Jewish Traces in the City of Łódź | Deaf Culture Week | Historical Walk

What?

A historical walk through the area surrounding the Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre offers an opportunity to learn about the history of one of the most important memorial sites in modern-day Łódź. Participants will visit the Park of Survivors and its immediate surroundings, learning about the city’s former residents—including Deaf people—their daily lives, and the tragic events associated with the history of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto. The walk will also shed light on the history of the Dialogue Centre’s founding and its role as an institution dedicated to historical education, preserving memory, and fostering intercultural dialogue.

A unique feature of the event will be the perspective of the tour guide—a Deaf historian who has been promoting history in Polish Sign Language for many years. The tour will be conducted in PJM, allowing participants to experience history in the natural language of the Deaf community and highlighting the importance of accessible historical education.

Who?

Tomasz Adam Świderski – A Deaf historian, genealogist, archivist, and founder of the “Surdus Historicus” Institute of Deaf History. For many years, he has been researching and promoting the history of the Deaf community in Poland by giving lectures, leading historical walking tours, and conducting educational activities in Polish Sign Language (PJM).

For Whom?

This walking tour is intended for Deaf, hearing, and hard-of-hearing people alike who are interested in the history of Łódź, the culture of remembrance, and the history of the Jewish and Deaf communities. It’s an opportunity for anyone who wants to see familiar places from a new perspective and discover how linguistic accessibility can change the way stories are told.

Why is it worth it?

The walk “Jewish Traces in the City of Łódź” shows that multicultural heritage can also be explored through the diversity of ways in which it is told. The perspective of the Deaf historian adds a new dimension to familiar places, drawing attention both to the importance of accessibility and to the stories of groups that have remained less visible in official narratives over the years. This event encourages participants to look more closely at the city’s spaces and to reflect on how memory can be constructed in an open and inclusive way.

Accompanying event. Co-funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage as part of the “Linguistic Diversity” grant program of the Institute for Linguistic Diversity of the Republic of Poland.

Availability

The tour will be conducted in Polish Sign Language with interpretation between PJM and spoken language, making it accessible to both Deaf and hearing participants. Portable induction loops will be available for people with hearing impairments.

The walk will take place in the Survivors’ Park.

Photos: Tomasz Świderski, press materials.