The group of Catholic writers and thinkers who, under the editorship of Jerzy Turowicz, publish in Cracow a weekly newspaper ‘Tygodnik Powszechny’ have, over a long period of time, established a solid reputation for this independent periodical which the government tolerates (if not always with good grace). It is not easily available due to its small print-run, but it is avidly sought after and its influence among the thinking public is considerable. It has been appearing - with short interruptions which tell their own story - since 1945. It is, of course, like every scrap of printed matter in Poland subject to censorship, but it has managed time and again to express views which testify to the courage and integrity of this circle. (It also shows, incidentally, that the ways of the censor are often weird and wonderful.)

The same group also publishes a monthly called Znak (The Sign) devoted to the same political and religious issues, but somewhat weightier and less ephemeral than their other publications.

The entire, enlarged, double-number February-March 1983 (to coincide with the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising) was given over to the twin topic: The Jews in Poland and in the world; Catholicism-Judaism.

This was, in Polish terms, an outstanding publishing event, in the quality and variety of contributions - over 400 pages of close print and a set of compelling photographs. It created a great deal of interest in Poland and those who were lucky enough to secure their copy were enjoined to pass it on for further circulation.

Stefan Wilkanowicz, in the introductory article entitled ‘Anti-semitism, Patriotism, Christianity’ calls for a wide-ranging discussion of the Jewish problem. ‘It is necessary to make a national and social reckoning and cleansing of wounds - so that time can heal them. And this - irrespectively of whether it be politically opportune and whether the Jewish question happens to be a counter in some political game … ’.

Wilkanowicz is perplexed by the fact that despite the age-long physical proximity there remained this unbridgeable psychological distance between the Polish and the Jewish cultures which, he thinks, are close to each other in their essence, if not in appearance; in the same ways that Judaism and Christianity are close.