Warsaw, May 6, 2014

Organizers and Participants
of the 33rd Jewish Culture Festival
in Krakow

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

I cordially greet the organisers, artists and audience of the Jewish Culture Festival. I am delighted that, for the 33rd time in a row, the Kazimierz district of Krakow will be filled with the sounds of klezmer music, and that the participants of the event will be able to learn more about and be inspired by the centuries-old heritage of the Polish Jewish community through workshops and discussions.

Regular visitors to the festival, which is rightly considered to be one of the largest in the world, experience the unique atmosphere that permeates the entire venue, which in the past was one of the most important centres of Jewish life, education and culture in the Commonwealth of Two Nations. I hope that your time here will be rich in interesting meetings and experiences. May it leave you with many fond memories and encourage foreign guests to visit our country again.

Beginning with this year’s festival, subsequent editions will be dedicated to the various faces of Jewish spirituality and mysticism. The motto of this year’s edition is the title of the Shema Israel prayer. “Listen” is its first word. Particularly in the face of the conflicts and wars currently affecting many countries and societies, it is worth listening to the message of love and unity that prays for peace for Israel and the entire Middle East.

May mutual respect, friendship and understanding fill the festive days of June. May the fraternal bonds between our peoples be strengthened in Krakow’s Kazimierz. May the place once again be filled with fun, laughter and the bustle of conversations that bring people of different nations and cultures closer together. I wish you unforgettable and joyful moments.

                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                     with kind regards,

Andrzej Duda
President of the Republic of Poland

 

photo: Jakub Szymczuk / KPRP