THIS volume of Polin is centred around a core of chapters in Parts I and II, along with an introduction, devoted to Jewish popular culture. Two translations of works relevant to this section are to be found in Part II. As in previous volumes of Polin, in Part III, New Views, substantial space is given to new research into a variety of topics in Polish Jewish studies. These chapters include an analysis of the origins of antisemitism in Poland by Brian Porter; a discussion by Alex Rossino of what is known about the presence of German forces in the vicinity of Jedwabne in the summer of 1941; and an investigation by Andrzej Paczkowski of the vexed question of Jews in the communist security apparatus in Poland after 1944. Part IV, Reviews, includes an account by Andrzej Trzciński and Marcin Wodziński of a new book on the old Jewish cemetery in Kazimierz, an important discussion by Anna Landau- Czajka of what should be done about the paintings in Sandomierz Cathedral that represent an alleged ritual murder in the seventeenth century, an examination by Włodzimierz Rozenbaum of the ‘anti-Zionist’ campaign of 1968 and an extended review by Gunnar Paulsson of Jan Gross's book Neighbors.

Polin is sponsored by the Institute of Polish–Jewish Studies, Oxford, and by the American Association for Polish–Jewish Studies, which is linked with the Depart - ment of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University. As with earlier issues, this volume could not have appeared without the untiring assistance of many individuals. In particular, we should like to express our gratitude to Dr Jonathan Webber, treasurer of the Institute for Polish–Jewish Studies; to Professor Jehuda Reinharz, president of Brandeis University; and to Mrs Irene Pipes, president of the American Association for Polish–Jewish Studies. These three institutions all made substantial contributions to the cost of producing the volume. The volume also benefited from grants from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, the Seweryn Konń and Irena Kozłowska Foundation, Władysł aw T. Bartoszewski, and Tony Coren. Volume 15 (published in 2002) also benefited from a grant from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture which came too late for it to be acknowledged in that volume.