“We demonstrate solidarity with the Polish Jewish community” – Community of Conscience Statement
The Community of Conscience – A Coalition of Mutual Respect, an intercommunity group initiated by AJC Central Europe in Poland, released a statement following an antisemitic march in the Polish city of Kalisz, on November 15, 2021. Eleven prominent religious and ethnic community leaders are calling on society to show solidarity with the local Jewish community, while condemning hate and incitement. Read the full statement here:
November 15, 2021
We are deeply concerned and outraged by the antisemitic slogans chanted during the Independence Day celebrations in the city of Kalisz on November 11. A public gathering organized by extremist groups, it was not representative of the entirety of Polish society. Nevertheless, we feel obliged to unequivocally oppose hateful words addressed to the community of Polish Jews and oppose incitement to crime. We are united by values that keep us from being indifferent whenever we hear words of contempt and threats of violence against any social group. That is why we demonstrate solidarity with the Polish Jewish community and call upon every person to show the same solidarity.
Imam Rafał Berger
Common Council of Catholics and Muslims
Co-chair from the Muslim side
Ewa Jóźwiak, Ph.D.
Editor-in-chief, “Jednota” quarterly
Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland
Rabbi Małgorzata Kordowicz
Jewish Religious Community in Warsaw
Prof. Stanisław Krajewski
Mufti Tomasz Miśkiewicz
Muslim Mufti in the Republic of Poland
Zbigniew Nosowski
Editor-in-chief, “Więź” quarterly
Polish Council of Christians and Jews
Christian co-chair
Sebastian Rejak, Ph.D.
Acting Director
American Jewish Committee Central Europe
Bishop Jerzy Samiec
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland
Rabbi Michael Schudrich
Chief Rabbi of the Republic of Poland
Prof. Agata Skowron-Nalborczyk
Common Council of Catholics and Muslims
Co-chair from the Catholic side
Fr. Prof. Andrzej Szostek
President of the Catholic University of Lublin (1998-2004)