by tskzBelow please see the opinion expressed by Artura Hofman, President of TSKŻ and Member of the Council of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum on Professor Daniel Blatman’s letter.
As Member of the Council of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, and President of TSKŻ, I find myself obliged to speak out on the issue of threats to the implementation of the existing project and exhibition scenario in the emerging new building of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum. I believe that there is no need to emphasise that for us, Polish Jews, the very idea of creation of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum had an immensely strong symbolic dimension, signifying that the Polish state treats the Holocaust and the tragic fate of its Jewish citizens as part of our shared history.
From the early post-war period, TSKŻ, as the successor organisation to CKŻP, has taken steps to preserve the memory of the Holocaust, which were demonstrated, for example, by the erection of the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes.
When Albert Stankowski, a well-known historian who was highly respected in our community, was nominated as Director of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, we were convinced that he was a perfect candidate for the position, who would guarantee the successful implementation of the entire project.
Our conviction in this regard was further strengthened when Mr Albert Stankowski invited the eminent Israeli historian Professor Daniel Blatman to work with him.
The reliable and objective historians transparently presented every aspect of the future exhibition to the Council of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum. They patiently responded to questions raised by Council members on numerous occasions, ultimately gaining the approval and respect of this discerning panel.
Professor Blatman’s letter addressed to the Council of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum raises serious concerns about the format of the exhibition at the Warsaw Ghetto Museum.
The dismissal of Professor Daniel Blatman by the current Director of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum is an indication of a potential shift in direction.
When at the beginning of the year Albert Stankowski was dismissed from the position of Director of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum (despite TSKŻ’s objection), fears arose that Professor Daniel Blatman would share the same fate. Unfortunately, our fears have been ultimately confirmed.
It is a great pity that the fate of such an important project for the history of Polish Jews is now in jeopardy. What is the purpose of all these staff changes?
Why does such a significant undertaking have to be controlled by the whims of ruthless careerists whose motivations are unclear? Or maybe they are now becoming clearer…
Artur Hofman
President of TSKŻ and Member of the Council of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum.
