Thank You Zygmunt Stępiński
As we welcome the reappointment of Dariusz Stola as Director of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, I would like to recognize, on behalf of the Board of American Friends of POLIN Museum, the extraordinary contributions of Zygmunt Stępiński, who served as POLIN Museum’s Director during the last six years (2019–2026).
Zygmunt led POLIN Museum during a period no one could have anticipated: the COVID-19 pandemic; Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; and the war in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. These global crises, layered upon one another, created unprecedented challenges for cultural institutions worldwide. Under Zygmunt’s steady leadership, POLIN Museum not only maintained stability but also continued to advance its mission with resolve. He steered a steady course through turbulent times, ensuring institutional resilience while deepening POLIN Museum’s impact.
Among the many achievements during his tenure:
The opening of the “Bonds” gallery, completing the thousand-year history of Polish Jews presented in the Core Exhibition with the stories of those who left Poland and made new homes across the globe, carrying the legacy of Polish Jews with them.
The landmark temporary exhibition Around Us a Sea of Fire: The Fate of Jewish Civilians During the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, created for the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, drew more than 130,000 visitors.
An extensive and innovative educational program. POLIN Museum’s Jewish Cultural Heritage project reached more than 6.6 million recipients between 2020 and 2024. Millions of students across Poland participated in educational initiatives, and 450,000 individuals took part in the annual Daffodil Campaign commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
POLIN Museum continued to offer programs in Ukrainian, extending POLIN Museum’s accessibility and solidarity in a time of war.
POLIN Museum’s collection grew dramatically, now numbering more than 28,000 objects. The collection includes significant works of art by Alina Szapocznikow, Wilhelm Sasnal, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Monika Drożyńska, Jonasz Stern, Leopold Gottlieb, and Maurycy Minkowski, as well as the Helena Rubinstein Collection.
POLIN Museum secured nearly 22 million PLN (over 6 million USD) from FEnIKS (European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment) for infrastructure modernization, the largest investment grant in POLIN Museum’s history.
We are most fortunate that Zygmunt will continue to serve POLIN Museum in new and vital capacities. As of March 1, he assumes the roles of Coordinator of Cooperation with Jewish Communities in Poland and Plenipotentiary Director for Key Investment Projects. His experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment are invaluable to POLIN Museum’s future.
The reappointment of Dariusz Stola as Director and Zygmunt Stępiński in his new roles ensures continuity of vision and leadership at a moment of great opportunity.
American Friends of POLIN Museum expresses its profound gratitude to Zygmunt Stępiński for his dedication, courage, and stewardship during years of extraordinary challenge. We look forward with confidence to POLIN Museum’s continued growth under renewed leadership and to strengthening our shared mission in the years ahead.
Roman Rewald
President and CEO
American Friends of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews