O Ś WIĘ CIM ISSN 1899 -4407 PEOPLE

CULTURE HISTORY

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no. 34 October 2011 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

EDITORIAL BOARD: Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine EDITORIAL

The October edition of Oś devotes witz as well as this year’s laureate of On the Path of Memory and Reconcili- quite a large amount of space to edu- the Irena Sendler prize For Saving the ation: from Wadowice and Münster to cational projects offered to unique World, Grażyna Frenc, a guide at the Auschwitz—is the title of the work- audience—inmates, who are incarcer- Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in shops, which took place at the end of Editor: ated in the correctional institutions Oświęcim as well as a secondary school August and beginning of September Paweł Sawicki of Małopolska region. Currently, the history teacher in Kęty. We also invite at the Center for Dialogue and Prayer Editorial secretary: third edition of the project Auschwitz— you to the exhibit of Forbidden Art. in Oświęcim, about which we write in Agnieszka Juskowiak -Sawicka History—Civic Education is underway. We also recommend a report about the this edition of the monthly. We also Editorial board: The topic being presented is profi les of joyous celebration to mark the nine- invite you to take a look at the next Bartosz Bartyzel the Righteous Among the Nations. tieth birthday of August Kowalczyk, part of the guide around the Jewish Wiktor Boberek On the pages of the Museum, we also that took place at the International Oświęcim. Jarek Mensfelt report about the Polish and Israeli sup- Youth Meeting Center. The pages of Olga Onyszkiewicz Paweł Sawicki Jadwiga Pinderska -Lech port for the Auschwitz -Birkenau Foun- the Meeting Center also include an dation, and about the French edition of article about the visit by the famous Editor -in -chief Artur Szyndler [email protected] Columnist: the fi ve -volume study about Ausch- Israeli artist, Yehuda Bacon. Mirosław Ganobis Design and layout: Agnieszka Matuła, Grafi kon Translations: David R. Kennedy A GALLERY OF THE 20TH CENTURY Proofreading: Beata Kłos Cover: The pointillism in the realm able pile of sand, which for in town could stop. At that time of... shortages. It is there Art work made by of historical memory corre- children from nearby homes time it was constantly cov- that I bought candy, either in a member of the project lates to pointillism in paint- became an improvised sand- ered with hay and oats and rolls or in paper wrappers, Auschwitz—History ings, in other words, dots box where they created ever- it was there that the chickens as well as individual ciga- —Civic Education that are created through -changing buildings and from the small local farms rettes for my father. He was Photographer: small dabs and marks in the tunnels. would preside, pecking an occasional smoker… Paweł Sawicki past within the memory’s At the intersection of Zabor- away at the grains. Below is a photograph of a recorded history. So, here ska and Piastowska Streets, a Returning to the chestnuts: section of Jagiełły Street, tak- are some “pointillist” imag- space currently occupied by standing next to them was a en from the balcony of build- PUBLISHER: es, memories from the past a building, there was a small general food kiosk offering ing number 23 in 1970. years. empty yard where horse- the complete range of prod- Auschwitz-Birkenau On the site of the contem- -drawn wagons that arrived ucts that was available at the Andrzej Winogrodzki State Museum porary parking area next to www.auschwitz.org.pl the City Hall, from the side of Jagiełły Street, there grew two quite large chestnut PARTNERS: trees. In May, they decorated themselves with candelabras Jewish of faded pink fl owers, while Center in the autumn they dropped hundreds of round, spiky www.ajcf.pl shells on the street and side- walk below; and out of these shells that we peeled away, we gathered the smooth, Center for Dialogue and Prayer glossy, and shiny seeds—the Foundation tree’s fruit. With the help of small sticks, matches, www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl and wires, it was possible to create an entire army of, so -called, miniature people or a variety of different ani- International Youth mals. Meeting Center Jagiełły Street was paved www.mdsm.pl with granite stones, while Zaborska Street was “cob- blestoned.” A low level of traffi c fl ow characterized IN COOPERATION the two streets, but if there WITH: was any—it was more often horse -drawn and not mo- Kasztelania torized. The horse related traffi c often left the streets www.kasztelania.pl marked by the horse’s pres- ence, which was regularly State Higher removed by cleaners as well Vocational Schoolol as sparrows. in Oświęcim On the corner of Jagiełły and Zaborska Streets there was www.pwsz-oswiecim.pl i i l an empty space (a building, destroyed during the War Editorial address: had once stood there, then „Oś – Oświęcim, Ludzie, later it was the site of a kind Historia, Kultura” of fl ower garden, and cur- Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz -Birkenau rently there is a new build- ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20 ing there) where somebody 32 -603 Oświęcim once dumped out, for some e -mail: [email protected] Photo: Private Archive unknown purpose, a size- Jagiełły Street. Photo from Andrzej Winogrodzki’s collection

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011 Auschwitz -Birkenau State Museum

FORBIDDEN ART— TO CAPTURE UNIMAGINABLE

orbidden Art is the title of a new exhibition at the Auschwitz Memorial, featuring twenty works of art made illegally and under the threat of death by prisoners in German Nazi concentration camps. Each of the pho- Ftographs shown in the exhibition is accompanied by a historical commentary and excerpts from archival ac- counts. The time when the exhibition at the Museum is available for viewing was prolonged until 20 November. Afterwards, it will be shown to audiences in other countries, including the United States.

ARTISTS WHOSE WORK IS SHOWN IN THE EXHIBITION Peter Edel Maria Hiszpańska Franciszek Jaźwiecki Mieczysław Kościelniak Halina Ołomucka Stanisława Panasowa -Stelmaszewska Marian Ruzamski Josef Sapcaru Włodzimierz Siwierski

Sawicki Zofi a Stępień ł Józef Szajna Stanisław Trałka The anonymous artist with the initials MM Photo: Pawe Exhibition in the former camp laundry Anonymous artists

“How to capture and ex- terror? How to portray Auschwitz? The works in The exhibition is divided illegal correspondence by press the unimaginable? fear, helplessness, and de- this exhibition, the artists’ in two parts. The fi rst part prisoners. How to represent the en- spair, but also the longing attempt to cope with the shows the reality of the The Forbidden Art exhibition tire hell of Auschwitz with for freedom? How to avoid camp experience, hint to a camp—various scenes from can be seen on the grounds the help of minimal rep- forfeiting humanity and degree at answers to these the functioning of the camp of the former Auschwitz I resentational means in an the remnants of dignity questions,” we read in the as well as portraits of pris- camp in the camp laundry atmosphere of unending in the inhuman world of folder accompanying the oners. The second part of- building until the end of exhibition. fers a look at various kinds November 2011. The pho- “The works that we show of escape from camp reali- tographs were taken by at the exhibition in pho- ty: caricatures, albums con- Michał Dziewulski. It will tographic form are quite taining greetings, and fairy be accompanied by a two- diverse in terms of subject tales that prisoners wrote -day scholarly conference matter, the material used, for their children. in which specialists from and technique. The most Most of the photographs at museums and memorial important thing, however, the exhibition show works sites in , Germany, is that there is a moving of graphic art, but there are Poland, and the United story behind each of these also such items as a bracelet States will talk about the works. This makes our with scenes from the Łódź subject of art made in the exhibition not only an en- ghetto found near the gas ghettos and concentration counter with art but also chamber on the Auschwitz camps. an important lesson in II -Birkenau grounds, or a The exhibition will soon be history,” said Agnieszka miniature fi gure of a devil available for viewing by Sieradzka, an art historian made in Auschwitz from audiences in several cities from the Museum Collec- tape and a piece of wire; in the United States. tions Department. it was used for smuggling Paweł Sawicki Photo: Collections Depatment, A -BSM Photo: Collections Depatment, A A bracelet with scenes from the Lizmannstadt Ghetto

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Auschwitz -Birkenau State Museum Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

POLAND AND ISRAEL SUPPORT THE AUSCHWITZ -BIRKENAU FOUNDATION

oland will be supporting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Perpetual Fund with a 10 million Euro injection. The clubs within the Sejm as well as the Senate supported a special law that dealt with this issue. President of the Re- Ppublic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, signed this document on October 5.

Former Auschwitz II–Birkenau camp grounds

“This place is a universal the nature of humankind, the need for this has a great symbol of evil and is a very than we would truly like meaning,” said the director important point of reference to hear. For us, Poles, it is of the in Jeru- for many people around the our largest cemetery. Never salem, Avner Shalev. The Is- world. Thanks to the com- have so many Poles died in raeli Embassy in Poland has mitment to fi nancially sup- a single place,” Cywiński stated that the government port it, Poland joins the most emphasized. Poland’s sup- of Israeli has accepted the signifi cant donor countries port constitutes about eight creation of the Auschwitz- of the project and confi rms percent of the entire Perpet- -Birkenau Foundation with its current policy of protect- ual Fund. This share into the great satisfaction, and that ing memory of the victims fund will be paid in install- the fi nancial support will of the Second World War,” ments that will fl ow into it be paid into the fund in two is written in support of the over the next four years. equal installments: the fi rst Act, which also highlights The Israeli government has in the 2012 fi scal year, the the fact, that the government also joined in the building of next in 2013. of the Polish Republic con- the Perpetual Fund. Prime The goal of the Auschwitz- tinuously provides fi nancial Minister Benjamin Netan- -Birkenau Foundation is to support for the functioning yahu announced that the accumulate 120 million Euros of the Auschwitz-Birkenau support provided would be for the Perpetual Fund, from State Museum. 3.6 million new shekels, i.e. which the 4–5 million Euros “This is a vital decision. about one million dollars. of interest earned will allow Poland could not be absent “The site of Auschwitz- for planning and systematic among those countries that -Birkenau, where during the implementation of vital con- support the work being done Shoah over a million Jews servation work on the site of to keep the authenticity of were murdered, has become Auschwitz -Birkenau. This is the Auschwitz Memorial a key symbol of the Holo- the only such a program in Site,” stated the President of caust as well as ultimate the world dedicated solely the Foundation, Dr. Piotr M. evil. That is the reason that to a Memorial Site. The fi rst A. Cywiński. “Auschwitz is preserving the authenticity large -scale conservation primarily the world’s sym- of this site and its heritage works paid for by the fund bol of . It is a is a moral priority. The fact will begin in 2012. site that speaks more about that Israel also recognizes Paweł Sawicki

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011 Auschwitz -Birkenau State Museum

AWARD FOR SAVING THE WORLD

his year’s laureate of the Irena Sendler Award For Saving the World is Grażyna Frenc, a guide at the Auschwitz- -Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim and a history teacher at a secondary school in Kęty as well as at the TVocational Institute in Katowice. She has received this prestigious award for working on “educational projects devoted to the subject of the Holocaust, multiculturalism, and tolerance.”

The Irena Sendler prize For generations is our common Saving the World is awarded challenge and responsibil- by the Association for Chil- ity,” stated in a letter to the dren of the Holocaust and the laureate Dr. Piotr M. A. Center for Civic Education. Cywiński, Director of the It is given to teachers, who, Museum. “So thank you for through the use of unique your perseverance in raising methods, educate about Jew- awareness of this to young ish history and culture, and people, and I would like to who take on an active role at also take this opportunity to their school and local com- express my own words of munity. This is the fi fth year recognition for the work you that the Award has been pre- do at the Auschwitz Memo- sented. rial Site, which in the context “Being nominated for the Ire- of all that was stated above, na Sendler Award is a great cannot be overestimated,” honor and privilege for me added Cywiński. as well as my community, “My fi rst profound contact without which my activities with the subject of the Holo- would not have been possi- caust occurred several years ble. This confi rms the effec- ago, during the educational tiveness and value of my ac- seminars that are organized

tivities up to now. It is also a here at the Museum,” the Photo: Bartosz Bartyzel challenge and responsibility laureate told Oś. “Later, I Grażyna Ferenc guiding a group of Polish youth at the Auschwitz Memorial Site to do this work in the future,” took part in the post -diploma said Grażyna Ferenc during studies organized by the In- ties are linked and intersect. There are great risks that of the historical and educa- the ceremonial award pres- ternational Center for Educa- The historical lesson fl owing without the persistent and tional projects undertaken entation gala at the Palace of tion about Auschwitz and the from Auschwitz also allows often diffi cult work of educa- by Grażyna Ferenc, allows us the Ministry of Foreign Af- Holocaust. This inspired me us to educate and teach about tors the notions such as those to have hope that the values fairs in Warsaw. to create educational projects tolerance. Based on examples of “tolerance” and “respect and attitudes that Irena Sen- “Caring for the preservation for school -aged youth. Today, from the past, we teach les- for others” would remain dler was faithful to will not of memory and cultivating I also work as a guide. These sons for the future,” Grażyna nothing more than meaning- fade into oblivion. this history among the young areas of educational activi- Ferenc emphasized. less clichés. The recognition Bartosz Bartyzel FIVE -VOLUME STUDY OF AUSCHWITZ IS NOW AVAILABLE IN FRENCH he fi ve-volume historical study, entitled Auschwitz 1940-1945. Central Issues in the History of the Camp, has been published in French. The Polish version of the publication fi rst appeared in 1995 (edited by Wacław Długoborski, TPhD, and Franciszek Piper, PhD). The French translation is updated with the latest historical fi ndings. The vast, 2,167 page, publication has been the most complete collection of research analysis about the creation and functioning of the Nazi German Concentration and Death Camp of Auschwitz. The publication presents the Auschwitz Concentration and vocabulary and fi nd appropri- lection, you can fi nd a very the Victims of Auschwitz- history of the Concentration Death Camp; the history of ate French words for German complete glossary of words -Birkenau Death Camp]. The and Death Camp against the the Holocaust, the shared re- camp terminology as well as and phrases, which were publication is available in backdrop of the wide-ranging sponsibility of many German the institutions created by the used within the Camp,” said Polish, English, German, and political landscape of the institutions of the period, and SS. There was also a problem Dorota Ryszka of the Museum French at the bookshops of the Third Reich and collaborating the ultimate fate of the victims. in selecting the proper words Publications Department and Museum as well as online. countries; the work also pre- This study also brings to light to translate the German names coordinator for the French edi- During 2010, about 63 thou- sents the course of the depor- the question of identifying the of the Camp’s SS administra- tion. sand people from France vis- tations from various countries members of the SS working in tion. In fact, most of these are More than just bringing his- ited the Auschwitz Museum (among them France) to the the Camp. German neologisms, liter- torical research up to date, and Memorial Site. “In the case of this publica- ally untranslatable into any the publication also contains Bartosz Bartyzel tion, a great challenge was to other language. Therefore, in a new bibliography, which create a commonly accepted volume number V of the col- has been greatly expanded, In both the occupied part above all, to include memoires of France as well as in the and testimony of eyewitnesses Vichy part, there lived be- THE FIVE VOLUMES EACH DEAL of deportations from France tween 310 to 350 thousand WITH A SPECIFIC TOPIC: and, additionally, fi ndings of Jews. Around 75 thousand French researchers. Jews were deported from Volume I: The Establishment and Organization of the The translation into French France to Death Camps, Camp (La construction et l’organisation du camp) was made possible thanks to including 69,255 to Ausch- Volume II: The Prisoners—Their Life and Work (Les the fi nancial support of the witz. Out of this number of people, 41,805 were im- détenus—la vie et le travail) Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah of France; and print- mediately murdered in the Volume III: Mass Murder (L’extermination) gas chambers after the se- Volume IV: The Resistance Movement (La résistance) ing was funded by the Fun- dacja Pamięci Ofi ar Obozu lection, while 27,220 were Volume V: The Epilogue [Evacuation and Liberation of registered as prisoners in the Camp] (Épilogue) Zagłady Auschwitz -Birkenau [Memorial Foundation for the Concentration Camp.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

NOT THE USUAL LESSON ABOUT POSITIVE ATTITUDES

he third edition of the educational project Auschwitz—Histo- ry—Civic Education is underway. This project is being carried out by the International Center for Education about Ausch- AUSCHWITZ—HISTORY T —CIVIC EDUCATION witz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz -Birkenau State Museum, and in cooperation with Correctional Institutions and Criminal In- vestigation Prisons that are under jurisdiction of the Regional In- In its everyday activities, the International spectorate of the Prison Service in Cracow. The subject during the Center for Education about Auschwitz and current edition of this project are profi les of the Righteous Among the Holocaust at the Auschwitz -Birkenau the Nations. The Galicia Jewish Museum has joined in the coopera- State Museum in Oświęcim, focuses main- tive efforts of the project organizers. ly on the needs of teachers and educators. Sharing the history of the largest Nazi Ger- “The general concept is civ- man Concentration and Death Camp is also ic education, which is part of the basic goal of serving provided to other social and professional a criminal sentence, because groups. it awakens within the in- mates the urge to cooper- The inspiration to create a lence, addictions, and pro- ate in reshaping themselves cooperative project with -criminal attitudes. Finally, and attain socially accept- the Prison Services were there are techniques that are able attitudes. Including the letters, actually written by used to shape the skills and Galicia Jewish Museum in inmates to the Museum, in professional competence, this cooperative effort, and which they requested litera- social and cognitive apti- presenting examples of the ture about the history of the tude, as well as targeted to Righteous is a new aspect of Auschwitz Concentration work on relationships, social the project to the Prison Ser- Camp, as well as the few, roles and the integration of vice. It concurrently shows unusual at the time, visits of families,” explains Captian that this project is able to small groups of inmates from Tomasz Wacławek, Spokes- evolve as well as to provide local correctional institutions. man for the Inspectorate of new methods of education. This is why, keeping in mind Prison Services in Cracow. The exhibition that profi les the specifi c nature of the au- “One of the more uncon- Poles who saved Jews dur- dience, a complex and com- ventional activities we are ing the Second World War pletely new project was cre- conducting is the project Photo: Bartosz Bartyzel and the accompanying lec- ated, which includes a series undertaken in coopera- The meeting summarizing the fi rst year of cooperation of educational activities. tion with the Museum in between the Silesian Prison Service and the Auschwitz Museum tures and fi lms are meant to underline positive atti- In the beginning, the Muse- Oświęcim. Throughout The project, Auschwitz— seum and the Galicia Jewish um carried out the project in the last three years, several History—Civic Education in- Museum are using to this tudes. This demonstrates to the participants the notion cooperation with the Prison thousand inmates under our cludes a series of seminars end prepared presentations, Services Inspectorate in Cra- jurisdiction have taken part. and study tours for prison fi lms, as well as the exhibit, that normal people, even in those horrifying and cow. Later, this expanded to The general concept is civic inmates and staff. The cur- entitled Polish Heroes: Those the Silesia area. During the education, which is part rent edition of this project Who Saved Jews. The lessons most ghastly of times, had the ability to retain their fi rst two years, 529 prison- of the basic goal of serving focuses on presenting pro- will take place in all Cor- ers took part in study visits out a criminal sentence, be- fi les of individuals who have rectional Institutions within humanity and at the same time gain sympathy as well at the Museum, however, as cause it awakens within the been honored as Righteous the jurisdiction of the Cra- many as 5,790 took part in inmates the urge to cooper- Among the Nations, and its cow Prison Inspectorate. as become heroes,” added Wacławek. educational activities at the ate in reshaping themselves aim is to encourage positive “Over the last three years, correctional institutions. For and attain socially accept- attitudes. The main goal of several thousand prison- “The exhibition Polish He- roes: Those Who Saved Jews many of the participants, able attitudes. Providing the project is to inspire its ers from our district have this was their fi rst occasion information about what the participants by emphasiz- taken part in this project,” was created in 2006 thanks to the cooperative work when they were exposed to Auschwitz-Birkenau and ing the selfl ess actions peo- stated Captain Tomasz and learned about this sub- other concentration camps ple undertook in the most Wacławek, spokesman for between the Galicia Jew- ish Museum in Cracow, the ject. The inmates’ testimony as well as what the Gulags horrifi c of times. Educators the Regional Inspectorate of as well as clearly emotional were, the way that totalitari- from the Auschwitz Mu- Prison Services in Cracow. Jewish Center in Oświęcim, and the Polish/American/ opinions and refl ections (ex- an regimes functioned, what Jewish Alliance for Youth amples are presented next contempt for other people Action (PAJA),” said Jakub to the article) are reassuring leads to, the lack of tolerance Nowakowski, director of about the worthy effects and and respect for human life— the Galicia Jewish Museum. the fact that proper activities are the conceptual elements “This exhibit was created to had been undertaken. which are meant to protect honor over 20,000 Righteous “In order to explain what individuals against such Among the Nations, includ- this project is based on, we dangers in the future. It is ing more than 6,000 Poles, must go back to the basics supposed to help repair the who selfl essly risked their of our daily duties here. The individual—provide under- lives to help Jews during the Prison Service, while real- standing and awaken empa- Second World War and the izing its goal of punishment thy,” emphasized Captain Holocaust. All of these in- by imprisonment, conducts Wacławek. dividuals ought to awaken a number of activities of Due to the very high inter- our respect and admiration various characters—protec- est among inmates about for them. The exhibit, Polish tive, corrective, preventive, the subject of Auschwitz, the Heroes, presenting the fate of therapeutic, educational, etc. Museum has sent materials normal people who in terri- This is done both on the in- dealing with this topic to li- fying times accomplished dividual level and through braries located in prisons and exceptional things, allows group resocialization pro- jails, literature that is partly us today to have faith in hu- grams. These also include free of charge. Currently, we mankind and a hope for the cultural, educational, and have begun the already third sports programs, geared to edition of the project.

Photo: Daria Kutkiewicz future,” emphasizes Nowa- counter aggression and vio- Bartosz Bartyzel Seminar at the Auschwitz Memorial kowski.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

THE REFLECTIONS OF PRISON INMATES, PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROJECT AUSCHWITZ— HISTORY—CIVIC EDUCATION

“Even though this is a shock- Those were not people… ing place, because the scale That is the least I can say.” and methods of the mass Ryszard extermination of people are unthinkable, I am convinced “When we boarded the bus, that the further spreading of there was silence for a long this painful truth will ensure time and when you heard that such a tragedy will never people speaking, they whis- happen again on earth.” pered. Nobody laughed, no- Marek body joked. … Everyone was still experiencing all that they ski

ń “You must prepare yourself had heard, what they had to come to this place. Even seen, and were reliving the more: you should mature, images that they had devel- know that you are prepared oped in their mind.” to actually fi nd yourself Krzysztof there, to see the tragedy of those who died in agony “…I would not have wanted Inmates during their tour of the exhibition Polish Heroes: Those Who Rescued Jews, Galicia Museum in Cracow with their entire family for to live in that time, because practically nothing.” today I am a husband and “Learning the history of the Antoni Stańczyk, the coor- ing in prevention of intoler- Anonymous a father. If they had taken Auschwitz -Birkenau Con- dinator of this project at the ance, contempt, and hatred. my family away from me, I centration Camp, the Holo- Auschwitz Museum. “We This is meant to encourage “I know that I won’t forget would probably have taken caust of the Jewish people, believe that in educating the shaping of tolerance, what I saw and heard there. my own life. That is all that I and the actions undertaken about these topics we are empathy, and positive so- I also know one more thing, would like to say. I pity them by the Righteous may help not only teaching history, cial as well as moral atti- that when my children grow so much.” us comprehend the con- but also helping the par- tudes,” Stańczyk added. up, my wife and I will come Marcin sequences of hatred and ticipants become sensitive together to Auschwitz- contempt for others,” says toward others, thus help- Bartosz Bartyzel -Birkenau, one more time, so “Nonetheless, what had the that our children can learn greatest impression on me, about the tragedy that took were the photographs of the place there and see it with children, especially, those their own eyes.” children that were used Tomasz as guinea pigs in experi- ments.…” “Now with complete certain- Dariusz ty I can say that if I am only able, or if it depends on me, “This time I was visiting the truly I will do everything to Camp as a convict (in other stop any sort of violence or words, prisoner). However, cruelty. We live in a time that I think that you cannot equate is dominated by violence, ha- the situation of convicts like tred, and what is vanishing me (or any of today’s prison- are the basic values, like kind- ers) with the prisoners of the ness, goodness, helpfulness, concentration camps. This and sensitivity, so therefore, you cannot compare.” I believe it is worth changing Jacek something—maybe, start- Photo: Agnieszka Juskowiak -Sawicka Photo: Agnieszka Juskowiak Photo: Jacek Kabzi ing with our own backyard, “When you are free, you Zofi a Łyś, former Auschwitz prisoner, during a meeting with inmates reacting to children’s bad don’t pay much attention behavior and violence in the to history, everyone knows family.” that there was a time that Michał the Auschwitz Camp ex- isted and macabre crimes “Two things remained in my were committed there, but memory the most: the taking there never is enough time away of the newborn from to more deeply consider this its mother in that barrack, human tragedy. The Camp then killing the baby, and the had a great effect on me and fi lm Ambulans, the murder evoked within me sympathy of children in such a horrify- for the victims.” ing way, in such suffering… Tomasz

Art work made by a member of the project Art work made by a member of the project Art work made by a member of the project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Jewish Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

OSHPITZIN. A GUIDE

elow we publish the fi fth part of the fi rst guide to the Jew- ish history of Oświęcim—Oshpitzin. This is the result of ten Byears of historical research and collecting materials by the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim. The publication is accom- panied by a www.oshpitzin.pl website which presents a virtual map of the Jewish town, accounts of former residents of the town, videos, photos as well as lesson plans for educators. On the next page of the magazine you can fi nd the city map with all the build- ings on it.

Members of Mizrachi from Oświęcim (in the middle, at the table: Zalman Fränkel)

like a trapezoid. During Parts of tombstones World War II, the cemetery was completely devas- tated by the Germans and its grounds were included in Dąbrowskiego Street. In 1941, the cemetery was closed just after the Jews were deported from Oświęcim. In the fi rst dec- Photo: Piotr Gajek ade after the war, the Jews who returned to Oświęcim took care of the cemetery and in the following years,

MATZEVAH Schoolgirls of Bet Yaakov in Oświęcim, 1930s (Hebrew: Photo: Piotr Gajek students and graduates of before WWII. The Mizrahi tombstone) 15 Bet Yaakov, members of Association of Orthodox Bnot Agudat Israel (young Zionists in Oświęcim was Traditional Jewish tomb- BET YAAKOV girl organization under the established in 1923 and its stone. Usually in the Agudat Israel party) and longtime president was form of an upright stone SCHOOL AND or wooden headstone BET MIDRASH other Jewish women, who Zalman Fränkel. initially outnumbered men Another house of prayer crowned with a rectan-

as there was not enough known as the Small Syna- gular, triangular or semi- Photo: Piotr Gajek The school was located circular ornamentation on Głęboka Street (today space for women in other gogue was located near synagogues. the Bet Midrash Mizrahi. and placed at the head of Górnickiego), opposite the the buried. Inscriptions Schönker’s shtibl. It ex- It was located at 8 Głęboka Street (today Górnickiego) on matzevot can include isted from at least 1933 as biographical information the Jewish Girls Associa- and belonged to Gemilat Chesed Association—Jew- and carvings can refl ect tion Bet Yaakov or Female religious or social status School Bet Yaakov. Szy- ish free loan society (est. 1889). The house, com- of the deceased. mon Danzig was its long- Photo: Piotr Gajek time president and Sara prising three rooms, was Wolf was the fi rst teacher. destroyed by the Germans Shortly before WWII on during construction of a the initiative of the school’s road to IG Farben chemical secretary Kalman Born- plant. stein, a regular minyan (Hebrew: prayer group) would gather during the 17 most important Jewish Seal of Oświęcim Bet Yaakov, holidays and shabbats. The 1934 JEWISH prayers were attended by CEMETERY 16 The fi rst Jewish cemetery BET MIDRASH was founded circa 1588; (Hebrew: however, its location is BET MIDRASH unknown. Today, the house of study) MIZRAHI only surviving cemetery is situated at the corner of One of the main institu- Dąbrowskiego Street and tions and centers of the The Bet Midrash Mizrahi Wysokie Brzegi Street. It orthodox community. was a house of prayer for was established at the turn A place of study of the members and followers of the 19th century. The Jewish religious texts, at- of the Mizrahi party. It cemetery was originally tended by boys and adult was located at the inter- square, but the area that men. section of Zatorska and Głęboka streets shortly remains today is shaped Oświęcim Jewish Cemetery, 1950s

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the wall surrounding the of New York. Sections family’s ohel was recon- graveyard was repaired. of tombstones were ar- structed. The other ohel In the 1980s, the cemetery ranged in memorials built in the cemetery covers the was renovated thanks to of broken tombstones. At grave of Szymon Kluger, the support of Asher Scharf the same time, the Scharf the last Jew who lived in Oświęcim. Almost 1,000 tombstones have been pre- served in Oświęcim’s Jew- ish cemetery.

cont.

OHEL (Hebrew: tent)

Wooden or brick struc- ture built over a grave of a distinguished rabbi or tsadik and his male descendants. Such mon- uments are visited by Hasids from all over the world. The locations with main ohels include Aleksandrów, Bobowa, Chrzanów, Góra Kalwar- ia, Kock, Lelów, Nowy Family of Leo Klapholtz during the unveiling Sącz. Regina Grünbaum at her grandfather Moshe Grünbaum’s gravestone, of the gravestone of their relative, c. 1930 1936 -1937

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 International Youth Meeting Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF AUGUST KOWALCZYK AT THE IYMC

ugust Kowalczyk lives in Warsaw, but—as he has empha- sized—he always feels at home in Oświęcim and simply calls Athe International Youth Meeting Center, “home.” However, this is not only because of the fact that the tragic history of this town near the Soła River had once become entangled with his own fate, when in December of 1940 he was deported here, to Auschwitz, as prisoner number 6804; and then after his courageous escape from the Camp in 1942, he was “born again.” August Kowalczyk’s con- nection to Oświęcim undoubtedly has a more complex dimension, so he decided to celebrate his 90th birthday here, within the walls of his family home. stitutions that Mr. Kowalczyk works with. To the surprise of August Kowalczyk and those gathered, the Director of the Tychy Cultural Cent- er, Wojciech Wieczorek and Henryk Kasperek, together with their colleagues gave a rhymed tribute in his honor, fi lled with sparkling wit and a truly Silesian temperament. He was also moved to tears by words of the current IYMC August Kowalczyk Photo: Dominik Smolarek staff, who are bound together by special, almost familial, On August 26, the IYMC be straight from the heart. bond with Mr. Kowalczyk. survived a veritable siege. A The exceptionally heartfelt At the end of this part of Photo: Dominik Smolarek great many Oświęcim resi- messages which were said by the evening, there were August Kowalczyk and Róża Sklorz from Bojszowy dents, and numerous indi- the guests, among others the many good wishes, fl ow- they enchanted. the renaissance personal- viduals from virtually all over Director of the Auschwitz- ers, and presents from other August Kowalczyk—the ity of August Kowalczyk—a Poland, not to mention the -Birkenau State Museum, Dr. Oświęcim residents, for poet, we have only recently man, who has reached the, guests from abroad, fi lled the Piotr M. A. Cywiński; the whom each meeting with the met. Not even a year has so-called, ripe old age, al- International Center’s garden Consul General of the Re- honored guest had its own passed since a volume of his ways has so much more to to partake in the celebration public of Germany, Dr. Heinz meaning and value. This part poetry entitled, The Most Dif- offer people and the world of the Distinguished Guest. Peters; Christoph Heubner of the evening’s birthday cel- fi cult Thing Is to Be with Myself and continues to humble with This part of the evening was of the International Ausch- ebration also had a special was published. The poems, his graciousness as well as to have an offi cial air, be- witz Committee; Joachim atmosphere due to the won- we should add, are extraordi- sympathy… A man, who, of cause it was supposed to be Russka of the Center for Jew- derfully performed song by nary, because in a very evoca- course, continues to surprise fi lled with mainly celebratory ish Culture in Cracow; Ines Maria Kudełka—who is well tive and poignant manner us with something new. toasts and wishes. The fact Doberanzke from the Volk- known to the Oświęcim au- express an attitude, of “sa- Ad multos annos, Mr. Kowal- that this did not take place in swagen Company; Helena dience. However, this was voring life” in all its aspects, czyk! such a way, was not only due Wisła, with whom August only a taste of how the second not just, as one may expect, Janusz Toczek to the ever humorous and Kowalczyk tirelessly works part of the evening was to with the author only gazing warm man of the evening to support the construction of proceed. This was completed through the prism of his dra- Organizers of August Kowalczyk’s as well as the organizers of Oświęcim hospice; the Direc- by a special concert “Augus- matic wartime experiences. It birthday celebration were: party, including the Center’s tor of Youth Cultural Center tine’s Symphony,” in which is amazing how it’s fi lled with The Foundation for the a mixed ensemble of virtuo- cheer and confi dence to open International Youth Meeting director, Leszek Szuster who Number 2 in Tychy, Teresa Center in Oświęcim/Auschwitz was at the helm; but also the M. Wodzicki, whose efforts sos—instrumentalists as well itself to the world and people! Memorial Hospice Foundation speakers, who fully under- led to the publishing of the as vocalists—were conducted “Who you really are—no one of the City of Oświęcim stood that when it comes to honored guest’s poetry; and, by August Kowalczyk him- knows…”—sang the incom- The Rotary Club of Oświęcim August Kowalczyk, you can- fi nally, representatives of the self. A personal musical dia- parable Maria Kudełka at Youth Culture Center not use a template to send city, county, and other speak- logue was held between the the end of the evening. These Number 1 in Tychy your best wishes, these must ers, on behalf of the many in- guitar virtuosos, brothers Pi- simple words, from one of The Auschwitz -Birkenau otr and Jan Kudełka as well the most beautiful Polish State Museum as the magical violinist Adam songs perfectly exemplifi ed The International Musialski, who was accompa- Auschwitz Committee nied by his sister, Beata. They brilliantly performed works of George Perlman, Felix Mendelssohn, and Astor Piaz- zola—in a blistering manner, fuelling an already scorching atmosphere. Moreover, the masterful performances of virtuosos was accompanied by wonderful interpretations of poems, above all by August

Kowalczyk, which were pre- ś sented by the great Cracow actresses—Ewa Kaim, Beata Paluch, and Anna Radwan Gancarczyk—who made a great impression on none Photo: Alicja Bartu August Kowalczyk and Director Photo: Dominik Smolarek other than the author, not to of the Auschwitz -Birkenau State Museum, Piotr M.A. Cywiński mention the audience that During the concert dedicated to August Kowalczyk

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MS3 BAROQUE ENSEMBLE AT THE IYMC

n the second to last evening of September at the International Youth Meeting Center, sounds of baroque musical masterpieces Orang out. They were performed by the exceptional Hungarian- -Polish -Czech -Slovak quartet, MS3 Baroque Ensemble. The concert, or- ganized in cooperation with the Foundation Judaica—Jewish Cultural

Centre in Cracow, inaugurated a tour by the four musicians that in- ś cludes twelve concerts in the countries from which the ensemble mem- bers come from.

The MS3 Baroque Ensemble In fact, it is the last of the art- countries, making an effort includes: Simona Pingitzer, ists named above who, in to expose school children, Photo: Alicja Bartu a Slovak fl utist; Aleksandra order to create opportunities small villages and towns, to MS3 Baroque Ensemble During concert in MDSM Pykacz, a Polish cellist; Jakub for young and talented indi- classical music. This year, resulted in the creation of a peccably played songs to- Junek, a Czech violinist; and a viduals from Central Europe, in villages in Hungary that virtual—at least for a visit to gether, were in full view of Hungarian classical guitarist, came up with the idea for have a primarily Roma Oświęcim—quartet. the guests who gathered on Sándor Mester. an internet contest, entitled population, he organized “Personally, I have not met September 29 at the Interna- “Klassik Star on -line,” which a concert series under the with the musicians yet, I do tional Youth Meeting Center. called out to Slovak, Czech name “Concert for Roma.” not know who they are, and The over one -hour long con- and Polish musicians. “I am In April, his concert tour we have only been in e-mail cert, which was a presentation aware of the fact that you included the countries of contact. I have seen videos of of mostly Baroque composi- cannot easily break out pro- Slovakia, the Ukraine, Ro- them performing on Youtube. tions, but also an experimen- fessionally in today’s world. mania, and Serbia, under Each is a great musician. I am tal “Discours 3”—a work that And, of course, for classical the name Bakfark -Bartók. also very excited that Dariusz was especially composed for musicians, it is essential that During the summer, he per- Przybylski has written a piece this occasion by the young they become accustomed formed over fi fty concerts in for us. I am very excited about Polish composer, Dariusz to playing on stage and to small towns and villages in the tour,” Sándor Mester Przybylski—was awarded make it possible for a wider Slovakia. said before he arrived at the with a great ovation. range of the audience to The “Klassik Star on -line” IYMC, where—just before the The future holds eleven more

ś learn their names,” declared contest as well as the or- performance—the artists had concerts, where the musi- Sándor Mester. ganization of the concert their fi rst occasion to play to- cians will play together. The It is worth mentioning that tour, was made possible gether. guest for the last fi nal con- Mester is not only a master due to the support of the The virtuoso skills of the rath- cert, which will take place in guitarist, but he is also active IVF (International Visegrad er young artists, both dur- Budapest, will be the Slovak in promoting music. Dur- Fund), and is a musical ex- ing their solo performances, fl utist, Ivica Gabrišova En- Photo: Alicja Bartu and—what is particularly cingerova. Sandor Mester ing the last six years, he has periment on the scale of to- played concerts in twelve day’s e-civilization. And it worthy of admiration—im- Joanna Klęczar THE TADEUSZ SZYMAŃSKI AWARD FOR THE IYMC IN OŚWIĘCIM

n September 1, 2011, Foundation for the International Youth Meeting Center (IYMC) received the Tadeusz Szymański TADEUSZ SZYMAŃSKI Award of 2011 for the project entitled The fate of Poles and Jews O Tadeusz Szymański was born May 18, 1917 in Gostia (Bos- persecuted during the Second World War and the Holocaust in the light of nia). His parents were Polish, and returned to Poland with post -War Polish and German literature—searching for traces. their son in 1929. After the outbreak of War, he volunteered for the army. On May 2, 1941, he was arrested for belong- The awarded project was “Zeichen der Hoffnung/ The Tadeusz Szymański ing to the Scouts, and on August 12, 1941, he was deported organized in cooperation Signs of Hope eV.” Also Award is presented to young to Auschwitz. In the camp he worked in Gärtnerei Komman- with the IYMC, the Middle awarded, was the project of individuals or initiatives do in Rajsko, then the Aufnahme Kommando. In the autumn School of Heepen/Bielefeld, the “Krzyżowa” foundation which work to promote rec- of 1944, he was transferred to the Gross -Rosen sub -camp and the FILOMATA Private —We, the Children of Europe! onciliation and understand- of Breslau-Lisa, later to the Gross-Rosen Concentration High School in Gliwice. In all, created for children between ing between Germans and Camp, and from there to Buchenwald. After a successful twenty- fi ve students took part the ages of 8 and 14, from var- Poles. escape during his transport to Czechoslovakia by train, he in this endeavor. The seminar ious social backgrounds. Joanna Kleczar regained his freedom on May 1, 1945. In July 1945, Tadeusz participants worked together Szymański returned home. From 1946 to 1977, he worked to decipher the historical site at the Auschwitz Museum, initially within the Informa- of Auschwitz through the use tion Department, then in the Collections Department. He of literary texts written by was also involved in searching for parents of the children survivors—the former pris- of Auschwitz. After his retirement he worked with great oners of the Concentration commitment with Action Reconciliation/Service for Peace Camp. In August, during the and Signs of Hope. He participated in seminars, met with second part of project, which many groups during their visit to Poland, and he was also took place in Bielefeld, Ger- invited to meetings with German youth in the Federal Re- many, the students worked public of Germany. For these activities, he was awarded on documenting the project the Theodor Heuss Medal and the Grand Cross of Merit of in the form of an exhibition, the Federal Republic of Germany. which they later presented From the beginning he accompanied the IYMC: in a great to their colleagues at school. measure he contributed to the founding of the Center, and

The awards ceremony was Photo: IYMC later supported its educational activities on various levels. held in Frankfurt am Main, in From the left: Elżbieta Pasternak, MDSM Oświęcim, Tadeusz Szymański passed away on August 26, 2002. In the Imperial Hall at the City Lars Meyer, Gymnazium Heepen/Bielefeld, Elke Schulze, 2005, the IYMC organized a Memorial Day, to pay tribute Association of “Signs of Hope”, Frankfurt Men, Hall. This award is presented Magdalena Cholewa, Private High School FILOMATA, Gliwice, to Tadeusz Szymański. One of the seminar rooms at the by the Evangelical initiative: Bartosz Kordala, Private High School FILOMATA, Gliwice Center was named in his honor.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 International Youth Meeting Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 34, October 2011

YEHUDA BACON, GUEST OF THE IYMC

rom 11 to 13 of September 2011, the famous Israeli artist, Yehuda Bacon, together with his wife Leah as well as sons Benjamin and Hannan, visited Oświęcim for the second time in their lives. He wanted to show his loved ones Fthe Concentration Camp in which he had been a prisoner, and in which his father had been murdered. The artist came to Oświęcim the entire Auschwitz Camp. opened in the Štiřin castle straight from , where In June 1944, Bacon saw his near Prague, he found him- on September 8 he had had father for the very last time, self back in reality, but with- the opening of his exhibition, as he was being led away to out his own family. In 1946, Yehuda Bacon. Returns Home— the gas chamber. Then also he departed for Palestine. retrospective exhibition of an im- his mother and sister, Hanna, Currently, he lives with his portant Israeli painter with roots were deported to the Stutthof wife and sons in . in Czechoslovakia. For his sons, Concentration Camp, where Yehuda Bacon specifi cally this was their fi rst visit to the they perished just a few wanted to fi rst stop and country where their father weeks before the liberation. spend time in Oświęcim at the had been born on July 29, 1929 On January 18, 1945, with International Youth Meeting in Ostrava, to a Hasidic fam- the death march, Bacon was Center. Both he, and equally, ily. In the spring of 1942, the evacuated to Mauthausen, his wife Leah were very posi- entire family was deported to and later to Gunskirchen, tively impressed with the the . In where on May 5, after spend- bright and open space within December 1943, Yehuda was ing several months in the in- the Center as well as the at- transported to the Auschwitz humanly cruel conditions, he mosphere found there. After Concentration and Death was liberated. After his recov- an exhausting day spent with Camp, where, together with ery, fi rst at a hospital in Steyr, the past, at the historic site of other children in the so -called and then in a convent run by the former Terezín Ghetto, Photo: IYMC “family camp,” he was sup- Catholic nuns, he returned which they visited on their Meeting with Yehuda Bacon posed to “enchant” the rep- to Prague hoping to fi nd his way to Oświęcim, the meet- tened to his words. And he to witness the fact that young resentatives of the Red Cross. loved ones there. Thanks to ing they had with the group spoke, explained, and an- people still come to visit this In reality, the “boys of Birk- Czech educator and humani- of young people at the IYMC swered questions, including site and are also interested in enau,” were used to do trans- tarian Přemyslav Pitterov, was a lovely change. those asked by individuals the fate of those murdered port duties around the site of who managed an orphanage, The day following their ar- he did not know and those there. He also found the rival in Oświęcim, Leah that came from the mouths of time to meet with the partici- along with her sons, for the his sons. He spoke continu- pants of the Polish -German fi rst time confronted the ously. At Crematorium IV, youth exchange of students place where her husband he lit a candle and said the from Volkswagen Coach- and the sons’ father could Kaddish for those murdered, ing GmbH from Brunswig, have lost his life. Yehuda was especially the members of the Salzgitter, and the School their guide. Equipped with Sonderkommando whom he District of Bieruń, as well a Dictaphone and camera, had personally known. When as to have a short talk with they listened to his stories his voice broke, his son Benja- Christoph Heubner (Interna- in suspense. Other Museum min fi nished the prayer. tional Auschwitz Committee) visitors could easily tell that The Meeting Center, so full and Olga Onyszkiewicz, the they were facing a Witness of life as well as young peo- manager of the Educational- to this history. Some, such as ple, seemed to be a different -Program Department at the the son of a Dutch survivor, world to the Bacon family; IYMC. a photographer working on the other side of the world, Who knows, perhaps in the a project about Auschwitz at when compared to the time near future, we will have the the university in Amsterdam, spent on the site of the former opportunity to admire the or the group of young people Camp, it was a type of oasis works of Yehuda Bacon in from Norway, walked up to before and after the visit to the Oświęcim as well… Photo: IYMC Yehuda and asked questions Memorial Site. For Yehuda Meeting with Yehuda Bacon or just simply stood and lis- Bacon, it was also important oLo SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

n September 29, at the International Youth Meeting Center, the offi cial presentation of scholarships from the Fund Named Oin Honor of Stanisław and Maria Neumann, which has been operating within the Foundation for the IYMC for eleven years.

This year’s winners of the The goal of the Fund is to will of Maria and Stanisław scholarship are Rafał Ko- support education of the Neuman, decided on the se- piasz and Marta Kozłowska, talented youth of the city lection of grant recipients,

ska graduates of the Stanisław and county of Oświęcim. taking into account their ń Konarski High School. From This fi nancing is meant extraordinary talents that October, Rafał will be study- for high school students, have been confi rmed by ing biotechnology at the who are about to graduate their grades, fi nancial situ- Department of Chemistry and want to continue their ation, as well as other ac- at the Warsaw University education at institution of tivities undertaken by the of Technology, while Marta higher education. The panel young people. Photo: Barbara Daczy will study at the University composed of: Alicja Bartuś, This year’s scholarship: Rafał Kopiasz i Marta Kozłowska with representatives of the Fund: of Mining and Metallurgy in Leszek Szuster, and Janusz Janusz Toczek i Leszek Szuster Cracow. Toczek, as according to the Agata Dworzak

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ON THE PATH OF MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION

n the path of memory and reconciliation: from Wadowice and Mün- ster to Auschwitz—is the title of the workshops that took place Ofrom August 29 until September 2, 2011 at the Center for Dia- logue and Prayer in Oświęcim. Twenty-two students par- the young people and awoke ems. Divided into a few two -, ticipated in this joint Polish- various emotions in them. three -person Polish -German -German project, which One of the seminar par- groups, we visited the na- was developed thanks to ticipants, Natalia Książek, tional exhibits at the former the cooperation between recounted later: “Visiting Main Camp. This event was Irena Jagiełek, Agnieszka Auschwitz. Each reacted something groundbreaking, Jakubowska as well as differently to this phrasing. at least from the perspec- Magdalena Juszkiewicz The Poles were sometimes tive of my little group. In the from School No. 1 of the reluctant, because they had company of two Germans Wadowice District, together previously visited this site, we were visiting the exhibi- with Ernst Dertmann and others could feel the negative tion in the block dedicated Michael Finkemeier of Pax emotions emanating from to Holland. While in their Christi in Münster. that spot a kilometer away. presence, I did not feel any August 29 saw the fi rst meet- The Germans were more in- differences between us, noth- ing of the groups. It was an terested in how it truly looks. ing that would differentiate integration workshop, in However, we all fell into a us. I did not look upon them which the young people state of melancholy, we em- as those who were guilty

through interviews as well pathized with the happen- for this. Together we were Photo: CDP as making sketches of each ings of that time period while experiencing something dif- Integration workshop other tried to get as much in- reading the Psalms and po- fi cult and exceptional which formation about themselves as possible; this helped to allay fears of mutual accept- PAX CHRISTI ance and linguistic misun- derstandings. The very same day, the participants learned An international Catho- about the history of the city, lic organization, which visited the Jewish Center, works for peace, justice, and the Saint Maximilian and reconciliation, that Kolbe Church. was founded in France During the next two days in 1945. Currently, it is the group visited the former active in 60 countries, on Auschwitz -Birkenau Con- fi ve continents around centration and Death Camp, the world. where they recited Psalms and prayed for the victims of present in society are not the Holocaust. At the Death true. Our common visit to Wall, the Crematorium, and Oświęcim strengthened ties the Monument to the Victims between the two groups and of Auschwitz, the partici- helped build greater trust pants laid fl owers, a symbol and openness in relation to of remembrance as well as each other. The next day the reconciliation. Each evening young people from Wado- there was time set aside for wice, enthusiastically guided refl ection. our German friends around

Visiting the Memorial Site Photo: CDP their school. Together they had a profound impact on Integration workshop viewed a presentation that consisted of photographs previously taken during our is hard to put into words. We workshop. The pantomime visit, commemorating these looked at the photographs on “Palace on Albatross few days spent together. and were moved by the sight Island” done by the mod- Later, they visited the city of the persecuted Jews. This erators Adrian Fijołek and and savored the taste of the place is so overwhelming, Aleksandra Jaworski was a famous cream cakes from that makes you plunge into prelude to a workshop on Wadowice. refl ection about the mean- cultures. Why is it important During the fi nal week, the ing of life. Looking at the last to learn about the history and group spent time visiting element of the exhibition, a customs of other nations? Cracow, touring Kazimierz, large wall fi lled with the full How do you defend yourself Wawel and the Old Town. names of the murdered Jews, against prejudice? How can One of the participants re- we felt completely over- you learn to be open towards calls the week spent together: whelmed and terrifi ed. Such cultures of other nations? “It went by as if it was a sin- a thorough and complete These were the questions gle day; with regret and long- sight brought home to us that emerged during the ing, we had to part ways. The how many innocent people workshop. young people from Germany were killed during the war in The workshop on destroying taught us a different, better the concentration camps. But stereotypes encouraged the approach to life and very it is precisely through this young Poles and Germans useful discussion skills. And deep, common experience to create a portrait of a typi- so, with full sincerity, I can that we became closer with cal German and typical Pole, say that this was an extraor- one another.” and then to confront that im- dinary meeting.”

Photo: CDP The last days in Oświęcim age with reality. As it turns BS Participants during their visit at the Auschwitz Memorial were devoted to a joint out, the stereotypes that are

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Stanisława. In January 1945, and they have two children. PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL they sheltered fi ve prisoners— From 1974 to 1984, she was a Mieczysław Zawadzki, Wo- town councilwoman on the jciech Kozłowski, Stanisław Municipal People’s Council WŁADYSŁAWA SMREK Załęski, Tadeusz Baut, and Al- in Oświęcim. For her services, fred Barabasz—who escaped she has been awarded the (born 1930; married name: Jastrzębska) during the evacuation march. Gold Cross of Service. Immediately after liberation, She resides in Oświęcim. She is witz prisoners. Together with She maintained close contact they took in two more former in possession of various mem- her elder sisters Karolina and with the prisoner Maria Ślisz, prisoners. orabilia given to her family Stanisława, she joined forces one of the women involved After the war, Władysława by the prisoners as tokens of with other local girls who all in the resistance movement went back to public school and gratitude for their help. These knew each other from scout- inside the camp, to whom she then graduated from the Pri- include wooden chests (one ing. Early in the morning, gave food. Ślisz, in turn, hand- vate Commercial Gimnazjum of them carved by Bronisław she sneaked into the exclu- ed her secret messages and in Oświęcim and the Eco- Czech, a skier who competed sion zone around the camp private letters from prisoners. nomics Vocational School in in the Olympics), metal rings, and left food and medicine in Władysława gave this corre- Cieszyn. She worked in vari- miniature portraits, letters, hiding places in the ruins of spondence to her uncle, Józef ous jobs, including managerial and hand -decorated cards. Born on May 16, 1930 in demolished houses. She col- Piotrowski, an engineer on the positions, in the Communal She has donated some of these Oświęcim, the daughter of lected correspondence that the railroad who belonged to the Peasant Self -Help Cooperative items to the collections of Władysław and Zofi a, née prisoners left there. During the Home Army. Władysława’s and the Universal Food Coop- the Auschwitz -Birkenau State Kała. Her father was head day, when she saw labor gangs parents were able to keep the erative in Oświęcim. She mar- Museum in Oświęcim. of the local butchers’ guild working outside the camp, butcher shop open until 1941, ried Adam Jastrzębski in 1950, Mirosław Obstarczyk and owned a butcher shop she cautiously approached and they supplied foodstuffs in Oświęcim. Her siblings the SS guards, attempting to to various people involved in were Karolina (born 1924), bribe them into permitting the relief effort, including the Stanisława (1925), Andrzej her to give food to the prison- Seraphic Sisters in Oświęcim, FROM GANOBIS’S CABINET (1927), Henryk (1928), Tade- ers. She began her campaign who cooked high -calorie soup usz (1931), and Jerzy (1938). in the town and commune of for the prisoners laboring near- hough many years have passed since She attended public school Oświęcim, and later expanded by. Her parents also acquired in her hometown, and also it to other places, including medicine and bandages for the end of the Second World War, many joined the scouts. In 1938, the Budy, Łęki, and Zasole. She the prisoners. They bribed an Tcitizens of our town do not realize what Smrek family moved to Bohu- was employed as a domes- SS man to allow them to sup- has survived of this period to this day. Look- mi in Zaolzie. They returned to tic helper in the home of one ply food for two of the priests ing around, only some of these objects can be Oświęcim after the outbreak of of the SS men from the camp imprisoned there, Rajmund the war, and narrowly avoid- garrison, and this gave her the Kolbe and Karol Golda. In seen. Most often associated with what hap- ed expulsion to the General freedom to move around the the fall of 1943, they sheltered pened here over sixty years ago are the for- Government. exclusion zone directly adja- an escapee from the camp, a mer Auschwitz -Birkenau Concentration and In 1942, teenage Władysława cent to the Auschwitz I-Main young prisoner named Jerzy Death Camp as well as the buildings within Smrek, known as “Sabcia,” Camp. She could therefore Bielczyk; after the war, he joined the effort to aid Ausch- meet the prisoners face to face. married Władysława’s sister, the city’s center. VESTIGES OF HISTORY FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM ithin the metal workshop of the camp, some of the items created were works of artistic blacksmithing. Ornamental Wchandeliers, wall lamps, candleholders, inkwells, ashtrays, Inscriptions engraved in one of the buildings of Oświęcim as well as small decorative boxes were made there. The many deco- rative objects were meant for, among others, the offi ces of the SS, the “Haus der Waffen SS” hotel, for private homes of SS men, and for the private garden of Commandant Rudolf Höss. Working at the

camp’s metal workshop, was Jan Liwacz— an artist and blacksmith , Photo: Allmedia Arkadiusz Zajas the creator of a series of Zodiac Symbols. Though the townspeople do Not long ago, a friend of mine to draw inspiration from this. of the ornamental pieces was not pay much attention to the informed me that in the attic On one of the illustrations, he my task, but my colleagues evidence that remains of those of a building, which was con- noticed the fence of a palace, also assisted me. The thirty sets times, they do pay attention to structed by the Germans, and which had a stylized sign of were packed and then shipped the current names of certain where she currently lives, she the Zodiac on each of its pan- away. Who the recipients were locations. For the residents of found something interesting. els. And because of this, he and where they were sent— Oświęcim, this is a city with Scratched onto the wall of the had an idea: each person was that I do not know. The work 800 years worth of history, chimney there is a swastika, born under one of the twelve order was from the Bauleitung, but to the visiting tourists, it is a date, and most probably signs of the Zodiac, and it was and as far as I recall, none Auschwitz—the largest cem- someone’s name. Without One of the Zodiac Signs made by proper that this symbol would other than the Commandant etery on Earth. It is essential hesitation, I went into the attic Jan Liwacz to remember that the tragic to take a look at this curiosity.

Photo: Collections Depatment, A -BSM Photo: Collections Depatment, A hang above their bed. … And of the camp signed this order. thus, a kind of mass produc- The Zodiac signs that I made fi ve -year period experienced Of course, the years as well as Former Auschwitz prisoner, tion industry was created, be- had a 30 -centimeter diameter. by our town cannot conceal renovations have taken their Artur Krzetuski recounts the cause soon any self -respecting Each had a square metal-wire the positive history created by toll and made this diffi cult to history of their creation: “Ar- SS man considered it to be frame, which I screwed togeth- the multiple generations that decipher in the photograph, tistic blacksmithing was treas- symbol of dignity to have his er while it was till hot, then had built this city. We should but please believe me—it is ured by Müller [the Comman- own zodiac sign. This produc- stamped fl at. My guess is that be grateful to them for the fact clearly visible to the naked dant’s Subordinate]—he saw tion seemed to have continued these signs of the Zodiac were that, before the outbreak of the eye. From what I can tell, it himself as an artist—and due until the very end of the iron- shipped to and made avail- Second World War, Oświęcim seems that the date is “1943” to this … he believed that ar- works.” able for some purpose to the was one of the fastest develop- and the rest of what is writ- tistic metalwork was a proto- Years later, Jan Liwacz re- SS, and perhaps they were the ing cities in Poland. While, I ten was scratched into freshly -German art. Kurt was able to called: “The signs of the Zo- personal presents from Com- don’t want my hometown to laid plaster, while the build- gain, thanks to support of the diac were crafted using three mandant Höss to his superiors be exclusively associated with ing was under construction. Bauleiter all the literature he millimeter thick sheet metal. as well as friends.” Auschwitz, I believe that it is I hope that I will be able to could on the subject: works, It was at Industriehof Schlosserei Jan Liwacz created copies of essential to save and preserve learn more on the subject of very thoroughly written, that that I completed thirty sets of the twelve Zodiac Signs in all that remains, the good as the name that appears on that presented examples of opu- these signs. Each set consisted 1969. Agnieszka Sieradzka well as the tragic, of this city’s chimney. lent works of art, and he used of twelve pieces. The forging Collections Depatment, A -BSM history. Mirosław Ganobis

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PHOTO JOURNAL

n 18 September this year Jewish OCenter organized project “Rabbi comes to the Father.” Photo: Dominik Smolarek “Christian Jewish Relations in prewar Oświęcim” Concerto Curve Alternatives and Enej —presentation by Dr. Artur Szyndler Photo: Dominik Smolarek Photo: Dominik Smolarek Photo: Dominik Smolarek Mural commemorating the pre war friendship between the priest and the rabbi by Sławek Czajkowski Oszpicin City Game Photo: Dominik Smolarek

Photo: Dominik Smolarek Painting a mural commemorating the pre war friendship of Enej team in the synagogue Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Rabbi Bombach and a Father Skarbek

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