The Night of the Murdered Poets refers to the tragic events of August 12, 1952, when 13 members of the Soviet Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee were executed for fabricated crimes, leading to a commemoration that has parallels with Tisha B'Av in a sector of Yiddish-speaking, socialist American Jews.

The text delves into the complex and often cruel history of Jews in Poland, highlighting the strained relationship between Jews and Poles over the centuries.