Local attorney to speak at exhibit opening Sunday

The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus is partnering with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago to open an exhibit on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. to honor the Polish Righteous Among the Nations, a group of men and women who rescued Jews from extermination by the Nazis. The exhibit, which will be on display at the Holocaust Memorial Center located at 28123 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills through Oct. 7, tells a story of a group of Polish gentiles living in Nazi German-occupied Poland during WWII who demonstrated extraordinary courage by helping to shelter and aid Jewish men, women and children during the Holocaust. The exhibit also documents the risks involved in this endeavor as Polish citizens were the only people in the Nazi German-occupied Europe who, along with their families, were summarily executed if caught sheltering or aiding Jews. Poland is the nation that has by far the highest number of honorees from any country awarded by the State of Israel with the Righteous Among the Nations medal. This exhibit is a tribute to the rescuers, who, by saving a single life, helped save entire generations that flourish until this day. Michael H. Traison, a partner with Miller Canfield, will be among the speakers along with the Polish Consul General in Chicago and Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus Executive Director Stephen Goldman. In his speech "Poland in the heart of the Jews and the Jews in the heart of Poland," Traison will discuss the 800 years of shared Polish-Jewish history in a country that was once home to the largest Jewish community in the world. Traison is recognized for his work for more than several decades preserving Jewish Heritage in Poland, promoting positive relations between the Polish and Jewish Nations and advocating human rights and Polish, Jewish and Israeli causes. He is the recipient of the Polish Heritage Award, Cavalier's Cross awarded by the President of Poland, Jerusalem Humanitarian Award of Shaarey Zedek Hospital, and, most recently, the Martin Sandler award of the America Israel Chamber. For additional information on the Holocaust Memorial Center, visit www.holocaustcenter.org, or call 248-553-2400. Published: Fri, Sep 7, 2012