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Prayer by Christians and Jews at the monument in Birkenau commemorating victims of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, inaugurated the formal celebration of the XVIII Day of Judaism at the Roman Catholic Church which is being held this year at the premises of Bielsko-Żywiec diocese.

The prayer was attended among others by Michael Schudrich — Chief Rabbi of Poland, Bp Roman Pindel — Bishop of Bielsko-Żywiec Diocese, Bp Mieczysław Cisło — Chairman of the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism Council for Religious Dialogue of the Polish Episcopacy and Bp Paweł Anweiller — Bishop of Cieszyn Diocese of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession.

"It is exquisitely important and characteristic, that the Day of Judaism in the Roman Catholic Church began here this year, a few days prior to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz — between the ruins of the biggest gas chambers and crematoria of the Third Reich. In the face of such an extreme misterium iniquitatis, which the Shoah was, the trustful people of God can only stay strong in empathy and mutual prayer", said the director of the Museum Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywiński.

Everyone assembled welcomed Bp Roman Pindel: "This year the Day of Judaism at the Roman Catholic Church in Poland takes place at the Bielsko-Żywiec diocese, on which area lies the former German extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This year we are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation. The Shoah tragedy stunned the world and led to deep reflection and the revival of the Christian-Jewish relation at many churches. Therefore, today we are beginning our celebration here in order to remember those who suffered and died here, to pray for them and  to ask God for peace", he said.

"Today’s meeting is a good combination of our prayers in connection with the Day of Judaism and the forthcoming anniversary of the liberation of the camp, which will bring together to this place representatives of the world and men of goodwill", said Bp Mieczysław Cisło.

During the meeting fragments of the testimonies of Jewish Auschwitz witnesses, Primo Levi and Załmen Lewental were read out. The words of Pope John Paul II about the Shoah were also recollected. Prayers were mutually said in the wordings of Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (...) My God, I call out by day, but you do not answer, [I cry out] by night, but I find no peace". Rabbi Michel Schudrich also sang the prayer of "El Male Rachamim".

"We are standing right now in Birkenau, the worst place in the world. There is no such place as this, where so many people had been murdered. And on this terribly important day we are here together. It is neither simple nor nice, but it is important. Therefore, if we can pray together here, then perhaps we can pray and be together in every other place in the world", emphasized Rabbi Schudrich.

The text of Pope John Paul II Prayer on the Day of the Great Jubilee of Pardon 2000, was all recalled: “God of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your Name to the nations: we are deeply saddened by the behaviour of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.”

On the occasion of the XVIII Day of Judaism a special educational project was prepared “Through a common history — towards the future", a creation of the National Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Centre for Dialogue and Prayers as well as the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec.

Its aim is to propose a new visiting path for the Memorial Sites in Auschwitz. Secondary and post-secondary school groups, on the basis of a specially prepared program, will visit: The Jewish Centre and Chewra Lomdej Misznajot Synagogue, Auschwitz Memorial Site and the Centre for Dialogue and Prayers.

"As part of the project a special programme was prepared for visiting the former Auschwitz camp. As during every visit, pupils will get to know the most important historical information. However, in whole it will be supplemented by chosen accounts of prisoners, which speak among others of; religious life in the camp and the importance of faith. It is very important for young people - through the use of witnesses accounts - to get to know the interrelation between Christians and Jews in Auschwitz", said Andrzej Kacorzyk, director of the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

Educational materials prepared as part of this project shall be given to all religion instruction teachers and priests in Bielsko-Żywiec Diocese. They will also be sent out to all dioceses in Poland, as well as made available for downloadable on the Internet.