The 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

The ceremonies will be opened by the Żonkile social and educational action which has been organized by the Museum and the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Żonkil (daffodil) sybmolises remembrance, respect and hope. Daffodils blossom in April, and it was in April when the uprising broke out. Every year, Marek Edelman, one of its leaders, would place yellow flower wreaths, often daffodils, at the monument to Warsaw ghetto heroes. Making reference to this simple yet very meaningful symbol, we want to engage Warsaw residents and visitors in the ceremonies and promote the knowledge about the Warsaw ghetto uprising, commemorating its heroes.

The action aims to bring back to remembrance the heroic Uprising and the liquidation of the ghetto, which wiped away the community of Warsaw Jews. The history of this dramatic rebellion, which the world perceives as a fight for freedom, is little known in Warsaw. Therefore, we want to change it and to make the remembrance about the uprising one of the elements shaping the identity of Warsaw residents and the common historical awareness of Poles and Jews.

From April 19-21, a few hundred volunteers will appear in Warsaw streets, distributing paper daffodils and talking about their meaning. The flowers will also be planted around the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (in front of the monument to Warsaw ghetto heroes) and in the area of the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

That action is only one of many other events that have been organized by the Museum of the History of Polish Jews to commemorate the Warsaw ghetto uprising. You are more than welcome!

On Friday, April 19, after the official ceremony at the monument to Warsaw ghetto heroes, a concert will take place in the museum, attended by state officials and members of Jewish organisations. Entrance upon invitation.

Open days of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews have been scheduled for April 20 and 21 – you are more than welcome, free entrance.

On Saturday, April 20th, the world premier of Agnieszka Arnold’s recent movie ‘Kazik Niepokonany’ will take place. The film talks about Symsza ‘Kazik’ Ratajzer-Rotem, one of the last surviving fighters in the Warsaw ghetto uprising.

On the following day, April 21, you will have an opportunity to take part in an international debate entitled Remember, Imagine, Act: Examining the Legacies of Jan Karski, Emanuel Ringelblum and Raphael Lemkin. The discussion will revolve around three figures, Karski, Ringelblum, Lemkin, who were involved in preventing Jewish heritage from oblivion. The discussion will be attended by such prominent guests as Dr Samuel Kassow, Prof. Roman Kuźniar and Ambassador Maciej Kozłowski. The debate has been co-organized by the Humanity in Action Foundation. The discussion will be accompanied by a cycling tour on the Warsaw ghetto uprising trail. The tour will start at the Warsaw Uprising Museum and will end at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

The evening will be highlighted by the Wojtek Mazolewski Bund Band. Tribute to Marek Edelman concert. This musical project, commissioned by the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, will present jazz interpretations of revolutionary songs of the Bund, to which Edelman belonged.

During the open days, you will also have a chance to contribute to the memorial installation and take part in art workshops for children, youth and adults, in Hebrew and Yiddish family classes and attend meetings with witnesses of history. All this will be accompanied by walking tours around the former ghetto area and guided tours in the new building of the Museum.

The programme spans the entire duration of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Other events will take place from April 19th to the middle of May:

- film screenings as part of the Jewish Motifs film festival and the Holocaust Polish film review,

- performances, including workshops starting with memories of first-hand witnesses of the Warsaw ghetto uprising

- concerts, including final concerts from the 4th edition of New Jewish Music festival,

- walking tours in Jewish Warsaw

- cycling tours on the Jewish cultural trail across Mazowsze region

-discussion panels and debates.

May 16 1943, when the Great Synagogue on Tłomackie St was blown up by the Nazis, symbolises the end of the uprising. On the same day seventy years later, a special concert closing the ceremonies commemorating the Warsaw ghetto uprising will be staged. During the concert, Jerzy Maksymiuk’s composition entitled ‘Lament serca’ will be played. This opus is a musical tribute in honor of all Jews who perished during the war. The concert will be played by Warsaw Concerto Avenna Soloists, directed by Jerzy Maksymiuk himself.