"They risked their lives" exhibition in Phoenix

Mateusz Szczepaniak, 16 November 2016

Our exhibition "They Risked Their Lives - Poles Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust" has gone on show yet again in the United States. Until the end of March, it will on display in Phoenix and opens a cycle of events, connected with Poland, organised by the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.

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The exhibition was created in 2013 by the POLIN Museum in partnership with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To date, the exhibition has had numerous showings abroad including in Paris, Madrid, Moscow, Vilnius, Tallinn, Düsseldorf, Melbourne, Havana and Hawai. It has been translated into six languages – English, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian and Lithuanian

The exhibition has been on show at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society in Phoenix since 31st January. Among thopse who took part in the opening were the Polish Consul General Mariusz Brymora and the Honorary Polish Consul Konsul Bogumił Horchem, the AJHS Director Dr Lawrence Bell, Arizona State Senator Dr John Kavanagh and a friend of Jan Karski's, Dr Michael Berenbaum.

As well as the POLIN Museum's exhibition, another exhibition has also gone on show - "Jan Karski - a Man of Freedom" prepared by the Polish History Museum. The book "The Story of a Secret State” was the subject of a discussion and the documentary film "Karski and the Lords of Humanity", directed by Sławomir Grünberg, was screened. A panel discussion is to take place shortly involving Anny Cichopek-Gajraj, Assistant Professor of East European Jewish History, Jewish Studies and Melikian Center Affiliate Faculty at the Arizona State University as well as a concert featuring the Rise brothers (pianist and cellist), both with Polish roots and who are fascinated by the music of Chopin.

The exhibition tells the story of the Righteous Among the Nations - Poles who risked their lives, and the lives of their families, to help persecuted Jews. The exhibition shows the fate of the rescuers and the rescued in the historical context of occupied Poland. It explains the scale of help provided and what motived the Righteous to do what they did.

The exhibition was prepared in the basis of testimonies collected from the Righteous themselves and from those who were rescued. These were collected via the "Polish Righteous – Recalling Forgotten History" internet project of the POLIN Museum.

The showing o the exhibition was organised by the Polish Consul General in Los Angeles together with the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. It can be viewed until the end of March 2016.