Once again, in August, we had a chance to meet with you during our ceremonies.
Invariably you remember with us. We are very grateful for every candle lit, every prayer quietly said, for a moment of reflection.

Our ceremonies wouldn’t be possible if not for the work and kindness of many people, who I want to say thank you to. Current year is special, because we want to acknowledge all of the members of local authorities, that were with us for the last four years. We know it wasn’t always easy. Many times you have broken the silence and stood together with us. This simple gesture of being there is not only a tribute to the murdered, but also a symbol of solidarity with everyone, who deeply feel the importance of remembering the Holocaust. I thank you very much.

Thank you for preparing the ceremony site to Mr Mayor of Stary Sącz, Jacek Lelek, for his presence during the ceremonies to Mr Kazimierzowi Gizicki, Mayor’s deputy. Stary Sącz sets the “standards of memory”, which was proven by its authorities and citizens in the past four years. Wójt of Grybów Gmina Mr Piotr Krok has shown us great kindness in preparing the ceremonies and also was present during the ceremony in Biała Niżna. Thank you for taking part in our ceremonies to Mr Paweł Fyda (Mayor of Grybów), Łukasz Bałajewicz (Gorlice Mayor deputy), Jerzy Gwiżdż (Prezydent of Nowy Sącz deputy), Karol Górski (Starosta of Gorlicki), Leszek Zegzda (member of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship Board). Almost every year you stand with us at the monuments, light candles. It’s important.

For the first time in the history of Krościenko nad Dunajcem ceremonies commemorating the murdered took place. It’s beautiful and touching, that students and school principials came to the newly made monument. Admirable. Hats off to everyone! Thanks to gestures such as these, history will always live in people!

Appreciation is due to our special guests, who honored us with their presence. We particularly thank Mrs Anna Ćwirko-Godycki, who spoke in the name of descendands of Jewish people of Sącz during the Memory Address – we thank you! It was great to have the guests from Israel in Grybów and Białą Niżna, who came to visit the graves of their close ones.

The August events is also work and presence of our volunteers – Weronika and Julka, who got especially involved in preparing the events in Nowy Sącz. Great words of thanks are due to Mateusz Potoniec and Gabrysia Jastrzębska, who prepared the ceremonies in Stary Sącz.
You know how important those were for Moniek, its the first anniversary without him, but still he was so close to us, thanks to your work too. I am full of admiration. Once again i bow my head to the work of Kamil Kmak from Grybów, who despite his numerous duties, found the time to prepare ceremonies there!

Thank you for saying the prayer in Nowy Sącz to the representatives of Jewish Community in Kraków, for the kindness of the Chairman Tadeusz Jakubowicz.

Thank you to the institutions, who helped us. For the cooperation I thank the Limona Museum and the “Spacery po Limanowej” group. I direct words of appreciation at Andrzej Długosz and Magda Fryźlewicz and the whole Stary Sącz Museum. You are incredible, you take us in with open arms even at the last moment, like this year. Thank you! Words of thanks to the Nomina Rosae Theatre, for a wonderful poetic show in Nowy Sącz. It wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the support of the Nowy Sącz Town Hall which I thank greatly. For letting us use the church for the play, I thank fr. Darek Chwastek and the Evangelical-Augsburg Parish in Nowy Sącz.

On August 23rd the Shtetl of Tsanz met with Mrs Ania Ćwirko-Godycka in Beskid Hotel.
We thank Darek for organizing the event and for kindly hosting us.

Finally I thank the media for their presence and coverage. Without you these events wouldn’t echo. We thank Gazeta Krakowska, Dobry Tygodnik Sądecki, Radio Kraków, RDN, Starosądeckie.info, Sądeczanin, Twój Sącz, Limanowa.in, Gorlice24, Grybów24.

I especially thank my co-workers for their help in organizing these events, for their presence.
I thank Edyta, Artur, Darek, Przemek, Maria and Maciej. Thanks to everyone for everything!

The ghetto liquidation anniversaries are also inspiring for us. Within the “People Not Numbers” project we decided to soon try and clean up further memorial sites, in Grybó and Limanowa. We met with very kind answer to our ideas, with willingness to help. It probably is the most valuable fruit of our work in August.

Łukasz Połomski,
Director of the Shtetl of Tsanz