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A few days ago, the draft resolution of the Council of Ministers concerning the adoption of the National Strategy for Counteracting Antisemitism and Supporting Jewish Life for the years 2025–2030 was officially added to the register of planned legislative work. This marks the first meaningful step in years toward establishing nationwide, systemic solutions in areas such as funding mechanisms for Jewish initiatives, monitoring and evaluation processes, cooperation frameworks with Jewish communities, and a clear definition of what “supporting Jewish life” means in the Polish context.
Although the document remains a draft, the very fact that the legislative process has begun is of great significance—particularly in light of recent events, including the scandalous remarks made by MP Grzegorz Braun in Oświęcim. This was not merely another media incident; it was a deeply troubling signal of increasing public tolerance for hate speech. As political scientist Prof. Anna Siewierska commented for Onet, “Braun is a useful idiot for Russia—he fits perfectly into its narratives and destabilization goals.”
Such incidents expose the weaknesses of the tools currently available and underscore the reality that countering antisemitism cannot rely solely on ad-hoc responses. What is needed are stable, transparent procedures and sustained inter-institutional cooperation.
What does the National Strategy include?
Amid circulating misinformation, it is important to emphasize that the strategy applies exclusively to Polish institutions and entities operating within Poland—including schools, police headquarters, local governments, places of remembrance, civil society organizations, and Jewish communities.
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The document aims to:
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improve the response to hate crimes;
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enhance the quality of education in schools and increase teacher competencies;
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strengthen the security and development of Jewish communities;
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improve the protection of heritage sites and cemeteries;
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raise the standards of public discourse.
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One of the key elements of the strategy concerns heritage protection. Poland is home to over one thousand Jewish cemeteries and hundreds of sites connected to the Holocaust, many of which remain unmarked, unidentified, or at risk of deterioration. The strategy seeks to define the responsibilities of public institutions and facilitate coordination in this area.
“Supporting Jewish life” is understood in practical terms—as improving safety standards, ensuring equal access to education and culture, countering hate speech, and fostering conditions that enable Jewish communities to thrive.
The strategy is therefore not an ideological gesture but a real opportunity to bring order to a field that has long required coherent, stable frameworks. If implemented effectively, it can enhance the quality of life and safety of all residents of Poland—not only those belonging to Jewish communities.
Engagement of civil society organizations
FestivALT has been actively involved in the consultation process for the strategy. Together with Fundacja Zapomniane, Urban Memory Foundation, and the Foundation for Documentation of Jewish Cemeteries—forming the Engaged Memory Consortium—we called for the urgent adoption and advancement of this legislative initiative.
