ABSTRACT
Examination of the linguistic division of the Jews of independent Poland must take into consideration the effect of foreign languages on the Jews. A widespread Jewish education system existed in independent Poland which, under the complex circumstances of Jewish existence there, can be considered exceptional in its achievements. The varied political division that characterized Polish Jewry during its twenty years of independent existence was reflected in a multiple Jewish cultural system with at least four independent cultural systems that existed side by side and had varying degrees of interaction. The Jewish cultural life in the Polish language existed under relatively more convenient conditions. Approximately 55 percent of the children attending Jewish schools received traditional education which was based on active use of Yiddish and passive use of Hebrew and the minimal essential learning of Polish. The Hebrew language had a widespread and prestigious education system at its disposal that enjoyed widespread support by the Zionist movement.
