Borderlands will open in the heart of Przemysl’s Old Town district on a property that was owned by the Kanner and Frim Jewish families before WWII. Two buildings (1270m² and 873m², respectively) are being restored for this purpose. It is our hope that these renovated buildings will be used together with the Scheinbach Synagogue, now owned by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODJ), as well as a building recently purchased by a private investor where two local Polish girls saved 13 Jews during the WWII.

Leading the project are Shulamit, Orit and Anat Kamir, descendants of the Frim and Kanner families, together with family, friends and professionals in Israel, Poland and the USA. Shulamit (Zula) Kamir is the current owner of the property; Orit and Anat are her daughters.

While never forgetting WWII, the Holocaust and its aftermath, our vision is of a vibrant Center that will celebrate life and the living -- and contribute to the foundation of a more mutually respectful present and future.

The Center will cater to individuals, families and groups from every corner of the world. Exhibits and materials will focus on showcasing the multicultural history of Galicia while strengthening the multicultural future of the region and Europe.

Stemming from Przemysl's long and noble history as an important multicultural center and trade route, as well as its proximity to many notable sites (such the historical cities of Krakow and Lvov and the death camp of Belzec - Borderlands will offer the following activities and services:

• A workshop and lecture series by local and international historians, political scientists, sociologists, artists, architects, writers, poets, psychologists and leaders.
• A Meeting place for local like minded people and organizations.
• A guest house and multilingual information center for individuals and organizations with genealogical interests in the area.
• Multilingual site-seeing tours through historical Galicia.
• Several exhibition spaces and an auditorium.

As we assess restoration and operating costs and establish our Non-Profit status, we are seeking to partner and collaborate with regional authorities, international and local NGOs and private donors. Together we can build a strong foundations for an institution that will serve not only the people of Przemysl and its environs, but many other interested individuals and associations from around the globe

About us

Pre-WWII Poland - particularly the region known as Galicia - was home to diverse communities of different religions, cultures and languages. Polish, German, Ukrainian, Hungarian and Yiddish were alll spoken here. For much of history, these communities interacted often with one another and co-existed in relative respect and harmony.

WWII and its aftermath destroyed Galicia’s multicultural texture. During the war and its aftermath entire communities were disenfranchised, exiled or exterminated. By the late 1940s, Galicia had become "ethnically cleansed".

In the 21st century, Europe – and the world – is once again becoming multicultural. The need to relearn the skills of co-existing in a multi-cultural environment is acute. Young people, citizens and leaders of tomorrow, must be reacquainted with the skills and sensitivities that will recreate a respectful and harmonious a multicultural world.

Galicia, and specifically Przemysl, with its long history as an important trade and cultural center, is a natural location for such a Center as the one we are proposing, where individuals and groups who wish to explore and practice multicultural tolerance and respect can come together and work towards a common future – all in a place that served as a model of multicultural living in its past.