The appeal was issued by organizations including Chabad Lubavitch Poland, the Warsaw-based Shalom Foundation, and the Jewish religious community, led by the Chief Rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich.
A table surrounded by empty chairs will be placed near the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes in the Polish capital to symbolize the victims of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and to express hope for the return of hostages, the organizers said ahead of the event, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 29.
The Shalom Foundation's Gołda Tencer said: "We want to place photos of the hostages on this table so that everyone can look at their faces."
Israel is still grieving the loss of hundreds of innocent victims, the organizers said. Meanwhile, 222 individuals, including children, women and seniors, are in the hands of Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, they added.
Despite longstanding efforts by Israel and the leaders of Arab countries to normalize the situation in the region, the Middle East has again become a focal point of global concern, the organizers also said.
Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Stambler, head of Chabad Lubavitch Poland, stated: "For me and for Jews worldwide, it is a tremendous tragedy that so many of our compatriots have perished, and the fate of over 200 people kidnapped to the Gaza Strip remains uncertain."
He added: "We simply cannot remain indifferent, especially when the most sinister forms of antisemitism are re-emerging worldwide, and Israel, which has fallen victim to aggression, is being wrongly portrayed as the aggressor during various demonstrations, including one recently held in Warsaw."
Initiated by the Shalom Foundation and Chabad Lubavitch Poland, Sunday's gathering aims to "demonstrate the unity and solidarity of various communities," both Jewish and non-Jewish.
The event also seeks to "show support for the victims of Hamas terror." At the same time, the organizers say they are committed to opposing all forms of antisemitism and hate speech.
Chabad Lubavitch is a global Jewish religious community active in many countries, including Poland since 2005. Besides promoting spirituality, Chabad Lubavitch carries out educational and charitable activities. In Poland, its aims include spreading knowledge about Judaism and Jewish culture and traditions.
The Shalom Foundation says it is a guardian of memory and a place where tradition intersects with modernity, fostering a dialogue between Jewish and Polish cultures. Since its establishment in 1987, the foundation's primary goal has been to preserve the rich heritage of Yiddish culture, according to its leaders.
Gołda Tencer, an actress and singer, founded the Shalom Foundation in 2015. She also serves as the director of Warsaw's Jewish Theater.
The Israel-Hamas war began when the Palestinian organisation Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, according to media reports.
European Union leaders earlier this month condemned Hamas attacks on Israel and backed Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law.
Poland last week condemned civilian deaths in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and called on all sides to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
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Source: shalom.org.pl
