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.