The Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum in Ramat Gan is currently hosting an exhibition that sheds light on the significant role Jewish athletes played in Polish sports before the Holocaust. Curated in collaboration with the POLIN Museum and the Polish Embassy, the display highlights how Jewish sports clubs flourished across Poland between the world wars, producing champions in soccer, boxing, water polo, and more. The exhibition challenges stereotypes about Jewish athleticism, showcasing stories of figures like Jozef Klotz, Szapsel Rotholc, and Leon Sperling, whose achievements were later overshadowed by the devastation of the Holocaust. The show also explores how Jewish athletes maintained strong political and social identities, both in Poland and after immigrating to Israel, and reflects a growing willingness in Poland to acknowledge and reconcile with this lost legacy.
Original article source: https://www.jpost.com/history/article-883368
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