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NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
Victor Markowicz, Chairman
Stephen Solender, Chairman
Christina Orwicz-Gantcher,
Director Marketing & Communications,
NY
Michael Berkowicz, Chair
NY chapter
Rabbi David H. Lincoln
Irena Grudzinska-Gross
Esther Zlota Herman
Grazyna Simon
Eva Wierzynska
Ewa Zadrzynska
C O N T
A C T S
Please note! The
NAC contact information
has changed:
NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL
Stephen D. Solender
130 East 59 St, New York,
NY 10022
Tel. 212 836-1536
Fax 212 836-1387
solenders@ujafedny.org
info@mhpjnac.org
MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY
OF POLISH JEWS
48 Jelinka Street
01-646 Warsaw, Poland
Tel. (48-22) 833-0021
Fax (48-22) 832-2043
museum@jewishmuseum.org.pl
www.jewishmuseum.org.pl
|
C O N T E N T S
:: Victor
Markowicz, Named Founding Donor
to the Museum of the History
of Polish Jews
:: President
Aleksander Kwasniewski Voices
Strong Support for the Museum
During Recent U.S. Visit
:: Tad
Taube, President of Taube Foundation
for Jewish Life and Culture,
Hosts Dinner to Generate Increased
Support for the Museum
:: Michael
Steinlauf Describes the Planned
Content of Permanent Exhibition
:: Upcoming
Events
- The Jews of Czestochowa
Exhibit, November 2nd to 10th
- Michael Berenbaum to Speak
about the Importance of Permanent
Exhibition, November 30th
- Presentation of the Architectural
Competition at the Center
for Architecture, December
1st
:: The
Museum in the Media
:: Become
a Member of the Museum Today
Victor Markowicz, Named Founding
Donor to the Museum of the
History of Polish Jews
Victor Markowicz has been named
Founding Donor of the Museum
of the History of Polish Jews
in recognition of his vision,
faith and financial support for
the Museum project. The first
to make an initial gift of over
$1 million, Markowicz showed
an intense desire to see the
project succeed. He and his wife,
Monica, have graciously hosted
many events in order to generate
support in the community for
the Museum. Monica has become
one of the most important leaders
on the North American Council,
becoming intimately involved
in event planning and fundraising.
 |
Monica
and Victor Markowicz |
Moreover, the North American
Council is deeply indebted to
both Victor and Monica for their
support during initial development
of the Museum project. "They
made an early commitment during
a time of the project's infancy,
before the other major donors.
This project could not have begun
without their generosity," says
Stephen Solender, Chairman of
the North American Council. Thanks
to their leadership the Museum
now has a total of $33 million
secured for the Museum building,
from the Polish government and
the City of Warsaw as well as
private donors, and therefore
the architectural project has
moved into the construction phase.
Poland's President Aleksander
Kwasniewski has been an avid
supporter of the Museum project
and led the push to secure government
funding. Being acutely aware
of how important the president's
role was over the past years
Victor Markowicz honored Kwasniewski
on September 15th by presenting
him with a plaque of appreciation
from the North American Council
of the Museum for the vital role
the President has played in the
development of the Museum.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski
Voices Strong Support for the
Museum During Recent U.S. Visit
|
President
Aleksander Kwasniewski
and Victor Markowicz |
President Aleksander Kwasniewski
has made ground breaking progress
on the road to Polish-Jewish
relations throughout his 10 years
as the president of Poland. During
a recent trip to the United States
President Kwasniewski voiced
strong support for the Museum
and has said its existence is
essential to deepening the relations
between the Jewish people and
the Polish nation, and urged
people to support the project
in order to reach that goal.
"President Kwasniewski was
the first Polish statesman to
recognize the need to restore
the memory of Jewish presence
in Poland and the importance
of presenting the Jewish history
in a modern center of culture
and education named the Museum
of the History of Polish Jews," said
Victor Markowicz, the first businessman
who supported the project with
a major donation.
During a dinner hosted by the
American Jewish Committee on
September 15th President Kwasniewski
noted that some three-fourths
of world Jewry can trace their
roots to Poland. He spoke about
the importance of remembering
the community that flourished
for nearly 1,000 years before
it was virtually wiped out under
Nazi occupation. On September
16th, the Anti-Defamation League
praised Kwasniewski for his efforts
in encouraging Poles to acknowledge
and confront its history with
the Jewish community as well
as "for giving a major boost
to the establishment of a Museum
of the History of Polish Jews
by funding a substantial percentage
of its cost."
For further comments of President
Aleksander Kwasniewski during
his trip go to
www.president.pl/x.node?id=479
Tad Taube, President of Taube
Foundation for Jewish Life and
Culture, Hosts Dinner to Generate
Increased Support for the Museum
|
From
left: Dianne Taube, Tad
Taube, President Aleksander
Kwasniewski and Jolanta
Kwasniewska |
Tad and Dianne Taube, who are
major donors to the Museum of
the History of Polish Jews, hosted
a private dinner to honor President
Kwasniewski and his wife Jolanta
in San Francisco on September
10th. The dinner was preceded
by a gala night at the San Francisco
Opera, where the Presidential
couple was welcomed and the Polish
national anthem was played. Supporters
of the Museum flew in from Paris
(Tomek Ulatowski) and New York
(Sigmund Rolat).
Distinguished guests present
at the dinner learned about the
Museum, its historical role and
the power of this Center to educate
and radiate knowledge throughout
Eastern Europe. They were also
very positively influenced to
support this project by statements
from the President and from Mr.
Taube. "We are deeply indebted
to Tad Taube and his wife Dianne
for hosting the dinner, for their
inspired leadership and for their
very generous support of the
Museum," said Stephen Solender.
Mr. Taube is chairman and founder
of the Woodmont Companies, a
diversified real estate investment
and management organization.
Amongst many philanthropic commitments,
he also serves as the president
of the Koret Foundation, which
strives to improve cultural and
community life in the San Francisco
Bay area.
Michael
Steinlauf Describes the Planned
Content of Permanent Exhibition
On August
21 more than 50 people gathered
in the Southampton home of Victor
and Monika Markowicz for an afternoon
reception devoted to the Museum
project. Among the Founding Friends
present were Andrzej and Malgorzata
Rojek, Witold Sulimirski, Barbara
Wierzbianska, and Aristide and
Vera Zolberg.
Michael
C. Steinlauf, professor of history
at Gratz College and scholar
of Eastern European Jewry, gave
a very engaging lecture in which
he presented the concept of the
Museum and outlined the plans
for the core exhibition. He also
proposed a very broad definition
of "Polish
Jews" justifying
it in the multi-layered historical
context. He spoke of Polish Jews
as a single civilization buffeted
in modern times by the rise of
nation-states, emigration, wars
and persecution.
Steinlauf
emphasized the fact that the "Museum's
story will show the history of
the world from which the vast
majority of American Jews, most
European Jews, half of all Israeli
Jews, are descended." In
order to gain a deeper understanding
of this, the greatest settlement
of post-exilic Jewry, visitors
will be able to trace various
aspects of Jewish life, the establishment
and growth of social structures,
legal systems, cultural institutions,
and religious traditions, and
how they were entwined with the
1000-year history of Poland.
In
future issues of the Newsletter
we will present an outline of
the Museum's permanent exhibition
based on Professor Steinlauf's
lecture. The precise content
of the Museum's core exhibition
is being worked on by a committee
of academic experts from universities
in Europe, Israel and North America.
Upcoming Events
The Jews of
Czestochowa Exhibit
Tuesday November 2nd
through Thursday November
10th
Polish Consulate,
NYC
The
exhibition titled "The
Jews of Czestochowa - Coexistence,
Holocaust, Memory" will
be on display from November
2nd to the 10th hosted
by the Consulate General
of the Republic of Poland
in New York City. This
exhibit will be on display
to recount the spirit and
vitality of Czestochowa's
Jewish community. The exhibition
presents photos and other
memorabilia documenting
pre-war Jewish life in
Czestochowa, Poland, the
tragedy of the ghetto,
and deportation to Treblinka.
There are also two videos
with eyewitness recollections
by former residents of
the city, and a display
of works by Czestochowa
art students called "Inspired
by Jewish Culture."
The
exhibit is an example
of the types of presentations
that will be found in the
Museum of the History of
Polish Jews.
Viewing
hours will be Monday
through Friday 9:30 am
- 5:00 pm, Wednesdays to
7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
11:00 am - 7:00 pm at the
Consulate General of the
Republic of Poland, 233
Madison Avenue at 37th
St., New York, N.Y.
For more information call
646-237-2112.
Michael
Berenbaum to Speak
about the Permanent
Exhibition
November 30th
NYC
On November
30th renown author and
scholar Michael Berenbaum
will give a presentation
about the permanent exhibition
planned for the interior
of the Museum. Berenbaum
was President and Chief
Executive Officer of
the Survivors of the
Shoah Visual History
Foundation and from 1988
to 1993 he served as
Project Director of the
United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, overseeing
its creation.
A cocktail reception
will be held by David
and Lydia Sarfati to
help raise the funds
needed to help make the
permanent exhibit a reality.
$1000 suggested minimum
donation. For more information
please contact Steve
Solender at 212-836-1806
or solenders@ujafedny.org
Presentation of the International Architectural
Competition
for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Thursday, December 1st from 7:00 to 9:00
pm
Center for Architecture, NYC
The North American
Council of the
Museum of the History
of Polish Jews
will host a symposium
and panel-discussion
featuring the winning
design by the Finnish
team of Lahdelma
and Mahlamäki and
other entries of
the recent international
architectural competition
for the Museum
building held in
Warsaw, Poland.
The architectural
competition, which
concluded with
the announcement
of the winner on
June 30, 2005,
was a major international
cultural event,
with many top architects
submitting fascinating
projects. Eleven
short-listed designs
will be presented,
among others projects
by Daniel Libeskind,
Kengo Kuma and
Zvi Hecker. Panelists
will include the
author of winning
design Rainer Mahlamäki,
Professor Kenneth
Frampton of Columbia
University, Michael
Crosbie, Editor
in Chief of Faith
and Form Journal and
author of "Designing
the World's Best
Museums and Art
Galleries," Michal
Borowski, Chief
Architect of Warsaw
and a representative
from the Museum
staff in Warsaw.
Admission will
be $50 at the door.
Visa, Mastercard,
check and cash
accepted. Checks
may be made out
to "FJC -
A Foundation of
Donor Advised Funds" and "Museum
of the History
of Polish Jews" on
the memo line.
RSVP by November
23rd is appreciated.
Refreshments will
be served following
the program. The
Center for Architecture
is located at 536
LaGuardia Place,
between Bleecker
and West 3rd Streets,
in New York City.
For more information
please call 212-836-1536
or email LowellL@ujafedny.org |
|
The Museum in the Media
During a recent trip to the
U.S. Lech Walesa, leader of Solidarity,
former President of Poland, Nobel
Peace Prize winner (1983) spoke
about the importance of the Museum
commemorating 1000 years of Polish
Jewry that is being built in
Warsaw's former Jewish quarter
which was destroyed by the Nazis
during World War II. During an
interview with The New York Sun,
Mr. Walesa said, "The Jews
were a great nation within Poland
before the war. It's important
for us to remember them. They
also took part in the Warsaw
Uprising, and now they're missing
and we have to remember what
they meant to the culture and
history of Poland." For
the full text of the article
go to www.nysun.com/article/20647
Also, there was media coverage
during Dianne and Tad Taube's
hosting President Kwasniewski
at the San Francisco Opera. Click here for
the full text.
The events of the recent months
have resulted in much publicity
and public interest around the
Museum of the History of Polish
Jews project in Poland, as well
as in the United States, Great
Britain and Israel. In particular,
articles written by the Associated
Press, Reuters and the BBC have
led to world-wide circulation
of the news on the architectural
competition. Read further press
coverage about the Museum on
our website at www.jewishmuseum.org.pl
Please forward the newsletter
to your friends. To be added
to our email list please contact
us at newsletter@mhpjnac.org
For more information about the
Museum of the History of Polish
Jews North American Council please
email info@mhpjnac.org
Become a Member of the Museum
Become a member of
the Museum of the History
of Polish Jews today. The
Museum project needs your
financial support more than
ever in order to finance
the permanent exhibit, temporary
exhibits and to maintain
ongoing operations. We invite
you to donate at the following
levels: $25,000, $20,000,
$15,000, $10,000 ,$7,500
, $5,000, $2,500, $1,000,
$500 or your most generous
gift. To donate online go
to www.nyc777.com/museum or
use the form at the end of
the newsletter.
Please help us continue the
momentum we have achieved
on the path to building the
Museum of the History of
Polish Jews.
To become a Founding
Friend of the Museum
or join the Circle of Friends
and for full List of Founding
Friends and Members of the Circle
of Friends please go to www.nyc777.com/museum
Please let us know if you too
would like to host a
parlor meeting devoted
to the Museum of the History
of Polish Jews for your friends
and family members. Call Stephen
Solender at 212-836-1806 or email solenders@UJAFEDNY.ORG
DONATE TODAY
Tax-deductible donations
can be made to the Museum of
the History of Polish Jews
through the Grant Assistance
Program maintained at FJC -
A Foundation of Donor Advised
Funds.
Please make checks payable
to "FJC
- A Foundation of Donor Advised
Funds" and be sure to write "Museum
of the History of Polish Jews" on
the memo line." Mail the
checks to:
Stephen D. Solender
North American Council of the
MHPJ
130 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Tel. 212 836-1536
Please fill the form below
and email or fax to:
fax 212 836-1387, e-mail: solenders@UJAFEDNY.ORG
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YOU CAN NOW ALSO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION
TO THE MUSEUM ON A SECURE WEB
SITE USING YOUR CREDIT CARD!
For more information go to www.nyc777.com/museum
Please send your
comments to info@mhpjnac.org
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