The first Polish-Yiddish dictionary to be published since World War II has been unveiled at a ceremony in the southern Polish city of Krakow. It includes 35,000 entries and took eight years to be compiled by Yiddish scholar Julia Makosz, according to Michael Freund, who heads the Shavei organization that jointly published the volume along with Szolem Alejchem Editors.

Freund explained that "a growing number of young Poles have been rediscovering their families' Jewish roots, which many sought to hide because of their experiences under Nazism and then Communism." The ensuing surge of interest has prompted the need for a new dictionary to enable Polish-speaking students to master the tongue.

He pointed out that the Yiddish language forged a unique culture, "that was nearly extinguished by the Germans and their collaborators." Freund expressed hopes that the new dictionary "will serve as a bridge to a world that has all but vanished, reconnecting them with their priceless heritage."