Past Events

American violin virtuoso, Joshua Bell, played two concerts, one in Czestochowa and one in Warsaw, at the invitation of North American Council Chairman Sigmund A. Rolat. The Warsaw concert was the first event held in Poland to benefit the permanent exhibit of the Museum. Held in Warsaw’s National Theater, the evening was a stunning display of support for the Museum by hundreds of open-minded and generous people who care deeply about our shared past.  

Joshua Bell played the historic Huberman Stradivarius violin. The great Polish Count Zamoyski gave the violin to the child prodigy, Bronislaw Huberman, at the end of the 19th century. In 1936, Huberman established the Palestine Orchestra, which later because the Israeli Philharmonic. The violin was stolen twice from Huberman and is now owned by Joshua Bell who played it during the concerts. The North American Council is grateful to our numerous supporters who traveled to Poland to share in this glorious evening.

Best-selling author Diane Ackerman read and discussed her book, The Zookeeper’s Wife, A War Story, at a benefit for The North American Council for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The cocktail reception, held at the Kosciuszko Foundation, was attended by over 100 supporters. Guests nibbled on hors d’oeuvres by celebrity chef Gary Robins and enjoyed Polish Bison Vodka.

The Zookeeper’s Wifeis a true story about Antonina and Jan Zabinski who saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. The keepers of the Warsaw Zoo sheltered Jews and Polish resisters in the zoo’s animal cages and in their home.

Helena and Stanley Krol-Kolodzieyand co-hostess Wanda Presburger welcomed over 40 guests at an outreach and informational event held in the Krol’s Los Angeles-area home. Mr. and Mrs. Krol-Kolodziey were both born in Poland and own Krol Vodka, a Polish company. Ms. Presburger is a well-known supporter of Polish culture.  

Following a lovely dinner, Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, head of the Core Exhibition Planning Team, spoke about the Museum and showed slides illustrating the exhibits. Cantor Nathan Lam of the Stephen S. Wise Synagogue previewed a trailer from his new film, 100 Voices, a documentary about 100 cantors performing and touring Poland in 2009.  

Dignitaries including Polish Consul for Legal Affairs Wojciech Bergier and Honorary Polish Consul John Petkus and Mrs. Petkus attended the evening.

Tad Taube, Shana Penn and Susan Wolfe of the Taube Philanthropies also attended.

Before her untimely and tragic death, the First Lady of Poland, Maria Kaczynska (acting on behalf of her husband), was warmly welcomed, along with the Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, and Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, presently Counsel General of Poland, by supporters of The North American Council for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

More than 150 people attended the reception to meet the First Lady, who introduced them to the Museum’s mission, and presented the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic, Poland’s highest honor, to Irena Gut, who had hidden 12 Jews under the noses of the Nazis in Tarnopol during the Holocaust. Irena Gut was the subject of the Broadway play, Irena’s Vow, starring Tovah Feldshuh.

Cause Célèbre, a theater company that works closely with charities to jointly promote a cause, presented three short plays at The Players Club. The evening began with a lavish reception in the historic surroundings of the Club. The plays presented were The Jewish Wife by Bertolt Brecht, Past Perfect by Susan Charlotte, and The Performance by Arthur Miller.  

More than 100 guests enjoyed the evening and learned about the status of The Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Special thanks to Victor Markowicz and Sigmund A. Rolat who served as Patrons for the evening. Michael Berkowicz, Stuart and Lois Rubenstein, Albert and Sylvia Safer, Alan and Lea Wolinetz and Jeff Zomper were sponsors. The Museum also warmly acknowledges Susan Charlotte, the artistic director of Cause Célèbre.