Ida Kamińska

Ida Kamińska was a renowned Polish actress and director, born in 1899 to a family deeply rooted in the theatre. Her parents, Avrom Yitshok Kaminski and Ester Rachel Kamińska, were prominent figures in the Jewish theatre scene, with her mother earning the title of the Mother of the Jewish Stage. This legacy would later be honored with the naming of the Jewish Theatre in Warsaw, Poland, after her parents. Kamińska's own career in the theatre was marked by impressive achievements, including the production of over 70 plays and performances in more than 150 productions.

Kamińska's career spanned many decades, with her work being interrupted by World War II. Following the war, she immigrated to the United States, where she continued to pursue her passion for acting. One of her notable achievements in the US was directing herself in the lead role of Mother Courage and Her Children on Broadway in 1967. In addition to her work in theatre, Kamińska was also a writer and translator, penning two plays of her own and translating numerous works into Yiddish. Her life story was later shared with the world through her autobiography, My Life, My Theater, which was published in 1973. Kamińska passed away in 1980, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and dedicated actress and director.