2019 Annual JFR Dinner for the Righteous

Redakcja / Editorial staff / English translation: Andrew Rajcher, 21 September 2019

On 8th September 2019, the Righteous Among the Nations came together at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews for a gala dinner organised annually by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous which, for more than thirty years, has provided financial support to the Righteous around the world. The dinner was attended by the Israeli Ambassador Alexander Ben-Zvi, the Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich and Bix Aliu, Deputy Head of Mission at the United States Embassy.

Photo 1 of 1

“Today’s event is designed to honour heroes of the War and to pay them the respect that they deserve”, said Stanlee Stahl, Vice-President of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous.

This year’s dinner was attended by twenty five Righteous Among the Nations and their families, diplomats, teachers working with the Foundation and invited guests. The Board of the Polish Association of the Righteous was represented by President Anna Bando, Vice-President Józef Walaszczyk and Secretary Irena Senderska-Rzońca. Volunteers from POLIN Museum, the event’s venue once again, helped to organise the dinner.

“It is an honour to be in the same room as so many Polish heroes”, said Bix Aliu, Deputy Head of Mission at the United States Embassy. “You are examples of what is the best in mankind”.

The Righteous in POLIN Museum

“A hundred and twenty years” was sung for two of the Righteous present at the event – Alicja Schnepf, who in August celebrated her 89th birthday and for Józef Walaszczyk, who in November will turn 100.

During the event, Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Stanlee Stahl announced the beginning of a partnership between the Foundation and the Kosher Pantry (a social program run by the Warsaw Jewish Community Council). Food parcels will now be regularly delivered to the Righteous.

The Jewish Foundation for the RIghteous has been active since 1986. It currently supports 265 individuals from around the world, who have been honoured by Yad Vashem, 147 from Poland.

Stories of the Righteous, who took part in this event, can be read on our website – among them being the stories of Anna Bando, Stanisław Galas, Jadwiga Gawrych, Władysław Hosticzko, Łucja Jurczak, Stałsława Kac, Krystyna Kowalska, Janusz Kowalski, Witold Lisowski, Zbigniew Mańkowski, Leszek and Andrzej Mikołajków, Stanisława Roztropowicz-Szkubel, Alicja Schnepf, Irena Senderska-Rzońca, Zofia Sienieńska, Stanisława Śliwińska, Tadeusz Stankiewicz, Leszek Szulc, Wanda Turczyńska-Kołomijska, Józef Walaszczyk, Krystyna Wiśniewska and Jadwiga Wolf.