30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union Central Europe can feel safer than in the past, but security threats are ever present. Countries like Poland or Czech Republic entered EU and NATO. Got wealthier but not everything worked as planned or dreamed in the past. The optimism or even naivety of the early years of transformation was replaced by caution, even with some bitterness, but still, the outcome has to be considered as positive.

The Baltic States constitute a lense focusing European security, economic and diplomatic interests in relation with Russia and China. Germany is aware of the vulnerability of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and tries to prevent Russia from testing the West's resolve in the region. Brexit increased the stakes which went even higher due to activities of China. Therefore the three Baltic States play a role much greater than their size would suggest.

למרות שלמד משפטים באוניברסיטת ורשה, מנחם בגין מעולם לא הפך לעורך דין, אך הוא לא נטש את האידיאולוגיה והנחישות שפיתח בתקופת לימודיו בפולין. הוא טען שעל היהודים להילחם באופן פעיל למען מדינתם ולא לחכות לה, גישה רדיקלית אשר עוררה לא פעם מחלוקות והתנגדות גם בקרב הפעילים הציונים - עם זאת, שנים לאחר מכן הוענק לו פרס נובל לשלום.

Menachem Begin never practised law, though he graduated from the University of Warsaw's Law Department in 1935. However, the unyielding attitude he acquired in Poland never left him. He insisted that Jews must fight for their own state, and not wait for it, trusting others. His militancy aroused controversy and opposition even among activists politically close to him. And yet it was none other than Menachem Begin who went on to forge peace with Egypt in 1978, an accomplishment that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Over the last 15 years of his life, Rabbi Samuel Mohylewer worked and taught in Białystok. He argued that Jews should have their own homeland, like other nations awakening in the late 19th century. He wanted the Jewish state to be established in Palestine as the fulfilment of prophecies and Jewish activism. Rabbi Mohylewer advocated secular knowledge, urged his people to learn foreign languages, and supported business, esp. agricultural activity. Thus, along with rabbi Kalischer from Toruń, he is considered one of the patrons of religious Zionism. The building of the synagogue named after him still stands in Białystok today, although precious little reminds us of its onetime significance. Perhaps one day soon the city will begin its plans to restore the site to central importance in Białystok.

הרב שמואל מוהליבר עבד ולימד בעיר ביאליסטוק. הוא טען כי ליהודים מגיעה מולדת משלהם בדיוק כמו לאומות אחרות שחוו התעוררות לאומית בסוף המאה ה-19, ושאף כי המדינה היהודית תקום בפלשתינה כהגשמת נבואה וכמרכז רוחני של היהדות. עם זאת, מוהליבר לא נרתע מהחילוניות ואף תמך בלמידת שפות זרות. בית הכנסת בו פעל עומד עד היום בביאליסטוק, למרות שכיום דבר לא מרמז להיסטוריה המעניינת והחשובה שלו.

President Putin is using military conflicts and crises, including the war in Ukraine, for the purpose of internal politics in Russia. It does not mean that he is interested in open confrontation with the West. NATO and EU must not abandon Ukraine and help Kiev to increase the potential cost that Russia would have to pay in the event of confrontation.

כולם שמעו על קופרניקוס הדגול שהגיע מהעיר טורון. לעומת זאת, את רבי הירש קלישר שהגיע מאותה העיר, התגורר בה ופעל בה במהלך המאה ה-19, איש אינו זוכר. רבי קלישר חיבר את היצירה המפורסמת "דרישת ציון", אשר הניחה את היסודות עליהם התעצב רעיון חזרתו של העם היהודי לארץ ישראל. הדרך למימוש החזון המשיחי הזה לא הייה ניסית, אלא התבססה על עבודה קשה ומתמשכת. הודות לכך נזכר הרב הדגול מטורון בהיסטוריה של ישראל בת זמננו.

Poland does not expect much change in relationships with Russia. Maria Domańska, Senior Fellow Center for Eastern Studies underlines that Kremlin's aggressive foreign politics primarily serves domestic purposes. Fabian Burkhardt from Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies notes that Germany is at the crossroads due to the end of the era of Angela Merkel. Nonetheless he expects continuity mixed with scepticism resulting from German disappointment in Russia.

Everyone has heard of the great astronomer from Toruń - namely, Copernicus. However, another great man from Toruń, Rabbi Tsevi Hirsch Kalischer, is virtually forgotten even in the city where he lived and worked in the 19th century. Rabbi Kalischer wrote the work of 1862 "Derishat Tsiyon", which laid the religious foundation for the return of the Jews to Palestine. The way toward the fulfillment of this positive, messianic vision did not rest with awaiting a miracle, but with persistent work. This is why the outstanding rabbi from Toruń enjoys a central place in the history of contemporary Israel.