Poland’s Reform Jews are planning to apply for formal government recognition.
The country’s small Reform group is planning to submit its application over Passover. If accepted, the community would be eligible for state support.
Recognition of the newly formed Beit Polska could also mean that the group would benefit from the slow trickle of compensation for community property confiscated by Poland during the Communist era. Compensation and return of property began several years ago but a government commission reviewing restitution may spend at least another decade deciding cases, participants have said.
Poland’s Jewish community currently is dominated by the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Poland, which is governed by Orthodox principles although many of its members are not observant.
Beit Polksa is an outgrowth of Beit Warszawa, Warsaw’s privately funded Reform congregation.
