This past year was difficult for all. For us at the Forum, it was a year of rapid changes of plans, switching to remote work, redesigning programs to fit the online context, but it was also a year of embracing new possibilities. For an organization that believes in the power of dialogue and face-to-face conversations that require time, these new Vovid-19 working conditions was a real challenge. In our efforts to adapt to the new situation, we focused on making sure to continue realizing our ultimate goals, which stem directly from our mission, rather than simply moving it simply online. Today, as we look back on 2020, we can proudly say that we have succeeded.

Zoom in on the Forum
To maintain the connections with our international network  of friends, we started Forum’s “Zoom in on the Forum” series of meetings for Polish and international recipients of our programs, dedicated to Polish/Jewish dialogue and featuring scholars, experts, local activists, and eyewitnesses to history. In the past months we had almost 50 online meetings, with a total audience of 600 people!

Leaders of Dialogue Regional Groups
The previous year saw the launch of 8 regional groups with 79 Leaders of Dialogue joining. During the time of the pandemic, these regional groups offered members a way to network and support one another in regional endeavors. Apart from meetings dedicated to panning and diagnosis of local needs, the regional groups organized online workshops and trainings responding to the needs identified by group members. These sessions, happening both online and in real time, included meetings with experts, skills trainings, and micro study visits (13 in total!). The groups are already planning new activities!

Leaders of Dialogue Grant Competitions
This fall we have organized an online training session for Leaders of Dialogue planning to apply for Forum grants and scholarships. We received 21 applications containing plans for projects commemorating and educating about local Jewish heritage and for individual development of Leaders wanting to learn more about Polish/Jewish relations, be more effective in preserving local heritage, or maintain relations with descendants of local Jews. We’re looking forward to the next stage: reviewing the applications to select the winning entries!

Programs for Teachers
In 2020 we were able to deepen our connections with teachers interested in learning more about Jewish history and heritage education in Poland. As a way to support these teachers, we have developed opportunities for them to gain knowledge about Jewish history and culture, as well as about contemporary Jewish life. We organized online day-long seminars, individual sessions, and meetings with experts attended by a total of 70 teachers. We’ve also launched a dedicated newsletter highlighting educational opportunities and events organized by Forum and other institutions, as well as available educational materials and toolkits on Polish/Jewish history.

Moving School of Dialogue Online
As result of the Covid-19 pandemic we were forced to move the School of Dialogue Gala planned for March 2020 online, but the virtual event had over 3000 participants! Similarily, in the fall we begun a new semester of the School of Dialogue program also online. Our experts developed a new system of effective online education, which inspires students to discover their local Jewish history. We were shocked by the sheer creativity of the projects students crated online and the tenacity in uncovering traces of Jewish heritage in their towns. Stay tuned for the upcoming updates on the achievements of the School of Dialogue participants, on the incredible work that they did, and awards presented to the best commemorative projects!

Scholarly Advisory Board
In 2020, Forum for Dialogue set up its Scholarly Advisory Board, which includes nine leading experts in their respective academic fields, chaired by Michał Bilewicz, Forum’s former VP and the Director of the University of Warsaw’s Center for Research on Prejudice.

We’re entering 2021 with new energy and ideas for how to continue with the growth and development of our programs dedicated to Polish/Jewish dialogue.