Zelwerowicz Biography – 2012 Book of the Year – Warsaw Literary Awards

The Warsaw Literary Awards promote worthwhile literature and the intellectual works of living Warsaw writers. A jury selects twelve Books of the Month, from which readers, librarians and booksellers (as part of a vote without the participation of the jury) select a Book of the Year.

Barbara Osterloff’s two-volume book draws extensively of the life and works of Zelwerowicz, one of the most important figures in Poliosh theatre in the 20th century. Actor, director, educator, founder of PIST (National Institute of Theatrical Arts), he was also a well-known community worker. He was connected with Warsaw for most of his life where he made his theatrical debut in 1896 and later studied under, among others, Wincenty Rapacki. He performed in Kraków, Łódź and Vilna. An important part of his achievements is connected with Warsaw’s Polish Theatre. Today, the Warsaw Theatre Academy carries his name.

During World War II, Aleksander Zelwerowicz, hid Bund activists and the President of the Council to Aid Jews "Żegota", Leon Feiner, for which, in 1977, together with his daughter Lena, he was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations. This story of rescue is described in Osterloff’s book. More on the subject of rescue