How does the Polish government handle Jewish and international centres of martyrdom in general?
Anita Prazmowska: In general, centres of Jewish martyrdom are recognised. For example, there is a very poignant monument at the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw to commemorate the uprising and the ghetto. However, when it comes to details such as the remnants of Jewish community there is less sensitivity. Synagogues have been taken over because they were substantial stone buildings, to be used as cinemas or storerooms. The government has been totally insensitive to the fact that some Jewish people might feel unhappy or in fact lay claim to either the buildings or the use of these buildings. There is the feeling that when we come to details and the recognition of the importance of the Jewish community and the Jewish heritage in Polish history, people would rather not talk about it. In the big centres of martyrdom like Treblinka or Auschwitz, there is a larger degree of recognition because you cannot get away from the fact that millions of Jews were exterminated here. Main Entrance to Auschwitz.
