Jerzy Tomaszewski (1930-2014)

Professor Jerzy Tomaszewski, an eminent Polish historian, died in Warsaw on November 4, 2014. Professor Tomaszewski was a leading presence in the research community in Poland that devotes itself to the history of Jews in Poland.

Professor Tomaszewski was the author of numerous works on the history of Jews in Poland. He was a professor of history at Warsaw University, where he also served as the Director of the Mordechai Anielewicz Centre for the Study and Teaching of the History and Culture of Jews in Poland.

For many years, he was connected with the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw. A member of the its Scientific Council since 1970, he was also elected in 1985 to serve on the Institute’s Board of Directors and, in addition, served as Deputy Chairman of the Jewish Historical Institute Association. In 2005, he was one of the signatories, along with the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and the Mayor of Warsaw, to an agreement officially establishing the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

He served on the Editorial Board of the Jewish Historical Institute's publications: The Bulletin of the Jewish Historical Institute, The Quarterly of the History of Jews, and an annual, Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry. He continued to work on his research even after his retirement in 2002. He also served on the Programme Council of the “Open Republic” Association Against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia.

In 1998, Professor Tomaszewski was the recipient of YIVO’s Jan Karski and Pola Nirenska Award, and thereafter served on the Karski Award Committee.

YIVO deeply mourns his passing.