embassy events 2009

Ambassador Ashe Honors Museum of the History of Polish Jews

3 September 2009
 

Ambassador Ashe greets guests at a reception in honor of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (more photos)

As part of the year-long celebration of the 90th anniversary of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations, Ambassador Victor Ashe welcomed government, business, religious, and community leaders on September 2 to commemorate the official start of construction on Warsaw’s Museum of the History of Polish Jews. According to Museum Director Jerzy Halbersztadt and Sigmund Rolat, Chairman of the Museum’s North American Council, the Museum will present not only how Jews died, but will also celebrate how they lived. The multimedia narrative museum and cultural center will have exhibits on the rich culture created by Polish Jews over the course of almost 1000 years. This project holds special significance for the United States as nearly two-thirds of all American Jews can trace their heritage to Poland. In this way, the Museum will document not just the history and heritage of Polish Jews, but the history and heritage of American Jews as well. On October 21, Grammy Award-winning U.S. violinist Joshua Bell will hold a benefit concert for the Museum at Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki. Joshua Bell plays the famous Gibson Stradivarius, which was once owned by Poland’s own Bronislaw Huberman.