Poland's richest man gives record sum to Jewish museum

Bogdan Zdrojewski (L) and Jan Kulczyk (R): photo - Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The oil mogul signed over some 20 million zloty (4.76 million euro) for the creation of the museum's permanent exhibition, an unprecedented amount for the institution to date.

The 62-year-old businessman formalised the donation on Monday by putting his signature to an agreement alongside Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski.

The money will be transferred from his company Kulczyk Investments.

“Life is not just about business,” the tycoon told the Polish Press Agency when asked about why he had made such a large donation.

“We must remember about what went before us, and that nothing connects us as much as shared history,” he said.

A further combined donation of 7 million dollars (23.8 million zloty) has been announced from the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture together with the Koret Foundation, both of which are chaired by U.S. citizen and businessman Tad Taube.

Bogdan Zdrojewski noted that the donations had been crucial in the light of the international credit crunch.

“The world has seen an economic crisis, and because of this, funds have been obtained more slowly and in smaller sums [than otherwise might have been expected],” he said, noting that there had been a gap of 27 million zloty (6.4 million euro).

That gap has just been filled.

All in all, the cost of the museum is expected to be over 320 million zloty (76.3 million euro).

It is hoped that the institution will open in 2013. (nh)