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About Us Around the World Publications PublicAtions About us Around the world JAn KArsKi society „Na rozkaz serca” (At the heart’s com- – „It is extremely difficult to www.janKArsKi.org.Pl mand) – this book consists of the mem- accept the dark side of one’s ories of the ordinary people who found history – says Bogdan Białek, a psychologist who recently themselves in uncommon situations, formed a group of 15 Kielce citizens, including Zak, that will Henryk and Zbigniewa Pawelec. Henryk seek reconciliation with Jews abroad.” Pawelec, pseudonym Andrzej, is one The New York Times (the 6th of July 1996), Kielce UM Fot. of the last living veterans of the Second one of the biggest American newspapers World War. He began his military service on the 1st of September 1939 and it lasted „In the face of general indifference, till the end of occupation. Then he fought with Bolsheviks. occasional verbal abuse and even death threats, Bialek has been an „listy z getta” (Letters from ghetto) energetic advocate of many efforts to recognize Kielce’s past, – contains tens of miraculously saved including some of the plaques and monuments.” postcards, letters and photographies. The Jewish DAilY ForwArD (the 30th of June 2010) The author of the majority of the letters, – the American Jews newspaper in New York The Jan Karski Society was founded in March 2005. Its main aim Hanka Goldszajd, her mother Rywka, fa- is to act for popularization of openness and respect for peo- ther Jakub and her brother Chaim did „After 64 years from the tragic events ple and groups different in terms of race, ethnicity, nationality, not survive the Shoah. They were deported from the Kielce ghet- the grave slab commemorating the to and murdered in Treblinka. The publication of the book was victims of the Kielce pogrom was un- religion or culture; to counteract any forms of anti-Semitism, connected with unveiling the Menorah Monument. veiled (…) among the people who de- xenophobia, racism or other behaviors which humiliate hu- livered a speech were Yaacov Kotlicki man beings; to act for saving Polish national heritage – moni- from Israel and Bogdan Białek from the honored toring and condemning all acts of its violation. The Chairman Poland – the initiators of the restoration of the grave slab.” YeDioTh AhroNoTh (the 6th of July 2010) of the Jan Karski Society is Bogdan Białek, who is also a pub- lisher and editor-in-chief of the psychological magazine „Char- aktery”. He received many awards for his social activity, for irena sendler (1910 – 2008) – „not for the deAd” a Polish social activist, righteous www.notforthedeAd.Pl instance Professor Łukasz Hirszowicz Award, Stanisław Musiał among the nations, lady of SJ Award, as well as Polcul Foundation Award. He is also a hon- the order of the white eagle. she rescued 2500 children „Not for the dead” is a title of the orary member of the Kieltzer Society in New York. from the warsaw ghetto. on the photography irena sendler film whose production started 5 is receiving the femina bona years ago, by two filmmakers: an medal. American Lawrence Loewinger and The Jan KarsKi socieTy Vir Bonus and Femina Bona are the honorary designations a Pole Michał Jaskólski. Its theme www.jankarski.org.pl awarded to people who contribute to the realization of the So- is the activity of Mr. Bogdan Białek http://www.szabaton.kielce.eu/en/jankarskisociety.html ciety’s aims with their social activity, achievements, attitude and the Jan Karski Society. The 25-502, 40 Paderewskiego street, Kielce, Poland telephone number: (0048) 41 343 28 40 and steadfastness. filmmakers are trying to present fax: (0048) 41 343 28 49 Kielce and Poland of today in confrontation with the difficulties Bogdan Białek: chairman of the Jan Karski society The honored people: Miriam Guterman, Yaacov Kotlicki, of its history. They have made more then 200 hours of record- e-mail: [email protected] Wojciech Lubawski, Henryk Pawelec, pseudonym Andrzej, ings which document the celebrations held in the town. In Isra- Michael Schudrich, Irena Sendler, Maria Stolzman, Romuald el and the United States they talked with the pogrom survivors. Bank account: 31 1020 2629 0000 9802 0157 6909 Bank PKo BP II oddział Kielce Jakub Weksler-Waszkiel, Stanisław Żak. In Kielce they interviewed the witnesses of the pogrom. swift code: BPKoPLPW the bench of JAn KArsKi MeMORIAl eVENTS the Day of JudAisM in 2005 the Jan karski society erected the Jan karski sculp- The march of remembrance and reconciliation plays the in winter 2006 the society together with the Polish ture in the main street in Kielce, nearby the place where the special role in the activity of the Jan Karski Society. It is held episcopal Conference organized the main events of the pogrom took place. Its total cost was covered by private funds each year on the 4th of 9th Polish Day of Judaism. and it is gift for the residents of Kielce from the Society. July – on the day when to remind the words of John Paul the Kielce pogrom is the second and to engrave them his excellency Mr. lee Andrew on the plaque is a good way. feinstein, the united states commemorated. The me- it is a sign that the ideas of the Pope Ambassador to Poland, together morial event reminds of are being realized. now Kieltzers can with bogdan białek, August 2011. feel proud of their town because the monument is directed towards the tragic past but also it sets a good example of how the place where the pogrom symbolizes reconcilia- to cope with difficult problems of occurred. Jan Karski, leaning on Fot. UM Kielce UM Fot. history. we have to say clearly that his stick, is playing chess, which tion. The first march or- these people who live in this town was his favorite entertainment. it is ganized by the Society took place in 2005, earlier they were do not take responsibility for what so called „Karski's game”. it is said had happened. Kielce is the first that nobody has won it so far. one a private initiative of Bogdan Białek and Janusz Daszuta. Polish town – since it was allowed can find the same monuments to tell the truth - which has found in washington, new york, tel Aviv th a way out of lies and falsehood and Łódź. Białek Stanisław Fot. on the 5 of July 2010 the official presentation of the -re – said Professor władysław stored monument of the victims of the Kielce pogrom took bartoszewski during the ceremony of unveiling the inscription plaque Jan karski’s monument is nowadays an integral part of the place. The initiator of the restoration was the Jan Karski Society on the house in Planty street, kieltzer street. It has not only symbolical and artistic mean- and it was financed by individual Kielce residents as well as Kielce UM Fot. on the 18th of January 2006. ing, but it is also a place where Kielce residents like meeting by the members of the Kieltzer Society in Israel and in the Unit- and tourists like being photographed. ed States. In 2011 15 thousand young Israelis visited this place. The 27th of January is the international holocaust re- – every year members of the Jan Kar- i am in deep sorrow. i intended membrance Day MenorAh MonuMent to visit Poland before i die ski Society meet at the Menorah Monument in order in order to see all my friends. to pay homage to the victims of this cruel crime. th i am grateful that you want in 2007, on the commemoration of the 65 anniversary of to comfort me. thank you the Kielce ghetto extermination and the murder of more than for your welcoming attitude. 20 thousand Jews, the Jan Karski Society erected the Meno- i love you so much. i am in christiAns – Jews Poland with all my heart rah Monument financed from the private funds of the Białek – said Miriam guterman, In January 2011 the Society organized Family. born 1921, a Kieltzer who in Kielce the first edition of the Chris- survived the pogrom, during the memorial event in Kielce tian-Jewish Meetings. There were a lot Fot. Stanisław Białek Stanisław Fot. (4th of July 2011). of events whose aim was to present Jewish religion, culture and history teAchers And students to the residents of Kielce. During the Meetings people tried to search the Jacek Jaros and Dariusz stępień are the history teachers in the convergences and similarities between 6th high school in kielce. With great devotion they encourage the Christianity and Judaism. The idea of the Meetings turned their students to participate in the activities of the Society and out to be a great success. There were almost 4 thousand par- young people do this with great eagerness and interest. Among ticipants and almost half of them were schoolchildren. events organized during the Christian-Jewish Meetings are work- shops for teachers. Their topic is how to teach about Holocaust. The Menorah Monument inspired the eminent concertmaster and composer Jerzy Maksymiuk to create a composition titled „Lament Fot. UM Kielce UM Fot. in Autumn 2011 the Society in the cooperation serca. Kielcom in memoriam” dedicated to the memory of the Kielt- every time i am here i wonder if this Menorah goes down to the ground with the Organization Spark Pro organized the visit zer Jews. The world premiere of the composition performed by the and is a symbol of death or it goes up as a sign of the renewed Kielce Philharmonic Orchestra inaugurated the Second Christian- life. thanks to such people like you i am sure that it goes up of young Israelis in Kielce.
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