Częstochowa honours Sigmund Rolat

sigmund rolat; photo - 123people.com

A citation of the city council speaks of his services for promoting a positive image of Czestochowa, a spiritual centre in Poland, describing him as a “singular example of a patriot of his small homeland”.

A presentation ceremony will take place during Mr Rolat’s visit to Poland in April.

Mr Rolat is committed to the preservation of Jewish culture in Poland and the promotion of Polish-Jewish relations. He is the founder of the World Union of Częstochowa Jews and their Families, based in New York, and serves as Chairman of the North American Council of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

He has supported research projects on the history of Częstochowa, the publication of books and albums and various projects by local artists and founded a memorial in tribute to Częstochowa Jews.

Two years ago he sponsored a concert in the town’s Philharmonic Hall by the world renowned violinist Joshua Bell, who played on a historic violin once belonging to Bronisław Huberman, one of the most famous of Częstochowa Jews.

Before World War II, Częstochowa had almost 40,000 Jews, about one third of the city’s population.

After the outbreak of war, Germans confined them to a ghetto and later deported them to the concentration camp in Treblinka. Some 6,000 survived in a forced labour camp on the outskirts of Czestochowa.

As a small boy Sigmund Rolat survived the ghetto and the labour camp. His mother and elder brother were killed by the Nazis. (mk/pg)