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(Washington, D.C., August 13, 2021)–B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:   

We condemn the law passed by the Polish Parliament’s lower house that makes it nearly impossible for survivors of the Holocaust and their descendants to reclaim property that was stolen from them. The law, which has already passed in the Polish Senate, is an insult to survivors and families who have spent years searching for justice.   

Poland, which was home to approximately 3.3 million Jews prior to World War II, remains the only EU country with no law on compensation or restitution for property stolen during the Holocaust.   

We thank Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the other senators who joined them in writing a letter to the Polish government calling for the law to be annulled. We concur with them that “There is no better way for Poland to demonstrate its clear opposition to the crimes committed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet-backed Polish government.”  

We strongly urge Polish President Andrzej Duda not to sign the bill into law. Doing so would be an injustice to the memory of the Holocaust and to its survivors. 

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.