The attitude of “Gazeta Żydowska” toward the stage activities of the stars of Warsaw ghetto theatres
The attitude of “Gazeta Żydowska” toward the stage activities of the stars of Warsaw ghetto theatres

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses the attitude of “Gazeta Żydowska”, the periodical published under the control of the occupation authorities in the General Government in 1940–1942, toward the actors of Warsaw ghetto theatres. The paper focuses primarily on the stage activities of stars such as Regina Cukier, Ajzyk Samberg, Chaim Sendler, Edmund Minowicz and Michał Znicz, who were mentioned in nearly half (45%) of the 272 theatre-related articles that appeared in “Gazeta Żydowska” between 1940 and 1942. The analysis indicates that “Gazeta Żydowska” tried to present the fact that Jewish audiences could once again admire the acting skills of their favourite artists as the proof of the alleged normalisation of the situation in the “district,” and manifestation of the adaptation of its inhabitants to the “new living conditions”. The newspaper also used the publications devoted to the most famous actors from the Warsaw ghetto to achieve one of its main propaganda goals: to form a belief among its readers that hard work and absolute submission to the will of the Nazi authorities could ensure not only survival but even cultural and spiritual development of the Jewish community.

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