Petition Statement
We ask the German Government to take responsibility and pay their fair share of the costs for restoration and maintenance of more than 1200 Jewish cemeteries German forces desecrated and destroyed and for the fencing and memorialization of the thousands of mass graves German forces created during German occupied Poland.
Signatories to the Petition
Representing More than 55 Million
People Worldwide
United States:
-Jewish Council for Public Affairs-representing most of the 6.5 million Jews in
the USA, through 14 national Jewish organizations and 127 local Jewish
federations/community relations councils, including:
ADL
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Anti-Defamation League
B’nai B’rith
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
Hadassah
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Life
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish War Veterans
National Conference on Soviet Jewry
National Council of Jewish Women
National Jewish Council for Literacy
ORT America
Union for Reform Judaism
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
United Jewish Communities
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
-Agudath Israel of America, representing a large portion of the orthodox Jewish
community of the USA, including orthodox religious schools with more than 250,000
school children and hundreds of thousands of supporters;
-Board of Rabbis of Northern California, representing 130 rabbis, and more
than 250,000 Jews;
-Board of Rabbis of Southern California, representing 286 rabbis, and more
than 550,000 Jews;
-Eagle’s Wings, an international Christian ministry, representing more than one
million Christians worldwide;
-Jewish National Fund, representing over one million supporters;
-National Council of Jewish Women, 90,000 members, volunteers and
supporters;
-National Council of Young Israel, representing 200 orthodox synagogues and
over 20,000 families in the USA and Canada;
-New York Board of Rabbis, representing more than 2 million Jews, in NY, NJ
and CT;
-Simon Wiesenthal Center, representing 400,000 supporters worldwide;
-Washington Board of Rabbis, representing 125 rabbis and 215,000 Jews;
-Women’s League of Conservative Judaism, representing 100,000 women in
the USA, Canada and Israel;
-Adat Shalom Synagogue, Detroit, representing 1100 families;
-AJC-Buffalo, NY Chapter, representing the 17,000 Jews of Greater Buffalo;
-American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists;
-Anne Frank Center, USA
-Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation, Chicago: 400 families;
-Beit Mashiach Dothan, Dothan, Alabama;
-Chabad of Chautauqua, thousands of participants in lectures and services;
-Congregation Kol Haneshama, Sarasota, FL;
-Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies, Buffalo, NY;
-Greater Buffalo, NY Board of Rabbis, representing 17,000 Jewish population;
-Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua, Chautauqua, NY, 250 members
-Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester-21,000 Jewish
population;
-Jewish Discovery Center, Williamsville, NY;
-Jewish Federation and United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit,
72,000 Jewish people;
-Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, NY-representing 17,000 Jewish
population;
-Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, Dayton, Ohio-representing 4,500
Jewish population;
-Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County- representing more than
70,000 people;
-Jewish Federation of Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada;
-Jewish Heritage Day School, representing 200 students, supporters and
employees;
-Jewish Kutno Group, descendants restoring Kutno, Poland Jewish cemetery;
-Jewish Rockville Outreach Congregation, representing 1,800 members and
supporters;
-Jewish War Veterans, Post 580, New Orleans, LA, 150 members, 37,000
national;
-Kadimah School of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 28 employees;
-Lower Merion Synagogue, Merion, PA;
-Museum of the History of Polish Jews-North American Council
-National Association of Temple Administrators (letter expected soon): 400
member organizations worldwide;
-Poland Jewish Cemeteries Restoration Project (PJCRP): like all of the
signatories to this Petition, PJCRP is a voice for the millions murdered in the Holocaust;
-Remembrance and Reconciliation, Inc. representing 100 supporters;
-S. Freedman & Sons, Inc., representing 9,500 employees;
-Sarasota Jewish Genealogical Society;
-Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation-representing 17,500 people;
-Save A Child’s Heart, representing 5,000 supporters and donors;
-Senior Artist Alliance, representing 1250 artists;
-Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles, representing more than 3000 families;
-Temple Beth Am, Williamsville, NY;
-Temple Beth El, Rochester, NY;
-Temple Beth El, Tonawanda, NY: 350 families;
-Temple Beth Jacob, New Hampshire;
-Temple Beth Shalom, Hamden, CT over 400 families;
-Temple Beth Shalom, Sarasota;
-Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo: 1050 families;
-Temple Beth-El, San Antonio, Texas, 15 employees;
-Temple Emanu-El, Sarasota;
-Temple Shaarey Zedek, Buffalo;
-Temple Sinai, Sarasota;
-The Jewish Club at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, Florida, representing
500 members;
-The World Society of Czestochowa Jews and their Descendants, representing
over 1000 survivors and their descendants;
Canada:
-B’nai Brith Canada-Midwest Region;
-Beth Tzedec Congregation, Toronto-2900 families (letter expected soon);
-Canadian Council for Reform Judaism, representing 26 reform congregations
with a total of 8,896 family units;
-Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Winnipeg;
-Canadian Lawyers and Jurists for World Jewry, Toronto;
-Chavurat Tefila Synagogue, Winnipeg;
-Congregation Etz Chayim-Winnipeg-congregation of 600 families;
-Esh Dat Fund, representing many Canadian orthodox Jewish supporters of the
Esh Dat Rabbinical Seminary in B’nai Brak, Israel (see also Israel);
-Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, worldwide chain of 85 hotels, with 35,000
employees in 35 countries;
-Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center representing thousands of supporters;
-Gray Academy of Jewish Education, Winnipeg-400 families;
-Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun Congregation;
-Jewish Federation of Winnipeg-16,000 Jewish population;
-Jewish Foundation of Manitoba;
-Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, Winnipeg;
-March of the Living Canada, 7500 alumni plus 600-800 participants yearly;
-National Council of Young Israel, see under United States;
-Rose and Max Rady Jewish Community Centre, Winnipeg;
-Sharey Zedek Synagogue, Winnipeg-3000 members;
-Winnipeg Associates of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev;
-Women’s League of Conservative Judaism (see under United States);
Israel:
-Eagle’s Wings, an international Christian ministry, representing more than one
million Christians worldwide (see under United States);
-Esh Dat Rabbinical Seminary, B’nei Brak, Israel;
-Frimer, Gellman, Shilo Law Offices, Jerusalem, Israel;
-Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism, Jerusalem;
-Jewish National Fund, Jerusalem (see under United States);
-Lodge B’nai Brith Moshe Schorr, Tel-Aviv, Israel;
-Moishe Sharett Heritage Society, Tel-Aviv, Israel;
-National Council of Jewish Women, Jerusalem (see under United States;
-Szczekociny Jewish Organization, Rosh-Ha’Ayin, Israel;
-Women’s League of Conservative Judaism (see under United States);
England:
-Chasdei Avoth representing 2000 members;
-Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, entry no.
2322 in http://www.petitiononline.com/1200des/petition.html, Manchester, England;
Germany:
-Eagle’s Wings, an international Christian ministry, representing more than one
million Christians worldwide;
Brazil:
-Jewish Society of Bahia, Brazil;
-The Sociedade Israelita do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil;
-Zionist Organization of Sao Paulo-representing 25,000 families;
Finland:
-Orthodox Church of Finland, entry no. 2312 in
http://www.petitiononline.com/1200des/petition.html, representing 61,000 members;
Australia:
-Jewish Holocaust Centre, Melbourne Australia, representing several thousand
visitors;
Poland and Polish Organizations:
-Republic of Poland, e-mailed letter supporting the PJCRP and the Petition
efforts, representing a population of over 38 million:
Statement of Support of the Polish Government
“We do share your opinion that the German armed forces occupying Poland in
1939-1945 were responsible in large measure for the destruction and desecration of
countless Jewish graveyards...we would like to encourage your efforts in preserving
Jewish cemeteries in Poland and do think you can address German authorities in this
regard. Hoping that your request will be received with due understanding and
sensitivity...” Ambassador Maciej Kozlowski, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Poland, February 26, 2010
-City of Lodz, Poland, Mr. Jerzy Kropiwnicki (President)-800,000 Polish
population;
-Foundation Monumentum Judaicum, Lodz, Poland;
-Mazowieckie Province, Governor Jacek Kozlowski, representing 5.1 million
Poles (public statement);
-Polish American Congress WNY Division, Buffalo, NY, representing 300,000
Poles;
-Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada, Montreal-thousands of
subscribers;
-Rabbinical Commission on Cemeteries, Warsaw, Poland;
-Swietokrzyskie Province, Governor representing 1.3 million Poles (public
statement);
-The Association of the Friends of Nowy Zmigrod, 40 members;
-Town of Dobra-11,000 population;
-Town of Tykocin, Poland (expected soon)-population about 2000;
-VOICES Projects (see www.pjcrp.org): the first of these Book of Voices was
completed by Public School Number 1, in Zdunska Wola; 250 student signatures on
Petition;
International List of Holocaust Organizations-Engaged in
Remembrance, Exhibitions, Education, and Research
-Alabama Holocaust Commission-USA, teacher and student training and
exhibitions;
-Association of Holocaust Survivors in Sweden;
-Associazione di Studi Storici Olokaustos, Venice, Italy;
-Child Survivors of the Holocaust, Los Angeles, USA;
-Dallas Holocaust Museum, USA, 55,000 plus visitors & thousands more
attending lectures annually;
-Dayton, Ohio Yom Hashoah Committee-30 members;
-Foundation for Holocaust Education Projects, educating thousands annually;
-Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre, Canada,
receiving and educating thousands of Jewish & non-Jewish visitors yearly;
-Friends of the Jewish Memorial of Vassouras, receiving and educating
thousands of Jewish & non-Jewish visitors yearly Brazil;
-Generation After & Holocaust Survivors Association, USA;
-Generations of the Shoah International-USA;
-Holocaust & Intolerance Museum of New Mexico, USA, receiving and
educating 5,324 visitors in 2009;
-Holocaust Child Survivors of Connecticut, representing 100 families, USA;
-Holocaust Education Centre, Winnipeg, Canada;
-Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Education Center at Brookdale
Community College, USA;
-Jewish Holocaust Centre, (see also under Australia) Melbourne, Australia;
-Kleinmann Family Foundation, Montreal Canada;
-March of the Living Canada, (see also under Canada);
-Montreal Holocaust Museum-receiving and educating thousands of Jewish &
non-Jewish visitors yearly, Montreal, Canada;
-Museum of the History of Polish Jews-North American Council;
-Next Generations, Boca Raton, FL-200 members;
-Pennsylvania Holocaust Education Council, representing Holocaust educators
throughout Pennsylvania;
-Poland Jewish Cemeteries Restoration Project-(see also under United States)
offers scholarship prizes to Polish students competing in writing winning essays on the
Jews of their former shtetl, how the Holocaust affected their town, Polish-Jewish
relations and related themes; estimated number of entries to date,10,000;
-Remembrance and Reconciliation, Inc., (see also under United States)
-Second Generation Holocaust Education Fund-USA;
-Simon Wiesenthal Center, (see also under United States) USA and Canada;
-Tennessee Holocaust Commission;
-The Anne Frank Center, USA: receiving and educating more than 5 million
people;
-United Jewish Federation, Holocaust Center, Pittsburg, PA- receiving and
educating tens of thousands of visitors annually;
-Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education, Atlanta, GA;
-World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the Holocaust-USA;
Individual Signatures
-more than 2300 individual signatures of Jews and non-Jews worldwide
online at http://www.petitiononline.com/1200des/petition.html;
-many individuals continue to sign at synagogues, churches and other
organizations.
Presentations, Publications and Letters to the Editor:
Many invited presentations have been made since PJCRP’s first restoration, to
thousands of people in synagogues and churches and many Jewish and non-Jewish
organizations in the US, Canada and Poland about the importance of restoring and
memorializing the Jewish cemeteries. Many publications and letters have been printed.
Heads of Organizations
Supporting the Petition
Abe Anhang President Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Canada
Agnes M. Vertes President Holocaust Child Survivors of Connecticut USA
Alan Yusim Director B’nai Brith Canada, Midwest Region Canada
Alexander Sarel President Moshe Shor B’nai B’rith Israel Israel
Andi Milens Assoc. Ex. Dir. Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)* USA
Andrew Lipman President Holocaust & Intolerance Museum of New Mexico
USA
Andrzej Omasta Manager Poland Jewish Cemeteries Restoration Project
Poland
Ann Goldman Ex. Dir. Women’s League for Conservative Judaism USA,
Canada, Israel
Anthony J. Bajdek President Polish American Congress, East Massachusetts
USA
Avi Benlolo President & CEO Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center
Toronto, Canada
Barry Perlis, President of Chabad of Chautauqua; President and Chief
Operating Officer of S. Freedman & Sons, Inc.; President of Senior Artist Alliance;
Chairman of Save A Child’s Heart; President of Jewish Rockville Outreach
Congregation USA
Bert Raphael Chairman Canadian Lawyers and Jurists for World Jewry
Canada
Brenda Gurvey Director Hebrew University, Winnipeg Chapter Canada
Caren Davis Executive Chapter Dir. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,
Winnipeg Canada
Charles Sitwell Chairman Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Ed.,
Winnipeg Canada
Cory Schneider International President Women’s League for Conservative
Judaism USA, Canada, Israel
Daniel G. Kantor Executive Director The Jewish Federation, Buffalo USA
David Schostak President Adat Sholom Synagogue, Michigan USA
David Sufrin Chairman UJF Pittsburg Holocaust Center USA
Edith Everett Board Member American Jewish Committee USA
Eli Rubenstein National Director March of the Living Toronto Canada
Elliott Dlin Museum Director Dallas Holocaust Museum USA
Etel Sara Wengier President Zionist Organization of Sao Paulo Brazil
Faith Kaplan Executive Director Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, Winnipeg
Canada
Felicia Anchor Chair Tennessee Holocaust Commission USA
Frank J. Spula President Polish American Congress USA
Gayle Waxman Executive Director Rady Jewish Community Centre,
Winnipeg Canada
George Hass Past Commander Jewish War Veterans USA
Gerald Ronkin Executive Director Temple Beth Shalom, Sarasota USA
Gerald S. Fisher Executive Director UJA Federation of Hamilton Canada
Giovanni De Martis President Associazione Olokaustos, Venezia Italy
Howard Gases Executive Director Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth
County USA
Howard Tevlowitz Executive Director Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation
USA
Isadore Sharp Founder and Chairman, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts,
Canada
Izio Kowes President Jewish Society of Bahia Brazil
Jack Rapaport President Jewish Center of Venice USA
Jennifer Gross Secretary Pennsylvania Holocaust Education Council USA
Jerzy Debiec President Association of the Friends of Nowy Zmigrod Poland
Jerzy Kropiwnicki Mayor City of Lodz Poland
Judi Hannes Vice President Next Generations USA
John Gordon Treasurer Child Survivors of the Holocaust, Los Angeles USA
John Ranz Exec. Secretary Generation After & Holocaust Survivors
Association USA
Katharine Gorsuch Director The Foundation for Holocaust Education
Projects USA
Joel Weiss Headmaster Kadimah School of Buffalo USA
John Hartman Executive Director Remembrance and Reconciliation Inc.
Tampa, Fl USA
Rev. John Pawlikowski Director & Professor Catholic Theological Union
USA
Jonathan Buchwald Exec. Director Congregation Etz Chayim, Winnipeg
Canada
Joseph B. Gelman Partner Law Offices of Frimer Gellman Shilo Israel
Julia Reitman President Montreal Holocaust Museum Canada
Larry Skolnick Executive Vice President Jewish Federation of Greater
Dayton USA
Laura Abate Executive Director American Jewish Committee, Buffalo
Chapter USA
Lea Wolinetz Exec. Director Society of Czestochowa Jews and their
Descendants USA
Leonard Drexler President The Jewish Club at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood
ranch, Florida
Leonard Katz, MD Treasurer Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua, USA
Liliane Kshensky Baxter Dir. Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education,
Atlanta USA
Luiz Benyosef President Friends of the Jewish Memorial Brazil
Maciej Kozlowski Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Poland
Marek Szukalak President Foundation Monumentum Judaicum Lodzenses
Poland
Marianne M. Meyer Executive Dir. Second Generation Holocaust Education
Fund USA
Michael Cohen Community Relations Coordinator Jewish Holocaust Centre
Melbourne Australia
Mark Weitzman Director Simon Wiesenthal Center, NY USA
Marsha Cowan Chief Exec. Officer The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba
Canada
Marshal Weiss Staff Member and Editor/Publisher Dayton, Ohio Yom
Hashoah Committee USA
Michael Berenbaum Director Sigi Ziering Institute (American Jewish
University) USA
Michael Mathews Jewish Minister Beit Mashiach Dothan USA
Myron Love President Chavurat Tefila, Winnipeg Canada
Nancy Dershaw Founder & President Next Generations USA
Nancy Sherman Assistant to the Director Holocaust, Genocide & Human
Rights Education Center at Brookdale Community College USA
Naomi Kramer Director Kleinmann Family Foundation USA
Norman L. Weinberg Executive Coordinator PJCRP USA
Paul D. Pearson Board Member American Jewish Committee USA
Paul Leszner President Canadian Council for Reform Judaism Canada
Peter Fleischmann Director Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies USA
Phyllis Weinstein Chair Alabama Holocaust Commission USA
Rabbi Abraham Cooper Associate Dean Simon Wiesenthal Center Los
Angeles USA
Rabbi Asher Lopatin Rabbi Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation,
Chicago USA
Rabbi Avraham J. Shmidman Rabbi Lower Merion Synagogue USA
Rabbi Brenner J. Glickman Rabbi Temple Emanu-El, Sarasota USA
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel Executive Vice President Agudath Israel of
America USA
Rabbi David Woznica Rabbi Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles USA
Rabbi Eli Herscher Rabbi Stephen S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles USA
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder-Dobb President Washington Board of Rabbis USA
Rabbi Geoffrey Hunting Rabbi Temple Sinai, Sarasota USA
Rabbi Harry L. Rosenfeld Rabbi Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo USA
Rabbi Harry Manhoff President Board of Rabbis of Northern California
USA
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz Rabbi Adat Sholom Synagogue, Michigan USA
Rabbi Heschel Greenberg Director Jewish Discovery Center, Buffalo USA
Rabbi Irwin A. Tanenbaum Rabbi Temple Beth Am, Williamsville USA
Rabbi James M. Lebeau Director Fuchsberg Center for Conservative
Judaism Israel
Rabbi Larry Moldo Rabbi Temple Beth El, Tonawanda USA
Rabbi Mark S. Diamond Exec. Vice Pres. Board of Rabbis of Southern
California USA
Rabbi Marvin Goodman Exec. Director Board of Rabbis of Northern
California USA
Rabbi Mathew Field Rabbi Temple Beth El, Rochester USA
Rabbi Michael Schudrich Chief Rabbi of Poland/Halachic Coordinator
PJCRP Poland
Rabbi Pesach Lerner Executive Vice President National Council of Young
Israel USA and Canada
Rabbi Rachel Shere Rabbi Adat Sholom Synagogue, Michigan USA
Rabbi Samuel Stahl Rabbi Emeritus Temple Beth-El San Antonio, Texas
USA
Rabbi Saul Koss Administrative Director Washington Board of Rabbis USA
Rabbi Shmuel Shanowitz Principal Jewish Heritage Day School Amherst,
NY USA
Rabbi Stewart Vogel President Board of Rabbis of Southern California USA
Rabbi Tanchum Becker President Esh Dat Rabbinical Seminary Israel
Rabbi Zalman Vilenkin Executive Director Chabad of Chautauqua USA
Rev. Thaddeus Bocianowski Reverend Saint Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr
Roman Catholic Church USA
Richard B. Solecki President Polish American Congress, WNY Division USA
Robert Cohen Executive Director Jewish Community Relations Council of
Metropolitan Detroit USA
Robert Freedman Chief Executive Officer Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
Canada
Robert P. Aronson Chief Exec. Officer Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit USA
Robert Stearns, Reverend, Dr. Executive Director, Eagle’s Wings, New York,
Karlsruhe and Jerusalem
Robert St. Lifer President Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County
USA
Robert Weinberg President American Association of Jewish Lawyers and
Jurists USA
Rona Davies Executive Director Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun Congregation,
Winnipeg Canada
Rory Paul Chief Executive Officer Gray Academy of Jewish Education
Canada
Russell F. Robinson Chief Executive Officer Jewish National Fund USA and
many countries
Serafim Seppala Hierodeacon Orthodox Church of Finland
Sharon Horowitz Ex. Director Holocaust Memorial of the Greater Miami
Jewish Federation USA
Sigmund Rolat Chairman Museum of History of Polish Jews-North
American Council USA
Simcha Keller Director Lodz Jewish Community Poland
Sheila Grosnass Chasdei Avoth London, England
Stanley Yudin President Congregation Kol Haneshama, Sarasota USA
Stefanie Seltzer President World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors of the
Holocaust USA, Israel, UK, Canada, Croatia, Netherlands
Steve Gutow Executive Director Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
USA
Stuart M. Katz President Temple Beth Shalom, Hamden, CT USA
Tobias Rawet Chairman Association of Holocaust Survivors in Sweden
Toby Burak Rebbitzin Esh Dat Fund Canada
Wlodzimierz Kac President Katowice Jewish Community Poland
Yaakiov Sharett Director Moishe Sherett Heritage Society Israel
Yossi Bornstein Chairman Szczekociny Jewish Organization Israel
Yvonne Simons Executive Director The Anne Frank Center, USA
Zenon Rzezniczak President City of Zdunska Wola Poland