- The memory and truth about the Polish Righteous, about Polish-Jewish relations, is part of our national identity. Today, the testimony of the Polish Samaritans, the Polish Righteous, is greatly needed by Poland, Europe and the world. The testimony of those who overcame the evil of German Nazism with goodness flowing from the hearts," said Karol Nawrocki, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance, during a ceremony at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization and St. John Paul II in Toruń.
The ceremony was held on 20 March 2024 in relation to the upcoming National Day of Remembrance of Poles rescuing Jews under German occupation. The celebrations began at noon with a Mass celebrated in honor of Poles murdered for helping Jews during World War II. The participants then walked over to the Memorial Chapel, where more names of Poles who lost their lives while saving Jews were unveiled on a special plaque.
The Paprot family was commemorated: Agnieszka, Bronisława, Maria, Stanisław, Zofia, as well as Franciszek Rowiński, Bruno Szupin and Wojciech Siuzdak. The symbolic unveiling of the names was carried out by Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne and IPN President Karol Nawrocki.
A letter from President Andrzej Duda was read out by Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the President, Piotr Ćwik.
The ceremony was also attended by, among others, Prof. Grzegorz Berendt, the Director of the World War II Museum in Gdańsk, the Rector of the Academy of Social and Media Culture in Toruń Fr. Zdzislaw Klafka, and the Mayor of Torun Michał Zaleski.
The Memorial Chapel in Toruń and the National Memorial Park next to the temple cherish the memory of heroic Poles who risked their lives to save Jews. Poland was the only country in German-occupied Europe where such help was punishable by death.
Wednesday's ceremonies were organized by the Regional Center for International Debate in Toruń, the Academy of Social and Media Culture, the Lux Veritatis Foundation and the St. John Paul II "Memory and Identity" Museum.
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March 24, 2024 will mark exactly 80 years since the Germans murdered the Ulma family from the Podkarpacie region and the Jews they had been hiding from the Goldman, Didner and Grünfeld families.
This very special day was established, as stated in the Act, "in tribute to Polish citizens - heroes who, in an act of heroic courage, incredible valor, compassion and solidarity, faithful to the highest ethical values, the precepts of Christian mercy and the ethos of the sovereign Republic of Poland, saved their Jewish neighbors from the Holocaust planned and implemented by the German occupiers." The day was established in honour of Poles who, showing mercy and compassion, helped Jews who were systematically being murdered by German the oppressors.