Chief Rabbi leads Jedwabne pogrom tribute

The ceremony of remembrance at Jedwabne. Photo: PAP/Artur Reszko

Although the ceremony was attended by members of the regional government, as well as a representative of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party, once again no one attended from Jedwabne itself, nor was a high-ranking member of the Church present.

About 100 people took part, including a group of about 40 Poles brought by progressive priest Father Wojciech Lemanski, who was removed from his post in the village of Jasienica after calling on the Church to moderate its stance on in vitro fertilization.

“We are here to mourn together, to remember together, and to pray together,” Rabbi Schudrich said.

Anna Chipczynska, head of the board of the Jewish community in Warsaw noted that for many years, the victims “were not remembered, nor were they mourned.”

On 10 July 1941, over 100 Jews, including women and children, were herded into a barn that was then set on fire.

Poland's Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which is tasked with investigating crimes against Polish citizens, took up the case in 2000, and found that Poles played the 'decisive role' in the pogrom, although Nazi German encouragement was stressed.

President Aleksander Kwasniewski apologised on behalf of the Polish nation in 2001, on the 60th anniversary of the pogrom. (nh)

Source: PAP