Sometimes, bigger problems solve misunderstandings

I’ve come across an interview with the new Polish envoy to Israel – Maciej Hunia. A former spy chief is the right choice, given the precarious geopolitical environment in Israel. His comments are balanced – he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he doesn’t come off as abrasive, either. It’s a skill. Anyway, what I got out of the interview is that bigger issues sometimes solve misunderstandings. Why is that? Israel is facing an existential threat. Indeed, Poland is facing danger from the east – not for the first time in its history, of course. There are parallels between our nations. More than ever, it seems.

Negative stereotypes, difficult history, and other issues revolving around the past aren’t that important when we’re faced with so much danger around us.

To be clear: it doesn’t mean we can all just shake hands and all is well. Hatred in bilateral relations exists and not everyone can be convinced to put the past behind us. Look, if someone lost their parents in Poland and sees Poland just through that prism, I don’t expect that person to ever change their views. We all have mind maps, we all have these ideas about how things work, how the world works. And, sometimes, even when we know we’re wrong, we stick to our beliefs because we’ve built our lives around them. I’m sure there are Jews who have vowed never to visit Poland. I understand. It’s their right.

I propose the approach of late Jerzy Urban – a Polish Jew, a Communist government spokesman (in the 1980s), and the editor-in-chief of a popular Polish magazine. Jerzy Urban was a controversial figure who didn’t sugarcoat anything. He also had a biting sense of humor.

Here, he says in the video, ”During the pandemic, I feel just like during Hitler. I’m hiding but the Poles are trying to kill me, yet again.”

Jerzy Urban wasn’t attacked for his comments. Quite the opposite. Most people like his sense of humor. That, alone, proves that the whole myth of antisemites lurking everywhere in Poland is total, propagandistic, nonsense peddled by people who have an agenda, or just mental issues. Jerzy Urban once said that no one had ever held his Jewishness against him.

Jerzy Urban, in one of his Q&A sessions with his readers, got asked about who can be a Russian spy. Mr. Urban replied: ”Anyone.” Given his experience with regimes, I believe him. All one needs to do is scan one’s social circle and imagine a foreign army invading. Who would betray us, and who would be on our side? Not so obvious, huh? Exactly.

Yes, not all above is logical, I know. The world we’re in is full of paradoxes and contradictions. I’ve read about how Jewish women’s prayers aren’t taken seriously – that they are often seen as fake. Yet, at the same time, Jewish women are praised for hitting targets in Iran and are considered to be more spiritual. See? That psychological ceilingization can lead to a psychosis and banging against psychological barriers, that are incorporeal, yet tangible, because society’s sending contradictory signals, starting young. ”You are valued as a soldier but we don’t care about your prayers, God doesn’t respect your prayers.” Figure that one out.