The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews honored Henryk Pogorzelski as the laureate of the 2026 POLIN Award. The award ceremony took place on October 28, 2026, during a gala held at the Museum's headquarters. The laureate is an independent historian and community activist who, for over two decades, has dedicated himself to documenting the history of the Jewish community in Sokołów in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
The Significance of the Research
Henryk Pogorzelski's work spans from the 16th century to the present day. As reported by the museum, the laureate systematically collects archival documents, photographs, and witness testimonies. His dedication contributes to restoring memory of the fate of the local residents and supports the protection of the region's cultural heritage. The researcher maintains contact with Holocaust survivors and their descendants around the world, which enables the identification of individuals in old photographs and the supplementation of biographical details. Thanks to these efforts, subsequent generations can learn about the history of their ancestors. Pogorzelski is also the initiator and co-creator of the Polish edition of the Book of Memory of the Jewish Community in Sokołów and the author of other publications documenting the region's history. He actively works for the commemoration of sites associated with Jewish culture and the protection of cemeteries.
Honors and the Special Award
In addition to the main award, the jury granted two special mentions this year. One was awarded to Krystyna Szter, a culture animator and local government activist. Szter is the guardian of the former synagogue in Barczewo, where she has been leading initiatives for many years to protect and promote the Jewish heritage of Warmia. The second special mention was granted to Magdalena Czajka, a social activist and educator. Czajka serves as the guardian of the Jewish cemetery in Żelechów and actively participates in the activities of the Dialogue Forum Network, contributing to the preservation of the memory of the Jewish residents of this town. Both honorees received statuettes and cash prizes.
During the gala, POLIN Museum director Prof. Dariusz Stola also awarded a Special Award. The recipients were the museum's volunteers, who were recognized for their selfless commitment, which enables the fulfillment of the institution's mission and its outreach to a broader audience.
Award Criteria
The POLIN Award has been given since 2015. It serves as a recognition for individuals and organizations actively working to build Polish-Jewish relations and to preserve the memory of the history of Polish Jews. As emphasized by the organizers, the award functions as a symbolic form of recognition but also serves as an appeal for vigilance and active engagement in the protection of Polish-Jewish heritage.
The main laureate, Henryk Pogorzelski, received a statuette designed by Stanisław Zieliński and a cash prize of 30,000 PLN. The finalists who received special mentions, Krystyna Szter and Magdalena Czajka, received statuettes by the same artist and cash prizes of 15,000 PLN each.