Managing the Material Heritage of Judaism

Selected Problems

Abstract

The aim of this article is to assess the potential and possibilities of applying modern management knowledge to the protection and promotion of the material heritage of Judaism and to provide specific recommendations in this area. A secondary objective is to analyze the cultural factors that have influenced the development of relations between Christians and Jews. The cultural category of Otherness (“self-stranger”) partially explains the mechanisms of mutual perception between Christians and the Jewish community. The study employs the desk research method, involving a critical analysis of the literature and specialist press, as well as the descriptive analysis method. As part of a case study, the Jewish Culture Trail in Żarki (Silesian Voivodeship) – a representative town for the history of Polish-Jewish relations – was analyzed. The results indicate that, both historically but today, there is ample evidence of Polish sympathy for the Jewish minority. The continued cultivation of Polish-Jewish traditions in various areas, as well as the recognized need for the institutionalized protection of Judaic heritage, underscores the iportance of maintaining positive relations. To effectively safeguard the material heritage of Judaism, it is recommended to apply principles in line with the management science. At the theoretical level, management should adhere to a systemic paradigm incorporating a holistic approach, while at the practical level, it should consider a functional approach.