Polish Association of the Righteous Among the Nations

The Polish Association of the Righteous Among the Nations (Polish: Polskie Towarzystwo Sprawiedliwych wśród Narodów Świata) is a Polish non-governmental organisation founded on 19 September 1985. It brings together Polish citizens who were awarded the Righteous Among the Nations medal by Yad Vashem for rescuing Jews during the Holocaust, and since 2014 also their descendants. The association's statutory mission is to preserve the memory and spread knowledge about the German occupation of Poland, the Shoah, and the people who saved Jews, as well as to counter antisemitism and xenophobia. It carries out archival and educational work, and its members meet with young people, teachers and other adults from Poland, Israel and other countries, and take part in anniversary ceremonies, Polish and Jewish holidays, and academic sessions. The association cooperates with, among others, the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), the Jewish Historical Institute, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and the Shalom Foundation. It recommends applications by Righteous individuals for combatant benefits, and thanks to the association the Righteous have received free medicines from the Anne Frank Foundation, as well as financial aid, organised holidays and holiday parcels for those in need. Board and audit committee members serve without pay. For a long time the association was financed solely from membership fees; today it operates with support from, among others, the Jewish Religious Community in Warsaw, the Association of Children of the Holocaust, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Batory Foundation, and the Social and Cultural Society of Jews in Poland. At its peak the association had 1,260 registered members; in 2010 about 500 members were still alive. It has a banner and miniature medals. The association was founded on 19 September 1985, and its first meeting was held on 20 November 1985. Its presidents have included Andrzej Klimowicz (1986–1991), Jerzy Śliwczyński (1991–2008), Anna Stupnicka-Bando (2008–2025), and from 2025 Andrzej Mikołajków.

The Polish Association of the Righteous Among the Nations was founded on 19 September 1985, with its first general meeting held on 20 November 1985. The initial board included Tadeusz Bilewicz, Ludwik Kołkowski, Anna Orłowska, Stanisław Mazur, Władysław Szafraniec and Jerzy Śliwczyński. From the outset the association established cooperation with state offices, social organisations and research institutes. In 1988, together with the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), it organised an academic seminar devoted to the Holocaust. Between 1989 and 1992 the American philanthropist Harvey Sarner financed a trip to Jerusalem for 180 Righteous individuals. In 1991, in cooperation with IPN, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office for Veterans' Affairs, the association published the book "Those who helped. Polish Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust". In 1994 the first local branches were created, including in Kraków, Lublin and Łódź. From 2000, thanks to the association's efforts, combatant benefits were granted to the Righteous; at least 860 such benefits have been issued. On 16 November 2010 the association was awarded the "Meritorious for Tolerance" medal by the Ecumenical Foundation "Tolerance". In October 2016 the first convention of Polish Righteous was organised at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, attended by between 70 and 100 Righteous individuals. Representatives of the association have met with figures such as President Chaim Herzog (1992), Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Queen Elizabeth II, Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama (2009), and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (2018). The association's presidents have been Andrzej Klimowicz (1986–1991), Jerzy Śliwczyński (1991–2008), Anna Stupnicka-Bando (2008–2025), and from 2025 Andrzej Mikołajków.

• 2025

  Andrzej Mikołajków became president.

• 2016

  First convention of Polish Righteous held at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in October.

• 2014

  Descendants of the Righteous became eligible for ordinary membership.

• 2010

  Awarded the "Meritorious for Tolerance" medal by the Ecumenical Foundation "Tolerance" on 16 November.

• 2000

  Combatant benefits for the Righteous granted thanks to the association's efforts; at least 860 issued.

• 1994

  First local branches established, including in Kraków, Lublin and Łódź.

• 1991

  Published the book "Those who helped. Polish Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust" with IPN, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office for Veterans' Affairs.

• 1989

  American philanthropist Harvey Sarner financed a trip to Jerusalem for 180 Righteous individuals (until 1992).

• 1988

  Organised an academic seminar on the Holocaust with the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN).

• 1985

  Association founded on 19 September; first meeting held on 20 November.

Non-profit membership association and memory/education organisation for Polish Righteous Among the Nations.

1. 1www.sprawiedliwi.org – Kolejna witryna oparta na WordPressiesprawiedliwi.org
2. 2Polskie Towarzystwo Sprawiedliwych wśród Narodów Świata – Wikipediapl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Polish Association of the Righteous Among the Nations – Wikidatawikidata.org