Wacław Wierzbieniec

Through its activity, the Department of Jewish History and Culture at the Historical Institute of University of Rzeszów, which I head, tries to present the contribution of the Jewish community to Polish history and culture. For the past 9 years, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day is celebrated in the Podkarpacie region – I launched and have been organizing the commemorative events, which have since grown into the multicultural symbolism of the city of Rzeszów and the whole region. They have become a token of tolerance and openness for cultural and religious diversity.   The initiative is held under the auspices of the Podkarpackie Voivodship Marshall. Co-organizers include: the Rzeszów chapter of the Institute for National Remembrance, Rzeszów chapter of the Polish Historical Association, the voivodship Department of Education, Podkarpackie Center for Educating Teachers, Rzeszów diocese curia, Foundation for Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, but also mayors, commune heads and a number of institutions and organizations.   Over the years, the event has gained many supporters and co-organizers in many towns of the voivodship. The common causebrings together people from the region, from Poland, but also from abroad. The regional coordinator is Ms. Joanna Elżbieta Potaczek. The event involves activists (or local coordinators), who advocate Jewish history and culture as well as Polish-Jewish relations in many towns and villages of Podkarpacie region and who represent such organizations as, among others, Shtetl Dukla, Encounter Rymanów (“Spotkanie Rymanów”), Center for History of Polish Jews in Dynów, Wesołowski Family Collection and Archive from Kolbuszowa, Lubaczów Area Appreciation Society, Reni Spiegel Foundation, Antyschematy2 foundation, as well as local government, educational and cultural institutionsof towns joining in the celebrations. Students and PhD candidates at the Historical Institute of University of Rzeszów also participate in the events.  

Fifteen different towns and villages were involved in the 8th edition of the celebrations. The 9th edition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Podkarpacie area will be held in the final week of January, 2017. Celebrations will be held in 36 different towns and villages from the whole voivodship. For years, local authorities, higher education institutions, high schools, non-governmental organizations, church institutions as well as those working in the field of culture and education, have participated in organizing the celebrations.   The main events are held in Rzeszów each year on January 27. We visit the Jewish cemetery to honor the memory of Jews and listen to testimonies of Holocaust survivors and their families at the University of Rzeszów. In the course of the day, a special service – which has become a tradition – is held in Rzeszów’s main church in memory of Podkarpacie Jews that had been murdered. Names of Jews who had died during the Holocaust as well as those of Righteous among Nations – Poles who hid Jews and often died with them – are read out loud.  A similar service is also held in Jarosław. Guests representing different organizations and institutions both from Poland and from abroad participate in the celebrations. Representatives of Jewish communities from around the world, of academic circles and local authorities all come to participate in the event. We host Holocaust survivors and their descendants. This is an extremely important event for the whole region, uniting all local residents in the spirit of tolerance and openness to various faiths and cultures.