The "Virtual Shtetl" is devoted to the Jewish history of Poland. Currently, our portal is a source of information but, in the future, it will also include an interactive system by which Internet users will interact with each other. It will create a link between Polish-Jewish history and the contemporary, multi-cultural world.

The "Virtual Shtetl" is a museum without barriers, a consequent extension of the real Museum. Its main objective is to provide a unique social forum for everyone interested in Polish-Jewish life. The "Virtual Shtetl" re-tells the history of Polish Jews which existed, to a great extent, in a town or a village (Yiddish: shtetl).

Our portal provides information on these small towns and big cities - both about the past and the present, It covers both contemporary and pre-war Poland. The English version enables Jews from all over the world to research their own Polish ancestry.

Creating a fuller picture of Polish-Jewish history and Polish-Jewish relations was possible thanks to the efforts of many institutions, organizations and individuals. Because the subject is so broad, the initiatives for further research and development are infinite. Numerous resources have been provided by the Polin portal and the Jewish.org.pl community portal. Other Internet projects which have participated were the www.izrael.badacz.org and Diapozytyw (Adam Mickiewicz Institute) and, finally, the Jewish Historical Institute.

The "Virtual Shtetl" is not a regular website. It is a community in which you, our internet visitor, can participate. Take pictures and upload them, collect memorabilia, listen to testimonies and exchange information. Help us to make the "Virtual Shtetl" a comprehensive network for all those interested in understanding the complex history of Polish Jews.