Monument Construction Postponed

The instigator and benefactor of the project is Holocaust survivor Sigmund Rolat who, through this initiative, wished to thank those Poles who saved Jews.

The Remembrance and Future Foundation published a statement on its website in which it congratulated the winners for an  "ambitious and provocative accomplishment". Further, "with regret, however, the Foundation advises that the winning project will not be carried out, because of the necessity for constant renovation would require resources beyond the sum allocated for the completion of the memorial project. The Foundation could also not accept a memorial which had a limited life-span".

The winner of the international competition was decided by the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews on 24th April 2015. The contest received 137 entries from 16 countries. The winning entry "Las" (Forest) was submitted by Austrians Eduard Freudmann i Gabu Heindl.

The designers proposed a memorial in the form of a nursery of trees which would grow in the square in front of the POLIN Museum. After 18 months, with the help of volunteers, the trees would be replanted in towns in which Jews had lived before the War. "The concept was a simple gesture linking it to the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem. The area would have been filled with young aspen saplings", according to contest judge, Jakub Szczęsny. The concept of a living installation, requiring social engagement, appealed to the judges.

Foundation Board member, Konstanty Gebert, told Gazetą Stołeczna that "intensive consultations on this matter are continuing. Nevertheless, the erection of a monument has merely be postponed and is not at risk."

The Foundation has issued no further information at this time.

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