Warsaw Jewish museum to be 'best in Europe'

Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski (L) and Professor Dariusz Stola (R) signing documents confirming the appointment of the professor as director of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaminski

Professor Dariusz Stola was officially instated on Wednesday in Warsaw, signing confirmation documents with Minister of Culture Bodgan Zdrojewski.

“This museum reaches very far back into the past, de facto to the beginnings of the Polish state,” the professor enthused.

“Without the history of the Jews, the history of Poland is lame, it's incomplete, it's not possible to understand it,” he said.

“And without the history of Poland it's not possible to understand the history of the Jews.”

The museum. Photo: wikipedia

The official opening of the museum is set for 28 October, and work on the permanent exhibition is well under way.

Finnish architects Rainer Mahlamaki and Ilmari Lahdelma won a competition in 2005 for the museum's design.

The cornerstone was laid in 2007, and the sweeping contemporary structure takes in about 13,000 square metres.

The institution has been funded by the Ministry of Culture, the City of Warsaw, and a number of private donors. (nh)

Source: PAP