Youth Event to Mark 74th Anniversary of "Żegota"

Mateusz Szczepaniak, 25 November 2016

To mark the 74th anniversary of the establishment of the Council to Aid Jews "Żegota”, all young people are invited to meet with Elżbieta Ficowska, who will speak about her rescue from the Holocaust. This event will accompany the launch of the updated version of one of the POLIN Museum's websites – www.righteous.pl – part of “Polish Righteous – Recalling Forgotten History” project which is dedicated to Poles who rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

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As an eighteen month old child, Elżbieta Ficowska was rescued by members of "Żegota”. Into the box, in which she was carried out of the Warsaw ghetto, was placed a silver teaspoon engraved with her name and date of birth. The event will also feature a short history of "Żegota” and a screening of the film "Łyżeczka życia (Teaspoon of Life)”, which tells the story of her rescue.

5th December, 10:00am

Event for senior high school students (2.5 hours):

An introduction to the history of the Council to Aid Jews"Żegota”
Screening of the film "Teaspoon of Life”
Meeting with Elżbieta Ficowska
Launch of the updated website www.righteous.pl with participation of the Righteous
Laying of flowers at the "Żegota” monument.

Admission is free, but reservation are required and can be made by emailing: [email protected]

The Council to Aid Jews "Żegota”

Established on 4th December 1942, the Council was set up through the Polish Government-in Exile. It operated as the Temporary Committee to Aid Jews, functioning through as a government department. Its staff comprised members of leftist and democratic political parties, Polish and Jewish organisations, as well as individuals from intelligentsia and Catholic circles. "Żegota” was the only state-sponsored organisation, within occupied Europe, set up with the specific goal of saving Jews and operating within the underground structure. Aid provided took the form of providing financial support, hiding places and false documents. Several thousand people were assisted in this manner, including children who were hidden with Polish families or within orphanages.

Launch of Updated www.righteous.pl Website

This internet project of the POLIN Museum is dedicated to Poles who, during World War II, provided help to Jews. Since 2007, their stories have been published here, together with their faces and voices. Thus far, we have told almost a thousand such stories of help, with our database containing several thousand records. The www.righteous.pl website has undergone a thorough revitalisation. Its unveiling will coincide with an anniversary important to the Righteous – namely, the establishment of "Żegota”. The event will be attended by important guests – Righteous Among the Nations and Holocaust survivors.

This event is organised by "The Polish Righteous – Recalling Forgotten History" project and the POLIN Museum Education Centre, in co-operation with March of the Living Canada.

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The “Polish Righteous” website receives financial support from Tomek Ulatowski, Carmit and Ygal Ozechov.

"The Polish Right Righteous – Restoring Memory project has been made possible through the financial support of tNorway Grants and EEA Grants Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.