Yesterday the southeastern city of Przemysl hosted the 14th Day of Judaism in the Polish Roman Catholic Church.
Sunday’s event was led by Roman Catholic Archbishop of Przemysl, Jozef Michalik, who was joined by Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, Greek Catholic Archbishop of Warsaw and Przemysl Jan Martyniak and Chief Rabbi of Galicia Edgar Gluck.
“I am grateful to the Jews for cultivating the cult of the Holocaust (Jestem wdzięczny Żydom, że kultywują kult Holocaustu),” Michalik pronounced during Sunday’s press conference, “because it arouses the conscience of the world that this kind of history cannot repeat itself.”
Michalik emphasized that relations between Christians and Jews have no place for dislike, unkindness, and above all hatred, recalling Pope John Paul II’s statement that “Christ leads us to Judaism.”
Tributes were made to local Christians that had given their lives to aid Jews during the Second World War, including Greek Catholic rector Emilian Kowcz, and the Ulm family from the village of Markowa.
On Sunday evening, an exhibition was opened in Przemysl’s Higher Seminarium connected to the latter family. Jozef Ulm, together with his wife Wiktoria, sheltered seven Jews during the occupation. Following a probable denouncement, all the inhabitants of the house were shot by German soldiers, in line with Nazi regulations. The victims included both the hiding Jews, Mr Ulm’s pregnant wife and her six children.
Archbishop Michalik announced that a museum will be raised in tribute to the matter.
Prior to the war, there were approximately 3.3 million Jews in Poland. Today, 4000 people are listed as members of Jewish community organisations. However, it is believed that about 20,000 Jews reside in Poland. (nh)
Source: PAP