THE EUROPEAN DAY FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS – A SERIES OF MEETINGS

The European Day for the Remembrance of the Righteous was established by the European Parliament on 10 May 2012. The initiative came from the Italian GARIWO Foundation. The organisation promotes the idea of creating Gardens of the Righteous throughout the world, similar to the garden in the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem, which honours those who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Before the European Parliament was able to support the Remembrance Day and direct the case to the European Commission, at least half of its 754 deputies had had to sign a written statement submitted in Brussels and Strasbourg.

On 6-10 March, the History Meeting House will organise a series of events: a debate, film screenings and family workshops (free admission), as well as a piano concert on the Royal Castle in Warsaw (invitations only). The events are co-organised with the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Royal Castle in Poland and Media Kontakt.

Schedule of the event:

6.03.2013, 6pm Discussion
Organiser: History Meeting House

Can the notion of a Righteous can be extended beyond the experience of the Holocaust and who can be called a Righteous? The discussion will be attended by: Halina Bortonowska (Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights), prof. Paweł Śpiewak (Jewish Historical institute) and Paweł Smoleński (journalist for „Gazeta Wyborcza”).

9.03.2013, 1pm – 3pm Film screening, part I
Organiser: Media Kontakt, History Meeting House

Na podobieństwo Jacka (In the Image of Jacek)(2000, 54’), dir. Andrzej Titkow
Jacek Kuroń, a legendary activist of the Polish democratic opposition, talks about his experiences, beliefs, decisions and achievements. Among other people appearing in the film are: his son Maciej, his brother Andrzej, Lechosław Goździk, Seweryn Blumsztajn, Marek Edelman and Joanna Szczęsna.

Pseudonim Jan Nowak (Alias Jan Nowak)(2004, 54’), dir. Joanna Kessler-Chojecka
The life story of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański – a Polish politician, soldier and Home Army courier, social activist and journalist, who for many years worked as the director of Radio Free Europe. Persons appearing in the film are: Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, John Adams, Władysław Bartoszewski, Zbigniew Brzeziński, Paula Dobriansky, Daniel Fried, Paul Henze, Krystyna Miłotworska-Hilary.

3pm Family workshops

Organiser: Museum of the History of Polish Jews and History Meeting House.

We invite parents and guardians with children (up to 12 years) to take part in family workshops. You will find out all about the Righteous and discover how a person becomes a hero and how we can make those heroes immortal.

During the workshops, we will try to encourage children and their guardians to ponder on the notions of heroism, courage, compassion, to think about how we can help others and what sacrifices or risks can be attached to providing help. The workshop participants will take part in several tasks moderated by our animators.

Together we will try to answer the questions: What does it mean to be a hero? Do heroes live among us? Can we become heroes? How to show gratitude to heroes? How to commemorate them?

The youngest children will be able to play in a play-area connected to the theme of the workshops.

The workshops are open to everyone and can be joined at any time between 3pm and 5pm.

6pm Janusz Olejniczak's piano concert (invitations only)

Organiser: History Meeting House, Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Royal Castle in Warsaw

10.03.2013, 1pm – 3pm Film screening, part II

Organiser: History Meeting House

Bartoszewski. Droga (Bartoszewski. A Journey) (2012, 71’), dir. Artur Więcek

Władysław Bartoszewski – politician, journalist, social activist, historian, former Auschwitz prisoner, political prisoner during the times of Stalinism, minister, senator, Secretary of State; a master. It is hard to believe that one person could have achieved so much in a lifetime. His life is an endless journey of a person fighting for Poland.

Prorok, ks. Jan Zieja (A Prophet, Fr. Jan Zieja)(2010, 52’), dir. Paweł Woldan

The biography of Jan Zieja – a priest, social worker, newspaper publicist, chaplain in the 1920 war and in the Semptember Campaign of 1939, chaplain of the Grey Ranks and the Home Army, a fighter of the Warsaw Uprising, opposition activist in the times of the Polish People's Republic, co-creator of the KOR Committee for Social Self-defense. The film is composed from excerpts of Fr. Zieja's writings, archive photos and accounts of those who knew him.