Jewish Group Survived Crash

A delegation from the Jewish community in Poland was to accompany Polish president Lech Kaczynski – who was killed Saturday in a plane crash, along with his wife and dozens of other officials of his government, Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler told COL.

“They canceled their participation in the delegation, after realizing that the flight was on Shabbos,” said Stambler, a Chabad Shliach in Warsaw, Poland.

“They were planning to say Kaddish at the event that the President was flying to participate in. The event was to mark 70 years since the Soviet police massacred thousands of Polish officers. ”

“The President had a strong relationship with the Jewish community. He cared for the needs of the community. He not only spoke about it, but he also did a lot. He always participated in Jewish events. ”

Rabbi Stambler met with the president last year, prior to the holiday of Passover, and presented him with three Matzahs. “The President received the Matzah, was interested in what was happening in our community and praised us for our work,” he recalled.

“The President excelled in the fact that he was a friend of the Jews and a friend of Israel – and he expressed this sympathy in deeds, not just words. ”

Rabbi Stambler related that “even while serving as mayor of Warsaw, he cared very much about the building of the Jewish Museum – which is to open soon in the original Jewish ghetto area. This museum will summarize centuries of Jewish life in Poland. He greatly promoted the museum design.

“Even as president, he continued to assist much of the early construction. He gave much respect to donors of the museum. It is possible to attribute a large part of the building of the museum to his efforts.”