On February 14, 2010, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Polish-Jewish Exchange Program, a joint program run by Forum for Dialogue and the American Jewish Committee. David Harris, executive director of the AJC, visited Poland especially for this occasion.

Guests at the anniversary event, co-organized with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, included minister Władysław Bartoszewski, minister Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, deputy minister of foreign affairs Jacek Najder, US ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein and deputy Israeli ambassador Yahel Vilan. Other attendees included members of the diplomatic corps, scholars, journalists, representatives of most prominent organizations dealing in Polish-Jewish relations and participants of the Polish-Jewish Exchange Program, whose number has already surpassed 150.

Minister Bartoszewski, who supported the program from its inception, underlined the significance of AJC’s support for Poland’s access to NATO. He also stressed the importance of building of mutual understanding not only at political or diplomatic levels, but also through interpersonal ties. In his moving and very personal speech, David Harris discussed Poland’s unique history, Poles’ struggle for freedom and independence as well as the complicated past of Polish-Jewish relations.

“Exceptional program opened a new chapter in Polish-Jewish relations. It also stems from AJC’s efforts in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe to build new relationships that could not have been created before. The excellent and ever-strengthening ties between Poland and the United States, Israel and the Jewish diaspora reaffirm us that our joint project with Forum for Dialogue was a move in the right direction. I am proud of our joint achievements” – said David Harris.

Forum’s President Andrzej Folwarczny thanked individuals who contributed to the success of the exchange program and highlighted its principles and achievements. “This is a special program for a number of reasons: at the moment, it is the only program jointly run by a Polish NGO and a prominent Jewish American organization. From its inception, the program was supported by the Polish government – regardless of which party was in power. The program is exceptional because of the high level of its participants, but it is our very special partner – the American Jewish Committee – that makes it so unique” – emphasized Andrzej Folwarczny.