American Friends of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Stands in Solidarity with the Sydney Jewish Community

Dear Friends,

Like you, I am deeply shaken by the devastating attack on Jews in Sydney during Hanukkah, targeted simply because they were Jewish. 

In this tragic moment, our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who were killed, injured, and traumatized by this act of senseless violence and hatred. To them, we extend our deepest condolences.

Jewish history teaches that it is precisely in times of darkness that light shines most strongly. Chaim Kaplan, writing in his Warsaw Ghetto diary during Hanukkah in 1940, observed: "Polish Jews are stubborn: the enemy makes laws, but they don’t obey them. That is the secret of our survival." This quiet, steadfast defiance — the refusal to surrender to hate and fear — lies at the heart of POLIN Museum’s mission.

One of the powerful motivating factors in my decades-long involvement in shaping POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is countering antisemitism. I believe that telling our own story is about defining ourselves and upholding our dignity. That’s one of the core reasons why POLIN Museum is dedicated to sharing the thousand-year history of Polish Jews.

To the Jewish community in Sydney, and to Jewish communities everywhere: we stand with you. We will continue our work — for you, with you, and in honor of you.

Sincerely,

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett
Ronald S. Lauder Chief Curator of the Core Exhibition, POLIN Museum
Vice-President, American Friends of POLIN Museum