by tskzWe would like to express our outrage and firm opposition in response to statements made by members of the Regional Assembly of the Łódź Voivodeship — Maciej Riemer and Michał Król — as well as by City Councillor Mr. Tomasz Frączak, which appeared in coverage published by Radio Łódź on April 27, 2026. These statements call into question the decision made by the Director of the Grand Theatre in Łódź, Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, regarding the selection of artists participating in the Łódź Ballet Meetings, as well as the symbolic recognition of their presence through the display of the national flag of their home country.
Attempts to question the legitimacy of inviting Israeli artists, and suggestions that their presence is inappropriate, constitute a breach of the boundaries of responsible public debate and, in practice, legitimize acts of vandalism that took place in Łódź, involving the destruction and defacement of the Israeli flag displayed on the Theatre’s building. These actions are clearly directed not only against the State of Israel, but above all, against the sense of security and dignity of the small Jewish community, both in Łódź and throughout Poland.
We would, therefore, like to strongly emphasize that it is unacceptable for representatives of public institutions, even under the guise of criticism of the Israeli government, to contribute to an atmosphere that fosters the rise of antisemitic sentiments. Responsibility for words in the public sphere rests in a particular way on those who holding public functions.
Once again, we are faced with a situation in which institutions subordinate to the Marshal’s Office, or those managing them, are contributing to the creation of an atmosphere of hostility toward Israel—an atmosphere that, in practice, impacts the Jewish community in Poland.
Please bear in mind that the earlier decision by the Director of the Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Łódź to withdraw from co-organizing events marking the 16th Edition of the Days of Remembrance—Łódź’s observances of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day—was not an isolated incident detached from its broader context. The Director’s decision was a consequence of his earlier attempt to incorporate into the Days of Remembrance program, an event of a political nature—namely, a “concert for Gaza.” The Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland did not approve of this idea, stating that events dedicated to the memory of Jewish history in Poland must not be used for current political disputes, nor serve one-sided narratives or the instrumentalization of the memory of the Holocaust. In response to these objections, the Theatre—an institution under the authority of the Marshal’s Office—withdrew from participation in the Days of Remembrance. This was a cause for concern; the current situation shows that it was not incidental, but rather part of a recurring pattern.
It must be stated clearly: actions described as “anti-Israeli” are in fact a pretext for directly targeting Jews in Poland. The language emerging in the public sphere suggests that the presence of Israeli artists can be problematic, that symbols of the State of Israel are inappropriate, and that cooperation with this country should be restricted. This is not neutral criticism of foreign policy; such actions fuel an atmosphere of exclusion.
We, Polish Jews, do not intend to renounce our ties to the State of Israel; we will not distance ourselves from our families and friends who live there, nor from the Jewish flag—a symbol uniting the Jewish community long before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and present even in the most tragic moments of our history, such as during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, when it flew alongside the Polish flag over the ruins of the capital city.
We also wish to remind—although this is often overlooked amid a flood of unjust antisemitic accusations—that we are at home here. We are citizens of Poland, we have the right to vote, we pay taxes, and like anyone else, we are entitled to be treated with respect.
History shows us how dangerous such phenomena can be. In 1968, also in Łódź, it began with words, insinuations, and “political justifications.” It ended with people losing their jobs, public stigmatization, and the forced emigration of thousands, as well as the stigmatization of those who, in those shameful circumstances, chose to act with decency.
Therefore, we wish to express our strong opposition to the atmosphere that has developed around Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski, who, in the face of mounting pressure and controversy, acted with dignity and responsibility, in line with the mission of a cultural institution, the long-standing tradition of the Łódź Ballet Meetings, and fundamental values. Quite simply, he did what needed to be done.
As representatives of the Jewish community, we still remember who acted in what way in 1968, and we will certainly not forget what happened in 2026 as well.
