Dariusz Popiela

Grant for Establishing Relations

“People, Not Numbers” is a project aiming at commemorating Jewish residents and victims of the Holocaust, founded in 2018 on the initiative of Dariusz Popiela, The Popiela Family Foundation “Centrum”. In recent years, the foundation organized commemorative ceremonies in Krościenko and Grybów. In 2020, the project will commemorate Jewish residents of Czarny Dunajec and prisoners of the local labor camp. The grant will cover, in part, the expenses of participation by descendants of Jews from Czarny Dunajec and the surrounding area in the commemoration. They will also have an active part in co-organizing the ceremony. The aspect of cooperation with descendents for such events has been crucial in previous initiatives of the foundation. Many of them have already visited the places of their ancestors, but were left with a non-memory of Jewish residents. The organizers want to change that impression with initiatives of the project.

During their stay in Czarny Dunajec, the descendants will participate in a series of meetings. They will meet with representatives of Municipal Office, visit local schools and take part in a walking tour following the footsteps of their ancestors, but also be guests at a concert, visit the exhibition at the Synagogue and take part in a special dinner. The highlight of the visit will be the unveiling ceremony at the cemetery in Czarny Dunajec, during which the families of Jewish descendents, the local community and invited guests will read the names of nearly 100 murdered Jews. The project will allow creating bonds between the Jewish descendants and the local community. Local activists involved in the project will take over the role of guardians of memory, nurturing the established relationships.

Contributors

Project financed by the Ledor Wador Foundation.