Conflict connected with the Łódź Center for Dialogue

Maria Zawadzka, 16 November 2016
The portal “Gazeta.pl” has recently informed about the possibility that the Israeli businessman Mordechaj Zisser could withdraw from financing half of the costs of the construction of the Center for Dialogue in Łódź. According to Zisser, the terms of the contract were broken, as each change in the project was supposed to be consulted with him.

In autumn, Łódź councilmen chose the patron of the Center for Dialogue. They decided to elect Marek Edelman, one of the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Honorary Citizen of Łódź. The resolution was proposed by Witold Rosset, councilman of the PO party.

The Center for Dialogue is being built in the Park of Survivors – a place where the Monument to Poles Rescuing Jews during the Second World War is located, as well as the Mound of Memory, consisting of plaques with the names of Poles honored with the title “Righteous Among the Nations”.

The construction of the Center will cost 15 million zlotys. This institution will organize conferences and various exhibitions devoted to the Jews from Łódź.

The Center for Dialogue will be opened on January 1st, 2011. The construction will be probably delayed.

Dariusz Joński from SLD claims that the businessman wants to withdraw from financing the center, because no one consulted the choice of the new patron with him. According to Joński, Zisser is not opposed to commemorating Marek Edelman by naming the Center after him, he only believes the terms of the contract between him and the city of Łódź should be considered.

According to the councilman Witold Rosset from PO, Zisser is not able to withdraw from the contract. “This agreement specifies the duties of both sides in detail” – explains Rosset.

Mordechaj Zisser is a millionaire from Israel, the founder and chairman of Europe Israel Group. His family comes from Łódź, that is why the businessman decided to participate in the Center for Dialogue investment.