refugees
ibuprofen and bandages are neatly stacked on a long table
A storage closet behind it was turned into a private examination room with two cots
"The people coming off these trains have all kinds of health problems," says Mikael Netivi
a volunteer medic from Heidelberg in southwestern Germany
Netivi says he and another German medic treated 300 of about 9,000 people who passed through Chelm station the previous night
coach buses and cars line up for passengers
clutching cardboard coffee cups and talking on their phones
People hold signs with the names of those they’re expecting.
coordinating his city’s response to the refugees
rushes through the hallway of his office building near the center of town flanked by two assistants handing him notes
He is ushered out of one room and into another for meetings about the refugee situation
The receptionist takes one call after another as the phone continually rings
“We’re trying to do everything we can,” he says in an interview with USA TODAY in his office
our help won’t be effective.”
That requires a lot of communication about how to best receive the thousands of refugees who pass daily through Chelm
shelter and refer them to housing or transportation to other cities
Banaszek talks with city leaders throughout Poland and in other small towns along the Ukrainian border each day
but it’s a difficult situation for both the residents and the refugees.
More: Ukrainian refugees leave everything behind, except these few treasured items, as they flee Russian attack
The town has a population of 64,000 people and more than 3,000 places for refugees to sleep
The majority of Chelm residents help in some way
One property owner who rents apartments on Airbnb says he reserved all his properties for refugees
Utility companies cover electricity and water for refugee residences
Cellphone stores in Chelm offer free power banks for charging devices
along with Polish SIM cards with free data and calling minutes.
but we want to help," says Alicja Brzozowska
which has given all 45 of its rooms to refugees for free
Brzozowska feeds them and made her hotel a collection center for donations
One back room is filled with diapers.
whose idea it was to house the refugees free of charge, wear stickers on their shirts with the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine's flag in the shape of an angel
They say they can keep going until the beginning of April
when the hotel is booked for wedding season.
"The food here has been so delicious," says Ann Belichenko
as she sits at a table in the hotel's restaurant with her mother
Belichenko's voice trembles as she recounts their escape from near the eastern city of Kharkiv
there wasn't enough time to say goodbye to her grandmother
The uncle who drove them to the border – the father of the baby
Veronika – was crying when he dropped them off because he wasn't sure if he'd ever see them again
Belichenko says they crack jokes to keep their spirits up.
"Books and sci-fi movies – these are my big loves," she says. "I want to finish reading Harry Potter
I have read only the first three books."
A pastor offers hot meals and a place to sleep Not far from the town’s center
Chelm Baptist Church is a bustling hub for Ukrainians looking for a hot meal
a place to sleep and to figure out their next steps.
others loading them up to head to other European countries
One man from Latvia has been making trips back and forth for more than a week
emptying his van and filling it back up with people to transport to new homes in the Baltic country
which has about 150 members and is part of a nationwide network of churches with 6,000 members in 100 congregations throughout Poland
pulpit and balcony into a large sleeping room
More than 200 cots in tidy rows fill the room
each neatly made with brightly colored blankets and pillows
food and the rest and the hope,” says Henrik Skrzypkowski
“Hope because we try to find and send them to safe places in our country or another European country.”
Skrzypkowski opened the church's doors after seeing the war begin in Ukraine on TV while on a skiing vacation
knowing it would probably be an entry point for Ukrainians coming to the country by train
'Bombs, bombs, bombs': Ukrainian refugees describe harrowing journey to Poland
The leaders of Poland’s two largest cities, Warsaw and Krakow, said Friday that they cannot take in Ukrainian refugees much longer. In statements on Twitter and Facebook
the mayors of both cities said the surge of people – 300,000 to Warsaw and 100,000 to Krakow over the past two weeks – stressed their resources and infrastructure
They asked the European Union to help and said they are looking to send newly arriving refugees to smaller Polish cities
Poland's immense welcome of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians trudging though freezing temperatures to reach its territory is a dramatic reversal from how the country's government reacted to Europe's refugee crisis in 2016
when it largely refused entry to Syrians and other people fleeting conflicts in the Middle East
Poland's government has lurched to the right as President Andrzej Duda tightened the government's grip on state institutions
Catholic Church-friendly policies such as making it illegal to get an abortion in most circumstances
"Now because there is a war on our border and Polish people feel more close culturally to Ukrainians
there is more acceptance of these refugees," says Mateusz Klinowksi
the former mayor of a town near Krakow and a law professor who has lobbied for years for Poland to take in more asylum seekers
He says "Islamophobia" informs Poland's policies on the issue
‘Fix the breach’: Harris on a cleanup mission with Poland after US rejects fighter jet plan for Ukraine
Skrzypkowski's church is filled by refugees
He says Poles have been inspired to help with this crisis because they remember what it is like to be invaded
as they were by the Germans in World War II
despite the fact that Poles and Ukrainians fought each other during the second half of the war.
The war has taken so much from Ukrainians – homes
lives – but it hasn't been able to stamp out the normal giggles and playful shrieks from children in Skrzypkowski's church.
The play area feels like a normal day care
Mothers sit on couches and watch their kids zoom around and burn off pent-up energy
A 4-year-old in a felt dinosaur suit wanders in and out and around a bunch of 8-year-olds sweatily playing tag and throwing a ball around
and houses are collapsing," says Eva Terasenko
taking a break from drawing on a plastic My Little Pony doll to talk with USA TODAY.
drawings by refugee children who passed through the church tell the story in crayon: The Polish and Ukrainian flags sit side-by-side in idealized skies or on desert islands
stick figures march toward a horizon filled with swirling dark clouds
"I am always dreaming about the end of the war and everything will be OK like it was before," Terasenko says
the stories of the fools of Chelm belong on the shelves of any child with a taste for the ridiculous and — with the clarity of kids — an ability to see through self-delusion
Tales of Chelm, staged by the Jewish Arts Collaborative’s Theaterworks
Chelm (pronounced Helm with a guttural ch, as in Bach) is a real place: I have a friend whose ancestors emigrated from there. A town in southeast Poland 65 kilometers southeast of Lublin that at the beginning of World War II had a population of 18,000 Jews — 60% of the town’s inhabitants — numbered only 60 left after the Holocaust
Yet Chelm has lived on in legend as a place where the Jewish townspeople
upon coming into contact with Jews and gentiles from surrounding towns — real cities and invented places with names like Yenemsvelt (the boondocks) and Yichupitz (nowhere land) — they invariably take the wrong lesson from their encounters
Boston’s Jewish Arts Collaborative is offering free, bite-sized tastes of Chelm stories to take families through the cold evenings of February
A new episode — ranging from five to 15 minutes in length — will premiere online every Thursday at 8 p.m
Adapted by Jesse Garlick and Dori Robinson from versions by Texas rabbi Seymour Rossel
each tale is told using different theatrical methods — shadow puppetry
all performed by the ensemble of JArts TheatreWorks Group
designed with a charming Ashkenazi Jewish papercut aesthetic to introduce the story of how Chelm came to be overpopulated with fools (spoiler: the bag of foolish souls an angel was carrying broke and everyone spilled out)
has a nice sense of specificity but a distracting screen that looks like it’s been daubed with Wite Out and a sound mix that garbles the best lines
Gedaliah the Goniff (Yiddish for thief) and policeman Zalman Shlomo the Gatekeeper (who for some reason slips in and out of a vaguely American Southern accent) are the ultimate symbiotic odd couple
agreeing that they can go out for a “final nosh” at a nearby restaurant before the goniff’s arraignment
This is the most successful of the four episodes
and kids will love the way it channels the Muppets — although I don’t know how the Henson family will feel about it
Tales of Chelm — How the Chelmites Stole the Moon
There are real problems in JArts Theatreworks’ How the Chelmites Stole the Moon
the story of how the Chelmites tried to capture the moon — actually
with actors loudly geshrieing behind generic masks and the hand-held camera bobbling along
and the closeup shot where the townspeople look into the barrel may be too creepy for little kids
But I’m more concerned that the JArts artists don’t seem to know much about basic Jewish customs
— when in How the Town of Chelm Came to Be God had a woman’s voice
and have no problem with the “wise men” being wise people: any shtetl populated only by guys with beards is no place for 21st-century kids to play
But this version of How the Chelmites Stole the Moon implies that the Jews pray to the full moon
Jews don’t pray to the moon: we bless it to mark the changing month
that monthly prayer for the moon is the new moon
Didn’t anybody involved in this production know enough to catch this basic mistake
When a Jewish organization is promoting the pleasures of connecting with Jewish folklore and identity
Robert Cope makes an appealing storyteller in the final Tales of Chelm episode
this medley of Chelm motifs eventually settles on sharing the story of the Chelmites recognizing their town’s unfair income distribution and traveling to Lvov to buy some justice
You could take a story like this in a much more imaginative and timely direction
and again the sound mix leaves a lot to be desired
but the tired donkey’s ride back to Chelm is a deliciously unexpected tip of the hat to another children’s classic
As a long-time freelance writer and adjunct professor
I leave you with my personal favorite Chelm joke:
A Torah teacher in Chelm was speaking with his wife
“If you were Rothschild you would both have exactly the same amount of money.”
“But I’d do a little teaching on the side.”
Executive Director of Boston Dance Alliance
heard Chelm stories before she could read them to herself
She is a founding contributor and Arts Fuse Board member
Apparently critic Debra Cash has not seen a single Disney movie
Because just about all of them have parts that are far creepier than what she referenced above
(Side note: the Jews weren’t praying to the moon
Debra Cash committed a type 2 error here.)
particularly in light of the tiny budget and short timeframe
Many years ago I read an article in Spin magazine in which the writer described the band Phish as “jazz
It was then that I realized that critics at well-known publications can incorporate into their pieces both worthless opinions and a complete disregard of the facts
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The Lady’s Dressing Room (1732) BY JONATHAN SWIFT Five hours
(and who can do it less in?) By haughty Celia…
but this Littlefield review has convinced me to make the purchase
your comments reek of what is wrong in today's society and also if entitlement
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elections in the 39th World Zionist Congress nears conclusion—voting closes May 4—American Zionist Movement (AZM) Executive Director Herbert Block said there were few barriers of entry to voting in what Jewish leaders are describing as a consequential election
We are here today because Jewish fathers and mothers wanted more than happiness from their children
The bipartisan group includes Los Angeles representatives
Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Ted Lieu (D-West LA)
Speaking ill of someone once most likely leads to a second time
Too many automated requests from this network
Rogers Park releases "Chelm", an upbeat single as a homage to the legendary town known for its wise inhabitants and humorous shenanigans. Full Story, Video
an upbeat single as a homage to the legendary town known for its wise inhabitants and humorous shenanigans
“Chelm stories have always been a part of our life
we think it’s a travesty that few to zero songs have celebrated this town that has produced endless folk-tales and jokes.” Says Yosef Peysin
vocalist and guitarist for Rogers Park Band
we had rough times in Eastern Europe and our music got pretty somber
We are determined to give the lighthearted Chelm residents their moment in the limelight.”
With a music video set at Goldschein’s Homestead in Liberty
the duo of Mordy Kurtz and Yosef Peysin revel in the joy of letting go and celebrating the joys of shtetl living
With references to Chelm stories such as the famous barrel which captured the reflection of the moon
and the location of the town near “Belz” which never ring
the song is laced with references and humor which might just… Reawaken the open hearted faith that Chelm is known for
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Though apparently the ppl of chelm were very very smart and spread silly stories about themselves to keep away the ayin hara
As my Zaidy who was a chadidish (radzina) yid from Chelm used to say that it was the maskilim making fun of the frum chasidish yiden making them look foolish
Great song great vibes they have great future and great voice !
the city of Chełm (Republic of Poland) held official events to celebrate the City Days
At the invitation of President of Chełm Jakub Banaszek
a delegation from Lutsk City Council attended the event
The delegation included Head of the General Department Nadiya Bortnik
Head of the Service for Children Fedir Shulgan
and Chief Specialist of Project Activities Division of International Cooperation and Project Activities Department Anastasiia Klushyna
The official events started at the Maria Paulina Orsetti Public Library in Chełm
the audience was addressed with welcoming speeches by Deputy Mayors of Chełm Radosław Wnuk and Dorota Cieslik
newly elected Secretary of Chełm City Council Dorota Rybachuk
Deputy Secretary of Chełm City Council Malgorzata Sokół
as well as Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Chełm Stanisław Adamiak and Consul General of Ukraine in Lublin Oleh Kuts
In order to acquaint the newly elected councillors for the 2024-2029 term with the city's international partnerships
representatives from the invited delegations provided presentations about their communities
Lithuania (Utena) and Palestine (Beit Sahour)
Delegation representatives provided an overview of various aspects of life in their cities and the outcomes of their cooperation with the city of Chełm as part of the established partnerships
This was followed by discussion panels to explore plans for potential cooperation in the areas of culture
During the official opening of the Chełm Days
expressed his gratitude to the delegations from partner cities for their arrival
especially those from countries currently facing war
He noted that their visit is very important for Chełm
the representatives of partner cities greeted the residents of Chełm and extended their best wishes
The delegations were also offered a tour around the local chalk dungeons
that are a unique world-class tourist attraction
as the underground hallways carved into the chalk rock stretch across the entire Old Town
with chalk deposits occupying several ‘floors’ underground
Television
Growing up in Israel, one of my favorite books was “The Unforgettable Tales of the Wise Men of Chelm,” written by Shlomo Abas, with hilarious illustrations by Ami Rubinger and inspired by the classic Yiddish folktales
I read it over and over again — and retold its silly joke-like tales to many an unwilling and unwitting friend and stranger (sorry about that.)
The tales of the “sages” or rather, the fools of this mythical Polish Jewish shtetl have inspired generations upon generations of Jews — and now, they’re about to inspire a new generation of kids (and arguably, adults) thanks to none other than Sacha Baron Cohen
That’s right, one of our favorite Jewish dads in the world is making a super-Jewish TV show for all of our kids — somebody pinch me, please! The father of three is helming a family-oriented HBO Max and Cartoon Network animated TV special titled “Chelm: The Smartest Place On Earth.”
Cohen will be narrating the show and is also an executive producer
He is developing the special with Mike Judge and Greg Daniels
the creators of the animated hit “King of the Hill.” (Judge also created the unforgettable “Beavis and Butthead,” who let’s face it
are very Chelm-like in demeanor) Jewish TV creator Michael Koman
could earn himself a place of honor in a village of Jewish fools — is also co-developing the special and writing for it
“Chelm: The Smartest Place On Earth” will be family-friendly
we’re sure it’s also going to be edgy and irreverent enough to compel an audience of all ages — and make all of them laugh out loud
head of kids & family programming at Warner Bros.
said the show “is a perfect pairing of comedy and satire
and no one does that combination better than Sacha
hysterical life into the nonsensical Chelmic wisdom that originated from this imaginary city of folks who aren’t quite the sharpest tools in the shed,” Friedman recounted in a statement
Lior Zaltzman is the deputy managing editor of Kveller
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Courtesy of Jewish Arts Collaborative Boston
We’re excited to partner with JArts TheatreWorks Group on Tales of Chelm
a series based on “The Wise Folk of Chelm” by Rabbi Seymour Rossel
Adaptors Jesse Garlick and Dori Robinson approach classic Jewish folktales through a modern lens in Tales of Chelm
Tales of Chelm utilizes innovate performance techniques
to tell the stories of the people of Chelm— Eastern European villagers who considered themselves uniquely wise
and whose antics have been amusing us since the sixteenth century
follow along as they attempt the seemingly impossible
and discover why Jewish culture has rendered these stories immortal
A new Tales of Chelm episode will premiere every Thursday at 8 p.m
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HBO Max and Cartoon Network announced today during the Warner Bros
Discovery Upfronts that Sacha Baron Cohen (Academy Award-nominated Borat and Who Is America?) has teamed up with Greg Daniels (King of the Hill) and Mike Judge (King of the Hill) of the newly formed Bandera Entertainment
EP of HBO’s How to with John Wilson) to bring their fresh wit to new
younger audiences with a new family-oriented animated special
Set in the mythical “Town of Fools” and originally told in Yiddish
Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth shares the absurdist humor and interpretive questioning that is a nod to Jewish intellectual traditions
the special will present a fresh take on the silly antics and exaggerated conflicts of the town
while also preserving the essence and heart of the classic folktales
“This pitch was so hilarious; we just knew the HBO Max audience needed to get a dose of this original brand of storytelling
Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth is a perfect pairing of comedy and satire
hysterical life into the nonsensical Chelmic wisdom that originated from this imaginary city of folks who aren’t quite the sharpest tools in the shed.”
Greg Daniels and Mike Judge are developing the story with Michael Koman
The four will executive produce the special
alongside Bandera’s President Dustin Davis
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"Ukrzaliznytsia" will speed up the train from Kyiv to Warsaw from June 9
The journey will be shortened by 1 hour 23 minutes thanks to the optimization of border and customs operations at the Dorohusk station in Poland
About this reported the press service of the carrier
The schedule of trains to Helm has also been adjusted:
that the sale of tickets according to the updated schedule from June 9 has already begun
You can view the timetable and buy tickets in the application and on the updated website of the railway
"Ukrzaliznytsia" will turn off the lighting at the largest stations in order to save electricity
"Ukrzaliznytsia" will launch a modernized Lviv-Rivne electric train
Ukrzaliznytsia returns the "Intercity+" train from Kyiv to Odesa
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Shigeru Ban’s paper partition system turned a former supermarket into a refugee center in Chełm
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban’s resourceful technique for creating paper emergency shelters is helping displaced Ukrainians across Europe.
XLinkedInEmailLinkGiftFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftBy Kriston CappsMarch 25
2022 at 10:00 AM EDTBookmarkSaveWhen the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban watched the searing images of Ukrainians fleeing their homes as war arrived at their doorsteps
he recognized a humanitarian crisis he had seen before: Displaced families
were packed into hastily constructed refugee centers that offered little in the way of privacy
“That was exactly the same condition after the earthquake in Japan,” says Ban
The March 2011 quake and subsequent tsunami displaced hundreds of thousands of people
who sought temporary shelter in gymnasiums and other public buildings
the architect developed a partition system using rigid paper tubes — part of a humanitarian mission that has earned the design field’s highest accolades — in order to make ad-hoc facilities more livable for vulnerable families
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Learn more about our work across the world
Solving the world's greatest problem—lostness
Learn how you can get involved in the Great Pursuit
and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
This verse embodies Chelm Baptist Church’s response to Ukrainian refugees who have made long and arduous journeys out of their homeland and who are burdened by the loss of life as they knew it in Ukraine
The Polish city of Chelm is located 16 miles from the border of Ukraine
Pastor Henryk Skrzypkowski and members of Chelm Baptist Church opened the Christian Transit Center for Ukrainian refugees and have received more than 2,000 refugees
and their registration desk and kitchen are open 24 hours
Some refugees stay for a warm meal and a rest before their journey onward
Refugees are directed to Polish Baptist camps in other cities
Sasza is one of the many refugees who found solace in the center
Sasza traveled to Chelm at the beginning of the exodus and before the enactment of martial law
which requires men 18 years and older to remain in Ukraine
The 20-year-old Ukrainian believer came to the Christian Transit Center with his sisters and mother
Sasza’s family has since moved to another city in Chelm
but Sasza remained at the center as a volunteer
some Polish and English and bridges language barriers for other volunteers
“His attitude is encouraging for all of us here
but gives all the glory to God,” Joanna Marcyniak
Marcyniak attends a Polish Baptist church in the city of Poznań and traveled to volunteer her time to manage the church’s Facebook page and post updates
is a Ukrainian refugee who chose to stay in the Christian Transit Center in Chelm Baptist Church
He stayed to volunteer his service to other Ukrainian Christians
In addition to serving those who come to them
this week the church sent two cars to the border with medication and food
for the first time in the church’s history
Chelm Baptist Church’s Sunday morning service did not take place in their sanctuary
To continue the ministry of the Christian Transit Center
the service took place in Chełm’s Community Center
The worship service opened with “Amazing Grace.”
The lyrics of the third verse were apropos for Ukrainian refugees
“Jesus didn’t send the hungry people packing
Even though we might have a temptation to wash our hands of the responsibility
We want to be closer to Jesus and the kingdom of Heaven
Two Ukrainian refugees sit on beds in Chelm Baptist Church
The church opened a transit center to receive refugees
Skrzypkowski shared in his message what stood out to him was how Jesus organized the feeding
Jesus instructed the disciples to organize the crowd into smaller groups to provide for their needs
The church in Chelm is working toward this
He called for unity and organization in the days and weeks to come
I mean the whole Christian world,” Skrzypkowski said
“We have to employ more people,” he continued
“We have to build relationships and cooperation in the countries where refugees are going – Latvia
that the people are going to join you through our ministry
and that they are going to have a new life.”
church members had the opportunity to listen to volunteers visiting from the U.S.
Both were among the first volunteers to arrive
a representative from the Baptist Union of Latvia also shared
I was just amazed at what you guys have done
You have transformed your church into a house of hope and love,” he said
“The volunteers and staff work tirelessly.”
“Maybe it really took a tragedy like this to wake up the sleeping giant that is the Church of Christ
I am just happy we are united by this love that we have received from God and that we can serve others in need,” Thomas said
A Ukrainian child sleeps in the sanctuary of Chelm Baptist Church as adults pray over the refugees who are arriving
The church has received more than 2,000 refugees from Ukraine
Many stay in the church for a night or two before traveling onward to the homes of family or friends or to Baptist camps that are equipped to receive refugees
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them
as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers
Thomas encouraged those present at the service that they were living out these verses
“Everything that you do has eternal value – all the cooking
all the cleaning – and I believe the Ukrainian people can see and feel that
The church was not charged for the use of the center on Sunday
The community – mostly non-Christian – in Chelm rallied behind the church
A pharmacy provides medicine free of charge
Hotels and restaurants provide food at no cost
and others have volunteered their time and services
“We can see people from all over this town are moved by the scale of actions of this church,” Marcyniak said
Church members and Christians frequently gather to pray for Ukraine in the church’s sanctuary
Prayers and songs are voiced in multiple languages – Polish
“We want to encourage one another with the Word of God and confide in His grace and unlimited mercy
and together we entrust our worries and everyday struggles to Him,” Marcyniak said
Chelm Baptist Church asked for Christians to join them in prayer for the following:
and we are grateful for each one of your prayers,” Marcyniak posted on the Facebook page
To follow the ministry of the church, visit their Facebook page
Read stories of IMB work in Ukraine from the past and present, as you thank God for how He has uniquely positioned your missionaries to respond at this time. Join Southern Baptist relief efforts.
Caroline Anderson is a writer for the IMB.
©2025 International Mission Board, SBC | The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman's Missionary Union.
Sacha Baron Cohen is creating a new animated comedy special for HBO Max and Cartoon Network called Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth.
The family-oriented cartoon special is set in the mythical “Town of Fools”
and is based on folktales originally told in Yiddish
Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth will have absurdist humor and interpretive questioning that is a nod to Jewish intellectual traditions
and present a "fresh take on the silly antics and exaggerated conflicts of the town
while also preserving the essence and heart of the classic folktales."
the special is being created by Greg Daniels and Mike Judge (of King of the Hill fame)
the SNL writer and co-creator of Nathan for You
Chelm: The Smartest Place on Earth is a perfect pairing of comedy and satire
head of kids & family programming at Warner Bros
For more fun animation, check out the best adult cartoon TV series and the top 100 animated series of all time
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor
Maltese mother-of-two Christina Lejman works with local humanitarian voluntary organisation MOAS
their HQ team travelled to Ukraine to visit their projects on the front line of the war
where 150 medics and drivers undertake critical care evacuations
This is part one of a six part series recounting her experiences
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Editor’s note: In Ashkenazi Jewish folklore, the (very real) city of Chelm functions as an imaginary town of fools
Many tales from this tradition are entitled “The Wise Men of Chelm.” The following piece continues in that tradition
and even street brawls— there had been a particularly bad fight between the Guild of Shoemakers and the Guild of Tanners
the chief of police and head of town council
called a meeting with the town wise men— Shmerel the Ox
“We must do something about all of this bad behavior and violence,” Efraim told the wise men
was hit in the head with a monkey wrench and had to take to bed for the day.”
All of the wise men agreed that the situation had grown serious indeed
all of the wise men themselves had taken to drink as a result of the widespread availability of moonshine
so much so that they could barely speak or listen to the discussion properly
Dopey asked the oldest and wisest of the elders
who was staring at them in a red-eyed stupor
“The police force of Chelm— Chaimy Stickyfingers and Shepsele Thickwad— must be given what other towns have— guns,” said Shmerele
they can stop the spread of crime in Chelm.”
“Can Chaimy and Shepsel be everywhere at once
Mit eyn tokhes ken men nit tantsn af tsvey khasenes (you can’t dance at two weddings with one tuches)
All of the upstanding citizens of Chelm should be given schissers
and when the criminals come they can defend themselves!”
All of the sage elders nodded their heads appreciatively
They had seen Westerns for themselves on the town’s ramshackle new film projector and were somewhat fond of the idea of strapping a schisser to their side and walking through the middle of town
This seemed even a better idea after they each had a glass of the moonshine Silly Tudras had brought to the meeting
Arrangements were made for guns to be shipped in and sold at market
alarmed that so many other people would have guns
rushed to buy their own to defend themselves
and the number of people owning guns increased quickly
both from violent confrontations and accidental shootings
The wise men of Chelm again convened a meeting
“Who is responsible for all of these shootings?”
Everyone agreed it was largely the criminal element
who had somehow managed to get ahold of many of the guns
but there also had been an increase in shootings in domestic situations
a prominent business man in the community named Kugelhead Trumpetblower
stood up and demanded to replace the current head of town council
Efraim Shtusser so that he could bring real change to Chelm
but he was very wealthy and argued that his business expertise would serve him well in cleaning up Chelm and stopping what he called “Chelmian carnage,” a phrase no one really understood
“I will get the job done,” said Trumpetblower
We’re going to make Chelm great again!” All the wise men were very impressed
especially when he handed out steaks and vodka from his very own Inn
though upon examination both the vodka and the steaks left something to be desired
Trumpetblower lost no time in finding the source of the trouble: people from the nearby town of Lublin
and had been infiltrating the town and attacking it’s good people
who they were very jealous of on account of the great wisdom in Chelm
The answer lay in building a great wall to keep out the Lubliners
and also in making it easier to buy guns so that the people of Chelm could defend themselves from any that happened to creep in
Trumpetblower had a brick business and would be happy to sell the town his own bricks
Silly Tudras reminded them that many of Trumpetblower’s buildings had in fact fallen down
What would someone whose walls had never fallen down know about the danger of badly built walls?” The wise men all agreed that this made a lot of sense
The workers of Chelm got started building the wall
In the meantime injuries and deaths from shootings continued to grow
who was only half aware of how and why things were benefitting him so much
the great day came when the wall was finished
his wife Melonhead and his daughter Iwantta toured along with his son-in-law
The Rebbe Reb Cushiony was in the middle of reciting something that sounded like psalms (his pronunciation seemed a bit off) when Silly Tudras’ wife was heard shouting above the crowd
Everyone turned to hear what she was saying
“The wall was not built to let people in or out!”
“It is to stop people from coming in or out!” All of the people murmured in agreement
imitating Silly Tudras’ high pitched voice
How do you think so many thieves get into people’s houses
How do you think so many people get shot!”
This made a lot of sense to the people of Chelm
who was steaming with anger and trying to say something else
that the cook at the town tavern began saying something about food imports
jumped up onto the stage and began shouting him down
venerable Trumpetblower has great and wonderful plans to protect the people of Chelm
A quarrel then broke out on the edge of the crowd
Although eyewitnesses claimed the fight was between a Chelmer who loved Trumpetblower and a tradesman who was wondering how he would sell his goods to the Lubliners
Trumpetblower’s associate Salty Shakran told the crowds that the shooting was done by infiltrating Lubliners
anyplace right to his face that he had seen people from Lublin causing the trouble
though now Trumpetblower regularly toured the wall extolling it’s greatness to everyone
With Chelm increasingly isolated from other towns
Trumpetblower and his associates had gotten rid of all the laws regulating the town businesses and made it yet easier to buy guns
crime and violence daily grew instead of decreasing
Trumpetblower had also undone the town laws about dumping refuge (“Meddling
The people of Chelm don’t need all these laws!”)
Chelm grew dirtier and stinkier by the day
Trumpetblower next had all the resident Lubliners kicked out
which depressed some of the people of Chelm greatly
as some of them were their relatives or provided valuable services like making their famous Lubliner pastries
Trumpetblower blamed everything on Shtusser
the former head of town council and now fired chief of police
for not having built a wall sooner and having let in so many people from Lublin in the first place
Over time the people of Chelm grew very restless on account of the great wall
Many of them had relatives in nearby villages they could no longer see
some of the people of Chelm began tunneling under the wall to do business or climbing over it on ladders to visit relatives
What began as a trickle soon became a flood
Trumpetblower’s associates attempted to stem the tide of Chelmers going under or over the fence
and they soon found the Chelmers defending themselves against the police with the easily available guns they had bought
as folks from Lublin and other townships made use of the tunnels and ladders the Chelmers had built
The wise men of Chelm decided to meet once more
and this time they did not invite Trumpetblower
who they had come to regard with a mixture of fear and distaste
especially after he had tried to fire the wise men
forcing them to explain that they had never been hired by anyone in the first place
“The wall no longer keeps anyone out,” Shmerel said to the other wise men
They all thought it was a shame- such a beautiful wall
They all agreed there was no need to tear it down since people had found plenty of ways over and under it
and since it had taken so much work to build
and it was such a great accomplishment for Chelm
that they couldn’t bear to get rid of it now
they needn’t have worried: Trumpetblower made good on his promise to build it cheaply
and in a few months it fell apart of itself
though with the wall down the economy improved again and there was less crime
Silly Tudras’ wife finally managed to convince him that the guns were part of the problem
and the town council voted to once again make them illegal
and so they all agreed to let Trumpetblower alone keep a gun so he could feel safe
died in a freak shooting accident when the gun went off unexpectedly in his pocket
The people of Chelm wailed and mourned after the great businessman and builder of the “Great Wall of Chelm,” and had a very big funeral procession
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The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death
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That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality
which will come into force from 1 January 2025
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
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can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train
that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris
the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors
these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country
The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students
This September, public transport becomes free throughout the entire city of Chelm. However, this is far from the only change in mobility for the Polish city. Public transport is already on the path to a massive modernization, aimed to make it more sustainable and attractive, as was announced by Mayor Jakub Banaszek earlier this week
Chelm is a city in eastern Poland with a population exceeding 60 thousand inhabitants
it is only natural that authorities want to make public transport more attractive and thereby reduce the amount of traffic and the related air pollution
after announcing the free public transport from this autumn
the authorities made clear that they have intentions to modernise the rolling stock and supporting infrastructure
the Mayor explained on his Facebook profile that they will start with the replacement of at least 35 stop sheds
which will additionally be equipped with a passenger information system giving information on the times of departure and arrival
the sustainable transformation goes through the concept of “green stops” – these are bus shelters covered with vegetation and powered on solar energy
They are usually capable of storing rainwater and self-irrigating
plants around the bus stop produce about 10 kg of oxygen per year
thereby improving air quality and reducing the amount of suspended dust and other pollutants
while lowering the temperature inside the bus stop during the summer heat
will supply energy efficient light and ensure warmth
the exact implementation of the project and the timeline depends on citizens as they have been asked for their input on which solutions shall be prioritized
it will be taken into consideration to make the public transport in Chelm more suitable to their needs
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU
national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II
according to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees
More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine
the majority of whom, like 22-year-old Olana Newrzhycka
have been transiting through train stations in tidy, modest provincial towns such as Chelm
Newrzhycka was resting her head on a pillar in a corner of the station and scrolling through her phone searching for news from home
and volunteer stewards passed out soup and water
They remind me of my family," Newrzhycka said as she tucked her hair behind one ear to reveal an earring – precious to her – that belonged to her grandmother
given to her to as a present by another relative
was what she grabbed as Russian shells descended on her apartment building
blowing out the windows and making it untenable for her to stay in Zhytomyr
Newrzhycka hopes to eventually find work in Krakow
She is trying to not think too much about that for now
In Lviv, Ukraine's beleaguered government plans for what might happen in war with Russia
The life of a refugee is about leaving everything behind: family
It often means fleeing with little more than the clothes on your back and whatever you can carry
Many flee with just the most basic necessities to keep their families warm or to stave off hunger
Yet many also refuse to part with items or tokens whose value is exceptionally important to them
more for the memories they invoke or the emotional comfort they afford than their monetary value.
She escaped Ukraine for Poland this week with her family
Russian missile attacks and artillery shut down all the schools in her area
She wore a matching pink sweater and beanie hat with a pompom and exuded giddy excitement despite the circumstances
it was two swimsuits for playing water polo
both with Ukraine's national colors of blue and gold
which has suffered some of the most heavy bombardment from Russian forces
At least 21 civilians have died in Kharkiv
Yusef diligently trained in the sport twice a day – early in the morning and late at night
He is too sad to talk about his swimsuits now
but his mom said he insisted on bringing them with him
He has been playing water polo since he was 7 and hopes to become a coach
“He wants the war to end and come back to home and swim as soon as possible,” Irina Grinchak said
Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine
All the extra space was taken up by books for her daughters
her daughters plucked stuffed animals out of a nearby donation box
hugging them for a bit before dropping them back in
unable to leave Ukraine because of the government's mandate that men ages 18 to 60 stay behind to join the war effort
Zaiceva brought math and reading textbooks
and for the younger child an assortment of Ukrainian fairytales that she reads again and again
One of her favorites is a story about a neglected dog and an old wolf who become friends in a forest and try to persuade the dog's owner to take him back
'I can't answer that question. I simply can't'On the 13th day of the war, Ukraine appears to be holding key cities and territory as Russia faces a crippling economic response from the U.S. and Europe. In Washington, President Joe Biden announced a ban on the U.S. import of Russian oil and gas on Tuesday.
humanitarian corridors for fleeing civilians are continuing to come under attack
pushing waves of refugees like Dasha Kosyanechuk into eastern Europe
to Chelm – a journey that took four days
“I can’t sleep on any other,” she said Tuesday at the Chelm station
where three or four trains arrive each day from Ukraine full of people hoping the worst is behind them but facing a new universe of uncertainty
'No good outcome': Putin's unraveling war plan leaves Russia, Ukraine in precarious positions
medics and various civil society representatives who offer them a helping hand off trains
shelter and even legal and mental health support if they need it
it is not clothes or comfort or memorabilia that matter
"There was no way I was leaving home without my dog," said Angalina Osipenko
as she stood outside the Chelm train station waiting to be picked up by a relative who lives in Poland
Osipenko had worried she would be stopped at the border with Tmatri because she had seen many boxes full of abandoned pooches at the Kharkiv train station
she zipped Tmatri up in her coat and hoped for the best
"She's a well-traveled dog," Osipenko said
most are also weighed down by what they've left behind
I simply can't," said the mother of Anastasia Oleksienko
Her husband stayed behind in Ukraine to fight
One of the unspoken tragedies of this conflict is whether husbands and fathers will ever see their wives and children again
The US is considering a deal to send fighter jets to Ukraine. But will they make a difference?
Mar 16, 2022 | Society
A new shelter in a city near Poland’s border with Ukraine is offering up to 2,000 refugees some degree of privacy with innovative cardboard-and-cloth cubicles designed by an award-winning Japanese architect
The facility has been set up in Chełm at the site of a former Tesco supermarket
has a particularly high demand for temporary shelter as several thousand refugees currently pass through it every day
The city council approached the owners of the building – which closed when Tesco ceased operating in Poland last year – and were given permission to use it for free
The local authorities then worked with the nearby Lublin University of Technology to create the small cubicles
They are constructed from cardboard pipes with paper or cloth curtains draped over them to act as walls
The idea is to make the people staying at the shelter more comfortable
Each of the more than 300 “rooms” has two or four camp beds
a Japanese architect who won the 2014 Pritzker Prize
His design has subsequently been used in a number of countries affected by humanitarian catastrophes
Ban himself visited Chełm to oversee the work
One member of the team working on the project was Jerzy Łątka of Wrocław University of Science and Technology
learning about use of cardboard in architecture
He managed to secure free supplies from cardboard company Corex
“The most common solution used in emergency situations where a large accommodation base is suddenly required is setting up beds in a large hall,” Hubert Trammer
an architect who took part in the construction
people sleep in groups of a few people and you can give them some kind of intimacy so they can at least get changed,” he continued
A large “shop” offering free clothes for refugees from Ukraine has opened in a disused Kraków shopping mall, which has itself also been turned into a temporary shelter for hundreds of refugees https://t.co/bRr6DNyGm5
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 14, 2022
a further 100 cubicles have now been constructed by Łątka and his students at the main railway station in Wrocław
with more to be added elsewhere in the city
Other cities in Poland have also expressed an interest
while further components prepared in Chełm are being sent to Lviv in western Ukraine
Over 1.8 million people have crossed from Ukraine into Poland in the three weeks since Russia’s invasion
Around 30,000 of those have passed through the reception point in Chełm
Evacuation trains arriving in the city have had more than 2,000 passengers
In Kraków, which has received over 100,000 refugees, a new shelter has been set up in a disused shopping mall, along with a “shop” offering free clothes for refugees
many Poles have been hosting refugees in their homes
Recently, however, a number of large cities – including Warsaw – have warned that they have reached the limits of their capacity to help
They have called on the government to provide more support and also to turn to the European Union and United Nations for help
“We can’t take any more refugees”: Polish cities call on government to seek EU and UN help
Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland
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Jakub Banaszek has been the mayor of Chełm since 2018
before graduating from Warsaw University in Law
he has political experience in various positions
including assistant to the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health
a Chief Political Advisor to Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology
he has also served as a councillor of Ochota district in Warsaw
Chełm is a magical city located on one of the Chełm hills which are built from chalk and from which its name comes from
Our city has been shaped for about 1000 years by the multinational surrounding
It has had close contact with the Eastern and Western European culture thanks to being located at the intersection of important routes and thanks to the abundance of such an important natural resource as chalk
The remaining of the natural heritage includes unique in the European scale underground corridors under the old town and a rich history reflected in the interesting architecture
Chełm is the largest city located on the eastern border of the European Union and on an important trade route
which is the gateway between the East and the West
Chełm is the "Mountain of Opportunities" which offers huge hidden potential
These tourist and economic capabilities have not been properly developed so far
and which – with the right commitment and determination – can turn Chełm into a prosperous
vibrant and attractive city for young people
primarily my place on earth – the place where I was born and brought up
which I love and have a great sentiment for
I feel that I should give it as much as possible and I undertake dynamic actions to fulfil my promise to citizens
Chełm is a city of over 60 thousand inhabitants
is the field that has always fascinated me
This led me during my studies to my involvement in local government activities in Warsaw
cooperation with the at that time Minister of Health Konstanty Radziwiłł
Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Jadwiga Emilewicz
The experience gathered this way and the inner feeling of being ready to take up an ambitious challenge coincided with the local government elections in my beloved city
I felt that I was properly prepared to get Chełm out of a terrible situation
Chełm has suffered first as a result of the economic transformation and then the administrative reform
The consequence of these phenomena was an increase in unemployment and economic migration
which led to the depopulation of the city that continues to this day
the last years of the functioning of the local government in Chełm were a ubiquitous apathy
There were no project or concepts which could try to counteract migration
almost two years after assuming the office
I can say that the local government was in a more difficult position than it was presented to the public
but I feel satisfied with what has already been achieved and I am excited about the interesting and innovative projects that we are preparing
The location of Chełm near the border of the European Union
on the international transport route Berlin-Warsaw-Kiev
and more broadly on the silk route leading from Europe to China
which should be one of the driving forces of the economic development of the city and region
together with the Member of European Parliament – Beata Mazurek
we initiated the establishment of a railway company that
will use the potential of the broad-gauge line running from the East to Chełm
The company has already been registered and will soon transport and store goods using the infrastructure available in Chełm
the investment areas near the railway line were bought by the governmental Industrial Development Agency (ARP)
which plans to build a logistics hub for distributed goods
I also support entrepreneurs who invest in Chełm due to the location potential of the city
This was the case with the new logistics centre of one of the local entrepreneurs
it was also the case with the tire recycling company cooperating with such countries as the Russian Federation or Ukraine
We have encouraged both companies to undertake projects
by granting them tax allowances and supporting them in the preparation of projects
All these activities generated a total of about 70 new jobs
We constantly negotiate with new investors who
I hope to pass on more good news on this matter to the residents in the near future
This is one of my most important pre-election promises and an extremely important project for the future of the city
its aim is to stop emigration and attract young people to stay in Chełm
offering them attractive training conditions and providing employment prospects
it is a response to the challenge faced by the health care system both in the region and in the whole country
counteracting the growing deficit of human resources in the medical professions
It is also a chance to raise the position of Chełm to the status of an academic city and the socio-economic development related to the functioning of the academic campus
Thanks to the support provided by the government
the local university – Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Chełmie
has already announced a tender for the design and construction of the seat of the Institute of Medical Sciences
the campus will also include a student dormitory and an academic clinic
many years of negligence in this field force us to undertake dynamic actions catch up that what should have been done many years ago
while in Chełm residents still line up in traditional queues
and the workflow of documents is still done in a paper form
The solution to this problem is the project regarding digitization of the office
for which the city intends to obtain 85% co-financing from European funds
The digitization project assumes the replacement of ICT equipment
the modernization of the system of the electronic workflow of documents
as well as the installation of queuing machines
We have submitted for evaluation the application for co-financing from the Regional Operational Program of the Lubelskie Province and we are waiting for the decision
There is a good chance that we will get a subsidy and start implementing e-services later this year
One of the key projects in this field is mentioned earlier company PKP Linia Chełmska Szerokotorowa which will support the development of the transport and reloading of goods along the broad-gauge railway line running from the border with Ukraine (there are technical differences between railway in the Eastern and Western Europe)
I hope that the company's operations will boost the local economy and have a positive impact on the profits of domestic companies
This should revive not only the city but also the whole region
Chełm will also be distinguished by a logistics hub
which will be created thanks to the cooperation of the city with the governmental Industrial Development Agency
at the newly created railway transport company
Modern infrastructure will be used for the storage and distribution of goods
both exported by Polish entrepreneurs and those that come to us from across the eastern border
The hub will be built in areas that have been used for many years neither by the city and potential investors
The project described involves also the construction of highly specialized office spaces
We hope for attracting capital in the shipping industry and new jobs
additional budget revenues and the above-mentioned economic impulse through cooperation with local entrepreneurs
An important project is also the construction of the Chełm Economic Activity Centre
which will be the most modern office and industrial facility both in Chełm and in the former provincial cities of the Lublin region
We have recently selected a contractor for this investment
which will cost almost 30 million PLN and will start this year
ambitious and inventive entrepreneurs could develop their businesses
The Chełm Economic Activity Centre will create favourable conditions for developing businesses
I hope that this project will contribute to the development of innovative
creative industry and will positively affect the city's economy
Some of these ideas have already been implemented
During the first six months of my presidency – following an audit of the city’s main areas – many steps were taken to get the city out of its enormous debt
The implementation of the package of corrective measures improved the situation of municipal companies
and the structural reorganization of administration allowed to reduce costs of maintaining the city’s office
we managed to launch the agendas of the Polish Development Fund (June 2020) and the National Health Fund (October 2019)
and will ultimately provide an attractive job to 100 residents of our city
I promised to repair many years of negligence in the field of road infrastructure and I am consistently fulfilling this obligation
we managed to finalize the projects which had been initiated earlier and in 2019
thanks to the government subsidy, I renovated the first street
This year we will complete the reconstruction of another five roads
for which I obtained 80% co-financing from the Local Government Roads Fund
another four roads from the same source with 70% co-financing
and for the renovation of another four we have announced tenders and we will start these investments later this year
We also prepare project documentation for the renovation of subsequent roads
We have also started work on the "Southern Chełm Bypass" project – next year a tender for its implementation in the design and build formula should be launched
In cooperation with the local university – Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Chełmie and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
we managed to sign a contract for the construction of the Medical Town with a subsidy of PLN 28 million
We have also initiated several smaller projects
such as the purchase of training planes for the PWSZ Aviation Centre
We have prepared several pro-social projects for which we applied for funding from external sources
These include the revitalization and adaptation of the historic Michalenka mill in the centre of Chełm into a new cultural centre with a theatre and cinema hall
the creation of a modern and interactive Cultures Dialogue Center Góra Chełmska (Chełm mountain) in the former Palace of the Uniate Bishops
Łuczkowski's square and adjacent streets and the city park
digitization of the office and the introduction of e-services for residents
We are also preparing a multidimensional project called Green City
as part of which we want to revitalize the city's green areas
We have engaged residents and local experts in the project who
give their opinion on proposed solutions and submit their ideas
This multi-component project developed in this way will be the basis for applying for its 100% financing from Norwegian funds
This is one of the most important projects for our city in recent years
On the one hand, it gives huge prospects for social participation in the development process of Chełm
it can be a civilization leap for our city
as well as the basis for a future development strategy
We are gradually and constantly reducing the costs of living in our city
As the only local government in the province
we have not raised taxes for 2020 and have adopted one of the lowest fees for waste collection in Poland
while this tariff increased at least twice in almost all other local governments
We are preparing a reduction in the rate of fee for water supply and the abolition of the fee regarding merchants on town’s land
We have maintained public transport tickets at the current level
and we have granted new groups of passengers the right to free travel
which – with the dynamically progressing improvement of the financial results of the Public Bus Company in Chełm – is a step towards the planned free transport in the city
Many projects still have to be implemented
but I believe that most of them will be finalized by the end of my term of office