A tree planted in occupied Poland to celebrate Hitler's 53rd birthday may well be used to build a wooden synagogue in Toronto.
The small town of Jaslo in southern Poland is rarely the focus of international headlines, but in the last few weeks, a flurry of articles has brought the town's affairs to the attention of the world.
The dispute began when the local mayor endeavoured to have a tree cut down that was obstructing the building of a new roundabout. Local environmentalists protested, yet before long, it came to light that the tree had been planted by loyal German officials during the wartime occupation.
This complicated the matter, with some claiming that the tree was being unfairly demonised, due to its unwitting relationship with the Fuhrer. Adding an extra dash of absurdity, some are now claiming that there is confusion of which tree is which, as wartime photographs seem devoid of evidence that a sapling was planted on the spot.
Whether or not the tree is ultimately cut down, one interested party has now come forward in the form of Toronto's Jewish community, who would like to turn the fascist association on its head, by using the wood for a new synagogue. A final decision will have to be made over the next few weeks.
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