22 | DECEMBER 12 • 2019
Jews in the D
Jan Gross brought the attack
to public attention in 2000.
The president of Poland
apologized to survivors. A
public prosecutor re-opened
the case, but the perpetrators
had died.
“The democratic
transformation of Poland
brought about an ability to
talk about it publicly,” he
added.
But there was a growing
backlash to such honesty.
“Some Poles asked, ‘
Why do
you speak about bad stuff?
Why not write about the
glorious aspects of history
including the righteous
gentiles? Why write about
World War II when evil
had the upper hand?’
” Stola
related.
Several years ago, the
government issued a
regulation that penalized
public statements claiming
Polish complicity in the
crimes of Nazi Germany.
Violators faced a potential
three-year prison sentence.
Stola explained that
supporters said, “We have to
defend our honor in fighting
the Germans. Poland is on
the right side.”
Israel and the United
States protested the act
and the most controversial
aspects of the regulation
were removed.
In addition to Poland’
s
changing governments, Stola
discussed other possible
reasons for the Polish
response to the Holocaust,
citing guilt, regret of a loss
and a numbing of feelings.
This numbing was described
by psychiatrist Robert Jay
Lifton, an expert in mass
violence, who said it applied
to many Europeans who
witnessed horrific acts
during World War II.
“Many Poles could see,
hear, smell the Holocaust
and repressed a feeling of
guilt,” Stola said.
“Why Jews were killed
after the war is a dark
mystery,” he added,
mentioning that the attacks
at Kielce may have included
the medieval blood libel
against Jews.
Stola finished his
presentation with some
positive comments about
Poland today: Polish
textbooks must include a
chapter about the Holocaust,
and the Polin Museum has
a program to help teachers
with this subject.
In addition, he described
the extensive, vibrant Jewish
Festival of Krakow, which
focuses on current Jewish
life.
continued from page 20
“The democratic
transformation of Poland
brought about an ability to talk
about [the Holocaust] publicly.”
— DARIUSZ STOLA
Jewish Fund Awards and Grants
At its Nov. 12 annual
meeting, the Jewish Fund
recognized Tamarack Camps
for the 2019 Robert Sosnick
Award of Excellence for
its special needs inclusion
programs. Camp Maas
Director Lee Trepeck
accepted the award, which
includes a $25,000 prize,
from presenters Mark
Schlussel and Karen Sosnick
Schoenberg.
Prior to the annual
meeting, the Jewish Fund
board met and awarded
$792,000 in new grants to
Metro Detroit nonprofit
organizations. Focusing on
improved health outcomes,
several of these grants target
new initiatives and expansion
of services.
Among the new grants,
Freedom House was
awarded a three-year grant
of $133,000 to train asylum
seekers to advocate for their
health care needs and make
effective health care choices,
through a partnership with
Wayne State University’
s
Global Health Alliance.
A two-year grant to the
Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue of $140,000 will
support expansion of its
Tzedek Detroit initiative,
focusing on the development
of meaningful relationships
between the Jewish and
Detroit communities through
shared experiences and social
and education collaborative
programming.
A three-year grant of
$120,000 to Alternatives for
Girls will promote maternal
and newborn health for
mothers, expectant mothers
and infants. A three-year
grant of $250,000 to the
Jewish Federation will
continue to encourage
donors to its Centennial
Campaign by front-loading
income to support social
services.
The following new board
members were elected:
Ilana Liss of Birmingham
and Jennifer Friedman of
Huntington Woods. Nancy
Grosfeld was re-elected board
chair and Michael Eizelman
was re-elected vice chair.
TAMARACK
Sosnick Award
presentation to Tamarack
Camps for its special
needs inclusion program
Shalom Asia
Zao Jun, 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, is
holding an event called “Shalom Asia” Sunday, Dec. 15. The
restaurant will offer A night of Old-World Jewish flavors
combined with new Asian cuisines, including Everything
Bagel Maki Roll, Corned Beef Bao Buns, Matzo Ball Ramen
and the choice of Teriyaki Salmon or Asian-style Beef
Brisket. Price is $39.95 and a wine pairing will be available at
an additional price.
Tickets are available on EventBrite or by calling the
restaurant at (248) 949-9999.