We’re always incredibly pleased to share news of Leaders’ work and accomplishments, especially when those efforts are recognized by individuals or institutions. This time there are three Leaders whose dedication to Polish/Jewish dialogue has been awarded: Karolina Panz, Mariusz Sokołowski, and Dariusz Walerjański.

Mariusz Sokołowski,a Leader of Dialogue active in Wasilków and Białystok, received the Katarzyna Miernicka award for cultivating historical memory for a civic community given out by the KARTA Center. Upon receiving the award, Mariusz said that young people are a priority in his work as they are the best of allies in efforts to bring back memory. In her speech honoring the awardee, Olga Kaczmarek, Director General of Forum for Dialogue, emphasized the empathy and emotion he inspires in his students. He points them to an understanding that they cannot remain oblivious to the gradual loss of local memory as it may quickly turn into prejudice and hostility. Congratulations!

Karolina Panz, a Leader from Nowy Targ, was recognized by the Emanual Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute. She has dedicated the past years to researching the microhistory of the Holocaust and describing it via individual histories of people and families. Her doctoral dissertation, “The Holocaust of the Jewish residents of Nowy Targ in a Microhistorical Perspective: voices, images, from close up and afar” received an ex aequo first place in the 9th Majer Bałaban Competition for the best MA thesis and PhD dissertations on Jews and Israel. Congratulations!

Dariusz Walerjański, a Leader from Zabrze, was awarded by the Mayor of Zabrze during a Gala celebrating the 98 anniversary of the town. He was recognized for his and the Zachor Association’s – which he chairs – contributions to the town’s cultural. Dariusz Walerjański has been the keeper of the Zabrze Jewish cemetery since 1989. Together with volunteers who share his dedication to the preservation of the cemetery and other elements of local Jewish heritage, he founded the Zachor Association for the Preservation of the Zabrze Jewish Cemetery, which ensures the memory of this place is kept alive by through various activities and events celebrating the long Jewish history of the town. Congratulations!