Honorable guests
This year we had the privilege of hosting Gala’s distinguished guests: Bogdan Borusewicz, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Adam Bodnar the Commissioner for Human Rights, Anna Azari, Israel’s Ambassador to Poland, Paul Wojciechowski, Australia’s Ambassador to Poland, Michael Schudrich, the Chief Rabbi of Poland, Stas Wojciechowski, Rabbi of Ec Chaim Synagogue in Warsaw, representatives of the Polish Association of Righteous Among the Nations, Henryk Wujec, Chairman of the Forum for Dialogue’s Council, and special guests from the USA and Australia.

Performances
This year’s Gala was unique because of the significant guests from abroad who enriched the celebration: Samantha Britt and Esther Pinskier. Samantha Britt, is an American opera singer and actress, whose family came from Radom. We met her at Radom Seder in April 2016, an unique event coorganized by the participants of Forum for Dialogue’s programs. She sang two songs in Yiddish, “Du Shaynst vi di Zun” and “Zol Nokh zayn Shabes,” and an aria from Romeo and Juliet. Esther Pinskier is a Warsaw-born Holocaust Survivor now living in Australia. Last year she came back to Poland to celebrate her 90th birthday with Forum. This year she came from Australia with her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter to show her appreciation for the work done by School of Dialogue students.

Winners
One of the most enjoyable moments of the Gala is the announcement of the winners of best commemorative project contest. From 40 junior high and high schools from all over Poland that joined the 2016 School of Dialogue program, the 1st prize went to Wojciech Korfanty Technical-Vocational and High School Complex no 1 in Chorzów. The 2nd prize went to School Complex in Pilica and Maria Konopnicka Junior High School no. 16 in Sosnowiec, while the 3rd prize went to Junior and High School Complex in Drawsko Pomorskie. John Paul II Junior High School from Sztum and Lajos Kossuth High School no 63 in Warsaw received honorable mentions.