Dear Sir,

The Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw is the last remaining Jewish research institution in Poland. Our Institute continues the tradition of Majer Balaban and Emanuel Ringelblum, preserving the memory of Polish-Jewish history and deepening our knowledge of it. Our collection of documents, old prints and art objects has no equivalent anywhere in the world. Among other things, we are the home of the famous underground Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Nevertheless, we find ourselves in a desperate financial situation. In order for it to improve, a radical change of our legal status is necessary. The current regulations concerning this kind of research and cultural institutions do not preserve our specific character (including Research Department, Archives, Library, Museum, Documentation of Monuments). On the contrary - the present law is an obstacle to our development and leads to our decline.

The memory of Polish Jews as part of Polish history depends on the work of our institution. We have survived many historical storms. Today there is no doubt that our further activity depends on the legislative process of Polish Parliament resulting in a special bill for The Jewish Historical Institute, which would make it possible to re-organize our Institute in a modern way. Such a law, when passed by the Parliament, would do justice to the murdered people and the culture which is no longer here.

We appeal to you for a legislative initiative concerning the special nature and status of the The Jewish Historical Institute.

Coordinators of the Appeal:
Helena Datner PhD, [email protected]
Bożena Umińska - Keff PhD, [email protected]

Signatures: please see below the letter in Polish