2014
“The kind of school you and your teachers embody is an exceptional asset to Polish democracy. I am happy to have you here today at the National Theater and Opera,” said director Waldemar Dąbrowski, partner of our Gala, who again made the astounding space of his theater available to School of Dialogue this year.
Over 1000 students, teachers, Forum’s educators and invited guests gathered in The National Opera & Theater in Warsaw to honor the great achievements of the students involved in bringing back the memory of Polish Jews.
The honorary patronage of the President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski but also the presence of high government officials, diplomatic corps and representatives of the Jewish community are a firm statement: what these students do, is important.
Studying the history of Polish Jews builds understanding for other cultures and religions as well as tolerance … This is especially important in Poland, which is now ethnically homogenous.
Bogdan Borusewicz, Senate Speaker
Bogdan Borusewicz, Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Poland
Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister
Professor Małgorzata Fuszara, Secretary of State, Polish Government’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment
Ruth Cohen-Dar, Deputy Ambassador of Israel in Poland
Jacek Kozłowski, Masovia region Voivode
Włodzimierz Paszyński, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw
Sebastian Rejak, Polish Foreign Minister’s Special Envoy for Relations with the Jewish Diaspora
Lesław Piszewski, Chairman of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Republic of Poland
Henryk Wujec, Advisor to the Polish President
Zygmunt Stępiński, Deputy Director of Polin Jewish History Museum
Representatives of the Polish Society of the Righteous Among the Nations – Anna Stupnicka-Bando, Alicja Schnepf
As part of their involvement in the School of Dialogue program, students got engaged in various ways. We were extremely impressed with their commitment and initiative. They write blogs and city guides, clean cemeteries, organize concerts and commemoration ceremonies. The students include in their actions their families, friends and neighbors. “I am touched to see so many young people here today that have been and probably will be working to preserve the memory in towns where Jewish communities are no more, where oftentimes the memory of fellow citizens had faded. You make this memory come to life” said Lesław Piszewski, Chairman of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Republic of Poland.
During the Gala we awarded authors of the best projects. 40 schools received the School of Dialogue diploma. The winning school was from Mława, who launched an actual social campaign– they organized guided tours, concerts, exhibitions, contests and much more!
We are happy to have given all School of Dialogue participants an opportunity to further expand their knowledge through a visit to Polin Museum of History of Polish Jews, which was sponsored by the Museum as part of our long-standing collaboration.
„My eyes glaze over when I see the enthusiasm of these young people and think that this important educational program has been run for so many years with such great devotion and bringing great results. Museum of History of Polish Jews gives priority to endeavors such as School of Dialogue. I encourage all program participants to visit our Museum, you will be our most welcome guests” announced Zygmunt Stępiński, Museum’s Deputy Director.
Lesław Piszewski, Chairman of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Republic of Poland
School of Dialogue and the School of Dialogue Gala were possible with the support of:
Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Mazovia Voivodship Office in Warsaw, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN, The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Friends of the Forum, Pratt Foundation, City of Warsaw, Polish Center for Holocaust Research, Agora S.A., the Yiddish Culture Center, Czarna Owca Publishing House, Czarne Publishing House, Kultura Gniewu Publishing House, Literatura Publishing House, Media Rodzina Publishing House, NVS Group, Prószyński i S-ka, PWN Publishing House REBIS, State Publishing Institute ZNAK, Dr Gerard, Ruch S.A., Sokołów S.A.
