Wawa Morejno. Narodziny mitu 1945–1949
Wawa Morejno: The Birth of a Myth, 1945–1949

Summary/Abstract: This article focuses on the conflict between Rabbi Zev Morejno, who soughtto be recognized as the chief rabbi of the city of Łódź, and Rabbi David Kahane,chairman of the Chief Rabbinate Council. Morejno was an ultra-Orthodox adherentof Judaism, while Kahane represented Jews aligned with a more progressive, reformorientedinterpretation of the faith. Their dispute thus serves as a microcosm ofa broader ideological struggle between traditionalist and modernist camps withinpostwar Polish Jewry. This polarization was further reinforced by the politicalaffiliations each figure pursued: Morejno aligned himself with the ultra-OrthodoxAgudat Yisrael, whereas Kahane enjoyed support from the more progressive Mizrachimovement. Although the events took place in Łódź, they must be understood againstthe backdrop of the wider socio-political transformations occurring in Poland in theimmediate aftermath of World War II. In academic literature and online sources, ZevMorejno is frequently described as the rabbi of the city of Łódź. This article clarifiesthat although Morejno served as a rabbi in Łódź during the years 1945–1949, henever officially held the title of the city’s chief rabbi.

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