Sir, – It is deeply regretful that such a renowned newspaper like The Irish Times publishes articles like “Israel-Poland deal on Holocaust school trips condemned as whitewashing” by Mark Weiss (April 11th).
What is the basis for making a statement that a museum in Poland “fails to mention the much more common phenomena of Poles handing over Jews to the Germans or even participating in the murder of Jews”?
Does the author of the article not know that in the Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre – Polish individuals account for the highest number of the Righteous Among the Nations? Polish people were, by nationality, the most numerous persons identified as rescuing Jews during the Holocaust. Polish society in Nazi German-occupied Poland lived in permanent fear for their life. It was only here that helping Jews was punishable by death not only of the helper, but also his whole family. This policy was executed without fail – even little children and pregnant woman fell victim to this brutality.
The Ulma family are a most notable example and the Israeli youth should learn about it, as well as about the long history of Polish-Jewish relations. When Jews were persecuted in Europe in the 14th century, it was the Polish King Casimir the Great that granted them privileges, protection and the opportunity to settle in Poland. Many chose to call Poland their home and Jewish culture flourished in Poland for centuries. Even today we celebrate the Jewish culture at festivals like Singer’s Warsaw or the Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków.
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What is then the Polish narrative of the war that the author refers to? The Raczynski’s note from December 10th, 1942, the official diplomatic note from the government of Poland in exile, highlighted the crimes committed by Nazi Germany on Jews in German-occupied Poland during the second World War. It was the first official report informing the Allies and the West of the Holocaust in Europe. A group of Polish diplomats based in Bern worked tirelessly forging passports to save Jews from the Holocaust. Polish army officer Captain Witold Pilecki volunteered to go to Auschwitz to tell the world about the brutality of the Germans. Social worker Irena Sendler saved about 2500 Jewish children and did not betray them even when tortured. These are just some examples of what Poland and its people did for their Jewish brothers and sisters. Should not the Jewish young learn about it? About who were their real friends?
The agreement signed on March 22nd between the Polish and Israeli governments, on the cooperation of organised study visits, allows for Israeli youth to learn all about the long-standing relations between our nations, alongside learning about the crime against humanity committed in occupied Poland by the Germans on the Jewish and Polish nations. The agreement benefits both countries, otherwise it would not have been signed. The 32 sites are not compulsory to visit, they are recommended sites. It is an opportunity for young people from both countries to build Polish-Jewish relations in the future without prejudice. Building relations based on historical truth is key to harmonious relations between our two societies.
The experience gained over the years of organising youth meetings and exchanges between Poland and Israel shows that joint encounters are the best antidote to hurtful and untrue stereotypes.
In the days when we talk so much about peace, I hope The Irish Times will not give voice to those who sow the seeds of discord. – Yours, etc,
ANNA SOCHANSKA,
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland,
Ailesbury Road,
Dublin 4.