By COLlive reporter
Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski welcomed a delegation from the Rabbinical Centre of Europe (RCE) on Friday to the Belweder Palace in Warsaw, where he resides and works.
He heard about Passover from Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, Head Shliach of Italy and founder of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe; Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler, Director of Chabad Lubavitch in Poland.
They presented him with Shmura Matzah, and the president didn’t hesitate and took a bite.
During the Communist era, he told them, Matzah was not allowed to be legally sold in Poland, so Jewish residents named it ‘dietetic bread.’
“Out of principle for this injustice, my family refused to buy it,” he said.
Rabbi Stambler told him, “Matzah symbolizes humility as it does not rise, so it is a very appropriate gift to a president known as a good and dependable friend of the Jewish People, not for popular purposes, but from a humble moral standpoint.”
The meeting was also attended by businessman Ronnie Bruckner and Zeev Baran, Honorary Consul of Poland in Israel and close friend of the president. Baran and his family were rescued by the Komorowski family during the Holocaust.
During the meeting, the Jewish representatives praised and thanked the president for his recent comments on Jewish restitution.
“President Komorowski?s voice of support on the restitution issue has a strong moral standing and is a huge boost for the former Jews of Poland who seek compensation for their lost property,” Asher Gold, Director of Public affairs at the RCE, said.
does he now buy it?
Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik- the best!!!!!!! He is who gives the entire meeting chashivus!
Very nice…
Go Chabad of Warsaw!
go wrap lots of tefilin at the March of the Living!
go chabad