Józef Wancer and Bernhard Otterstein Join Fundraising Committe
Zabinski Foundation (Fundacja Zabińskich) is proud to announce that two outstanding personalities have joined the Zabinski Foundation’s (“ZF’s) team: Mr. Józef Wancer, as the Chairman of the ZF’s Fundraising Committee and Mr. Benhard Otterstein as the Deputy Chairman of the ZF’s Fundraising Committee.
Józef Wancer was born in Poland, graduated in economics from the City College of New York and from management and interpersonal relationships at the Webster University in Vienna.
Mr. Wancer currently is the Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BNP Paribas Bank Polska and is an iconic figure in the Polish banking industry, having been one of the leaders of the transformation of the Polish banking industry after fall of the communism.
Mr. Wancer came to Poland after holding senior management positions in Citibank in US and its branches over the world for 25 years and participated in establishment of Citibank in Poland. Mr. Wancer organized various other banks in Poland, and held senior management positions including: President of the Management Board of Raiffeisen Centrobank, BPH, BGŻ, as well as BNP Paribas, and was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PBK and BNP Paribas Bank Polska.
For his outstanding achievements in banking during the transformation period, Józef Wancer was honoured with the Gold Cross of Merit and Order of Polonia Restituta.
Bernhard L. Otterstein, President of the Polish Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has also joined ZF’s Fundraising Committee as Deputy Chairman of the Committee. Mr. Otterstein was born and educated in Vancouver, Canada where he graduated with honours from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.
In his career he worked with numerous corporate (Daimler Chrysler), governmental (Canadian International Development Agency) and institutional entities in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia in the areas of economic analysis, strategic project and investment planning, new market development, as well as high level cross-cultural communications and diplomacy.
Mr. Otterstein served as a Secretary of the Supervisory Board of Perla Browary Lubelskie S.A., and he is an active member of the International Group of Chambers of Commerce (IGCC), a grouping of 18+ major bilateral chambers of commerce representing more than 90% of FDI in Poland.
Mr. Otterstein has also worked as a television and music producer and has hosted a weekly television program on culture, music and art broadcast around the world (TV Polonia).
The newly founded Fundraising Committee of Zabinski Foundation is concentrating on raising funds for the development of the Zabinski Pavilion adjacent to the Zabinski Villa in the Antonina and Jan Żabiński Zoological Garden of the City of Warsaw. The funds shall be allocated to the City of Warsaw and the Warsaw Zoo in return for ZF’s cooperation in the development of the Zabinski Pavilion and its educational program within the area of the transformed and renovated animal cages in the Warsaw Zoo.
Our Mission Statement
The Zabinski Foundation’s mission is to preserve the memory and legacy of the humanitarian acts of Antonina and Jan Zabinski, the Warsaw zookeepers during World War II, who directly saved the lives of hundreds of people – mainly Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto – by secretly ushering them into the Warsaw Zoo and hiding them in the Zabinski Villa and surrounding animal cages.
This act was punishable by death at the time of the Nazi-German occupation of Poland, and put the Zabinski family at great risk to their own lives.
The Foundation seeks to accomplish its mission through educating current and future generations about the moral commitment and selfless heroism of the Zabinskis, and to inspire those generations to embrace the philosophy lived and implemented by them, for – as Jan said after the War – “It was simple human decency – it was the right thing to do.”
Upon the announcement of the appointments to the Fundraising Committee, Dominik Zawadzki (grandson of Antonina and Jan Żabiński), co-founder and Vice-President of the Management Board of ZF said:
“We are very proud that such prominent persons like Jozef Wancer – an icon of the Polish banking industry, and Bernhard Otterstein – a very active member of IGCC, have joined our ranks. The values that were guiding the way of Antonina and Jan Żabiński will not die and will be transferred to the next generations through the educational center that will be established in the Zabinski Pavilion to be built in the Antonina and Jan Żabiński Zoological Garden of the City of Warsaw.”
Marking the grave of Jan Zabinski by the Institute of National Remembrance with the "Veteran's Grave" plaque
In June 2023, Jan Zabinski's grave in Powązki Cemetery was marked with a "Veteran's Grave" plaque by the Institute of National Remembrance.
Israeli youth visit in the Zabinski Villa
On June 9, 2023 first Israeli youth visit (a group of 25 people) took place in the Villa after a long period (3 years) of break in such visits. The group was shaken by the things they saw in the Villa, was moved by the heroic attitude of Antonina and Jan, showed great sensitivity for the events which took place in the Villa and were presented to them, and the group showed deep curiosity for the details of Jan and Antonina's history.
At the end of the visit the goup awarded Ewa Rembiszewska who guided the tour of the Villa and who takes care of the Villa for many years, and Anat Arazi from Zabinski Foundation who brought the group to the Villa, participated in the guided tour and translated into Hebrew language - certificates of appreciation.
80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 19.04.2023
Three presidents: Andrzej Duda - president of Poland, Itzhak Herzog - president of Israel, Walter Steinmeier - president of Germany, are placing flower wreaths next to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument.
Jan Żabiński was honored by mentioning his name as a savior of many Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto during the celebration and a salvo by the honorary guards was fired in his honor.
From left: Anat Arazi, CEO of Zabinski Foundation, Dominik Zawadzki - founder and vice-president of Zabinski Foundation, grandson of Jan and Antonina Zabiński; Katarzyna Tenard; Sebastian Tenard, great grandson of Jan and Antonina Zabinski; David Dixon - founder of Zabiński Foundation.
Warsaw Ghetto Monument covered with flowers.
Rafał Trzaskowski, Warsaw City President, during the celebrations of 80th anniversary of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Itzhag Herzog, president of Israel with wife. At the back - Walter Steinmeier, president of Germany
Concert "Remembrance and Future" in the Great Theatre - National Opera in Warsaw. Symphonic Orchestra of Israeli youths and Polish singers - 150 persons on stage in total presented a great concert, in which also the presidents participated: president of Poland, president of Israel and president of Germany. From left: Sebastian Tenard, Katarzyna Tenard, Anat Arazi and Dominik Zawadzki.
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Polin Museum: opening of the exhibition "Around us sea of fire" - 17.04.2023
Dominik Zawadzki - grandson of Jan Antonina Zabinski and Anat Arazi - Zabinski Foundation.
Journal entries of two Jews murdered by the Germans in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Jan and Antonina saved over a hundred Jews from this terrible destiny by taking them out of the Getto and giving them shelter in their home.
National Day of Poles Saving Jews - 16.03.2023
Placement of flowers by Righteous Among Nations by the Jan and Antonina Zabinski plaque in the Zabinski Villa at theWarsaw Zoo.
Visit of the israeli embassy ambassador and embassy personnel in the Zabinski Villa
February 9, 2023
Change of the Warsaw Zoo's name
Starting January 1, 2023 Warsaw zoo changed it's name by the decision of the Warsaw City Council into: the City of Warsaw Zoological Garden by the name of Antonina and Jan Zabinski.
It is a very important acknowledgement of Antonina and Jan Zabinski which was brought by the Warsaw Zoological Garden, people close to the Zabinski family and the Zabinski Foundation. We are grateful for this very important acknowledgement!
International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27
January 27th was the International Remembrance Day. The Yad Vashem organization in Israel has shown pictures of Antonina and Jan Zabinski as faces of the Holocaust Remembrance Day and has described the Zabinski story in a short note, as below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2408215762590907/posts/5917453848333730/
2nd memorial of Teresa Zawadzki - Zabinski
Today is second anniversary of Teresa Zawadzki – Zabinski’s death – the daughter of Antonina and Jan Zabinski (passed away 30.01.2021). Teresa’s family and the Zabinski Foundation honored her at the Zabinski family grave at Powazki cemetery in Warsaw. Teresa was the inspiration for the Zabinski Foundation and one of its founders. The Foundation was created in order to preserve and spread the humanitarian values of the Zabinski couple. Jan and Antonina saved hundreds of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto and hid them in their villa in the Warsaw Zoo. They did it at the peril of losing their own and their children’s lives. Teresa’s actions and activities, as well as those of the Warsaw Zoo and of the Zabinski Foundation were crowned with the acknowledgement of her parents by the Warsaw City Council by the changing of the name of the Warsaw Zoo on 1 January 2023 to the City Zoological Garden in the name of Antonina and Jan Zabinski in Warsaw.
Additionally, the Yad Vashem organization in Israel presented the pictures of Antonina and Jan Zabinski as the face of the International Holocaust Day on January 27th.
Dominik Zawadzki, son of Teresa and grandson of Antonina and Jan Zabinski said at the grave:
“My mother was a strong woman, who endeavored through her life to commemorate and to spread the knowledge about her heroic parents. I am certain that my mother would be very happy to know that her parents received the honor and respect due to them by the re-naming of the Warsaw Zoo to the Warsaw Zoological Garden in the name of Antonina and Jan Zabinski.”
Event Commemorating the 125th year of Jan Zabinski birthdate
Press release
On September 8th we celebrated the 125th anniversary year of Jan Zabiński’s birth, an outstanding zoologist and long-time director of the Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw, educator, Home Army soldier and fighter in the Warsaw Uprising. The Żabinski Foundation, in cooperation with the Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw and the Panda Foundation, had the pleasure of organizing a ceremony commemorating this special anniversary.
This year's celebration of Jan Żabiński's birthday took place at the Żabiński Villa, located on the grounds of the Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw. The official part of the event was hosted by the founders of the Żabiński Foundation: David Dixon, partner in the Dentons Warsaw office and Dominik Zawadzki, grandson of Antonina and Jan Żabiński and vice chairman of the Foundation's board, as well as Anat Arazi, president of the Foundation's board. During the event, a short speech was delivered by Dr. Yakov Livne, Israel's ambassador to Poland, who emphasized the significance of the achievements of Jan Żabiński's work, recognized together with his wife by Yad Vashem and the State of Israel as "Righteous Among the Nations".
Speakers at the ceremony included U.S. Consul General Hale VanKoughnett, Andrzej Kruszewicz, director of Warsaw Municipal Zoo, Ewa Rembiszewska, CEO of the Panda Foundation, and Magdalena Młochowska, acting Director Coordinator for Green Warsaw. Invited guests had the pleasure of listening to a concert of Frederic Chopin’s music, performed by the talented Polish pianist Jakub Kuszlik, one of the winners at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition.
Among the guests were representatives of the City of Warsaw, the American Chamber of Commerce and Polish-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, as well as numerous representatives of the business world. The ceremony was also attended by Antonina and Jan Żabiński's grandchildren: Dominik and two granddaughters with their families.
"I am extremely touched that such a large number of distinguished guests attended the celebration of my grandfather's 125th birthday. Today's event is not only a wonderful celebration accompanied by the music of Frederic Chopin, but also a great opportunity to remind the world of the legacy of Antonina and Jan Żabiński. I'm sure my grandfather would have been immensely happy with such a commemoration, and he would probably have said of his actions: it was common human decency, and it was the right thing to do", said Dominik Zawadzki.
Israel’s Ambassador Dr. Yakov Livne said: "Memorializing the actions of Antonina and Jan Żabiński, who saved several hundred people of Jewish heritage in occupied Warsaw, is very important. Let's think about what could have happened if ten, a hundred or even a thousand married couples like the Żabińskis had lived in Warsaw at the time. Every Varsovian and every Pole can be proud of what the Żabiński family did, of their heroic attitude. We certainly will not forget it and will always treasure it."
U.S. Consul General Hale VanKoughnett added, "This inaugural ceremony presented by the Żabiński Foundation at the Żabiński Villa was a great opportunity to honor the heroic actions of Jan and Antonina Żabiński. Unfortunately, in 2022 we see the repeated horrors of warfare from a divided Europe's past. But we also see repeated acts of heroism that accompany this terror: ordinary people resisting and changing the conditions of war. We can all be inspired by the actions of the Żabiński family."
The Żabinski Foundation was established in 2020 to spread and protect the legacy of Antonina and Jan Żabiński. The Żabiński couple rescued hundreds of people, mostly of Jewish origin, during World War II by taking them out of Warsaw and hiding them in a villa at the Warsaw Zoo (now known as the Żabiński Villa) and in empty animal cages. Their heroic actions were done at the risk of their own lives, but also the lives of their then several-year-old son Ryszard. The story of Antonina and Jan Żabiński is presented in Diane Ackerman's book entitled "The Zookeeper's Wife, based on which a Hollywood film of the same title was made, starring Jessica Chastain.
Warsaw Zoo will change its name starting January 1, 2023
On January 1, 2023 the Warsaw zoo will change its name into: “The City Zoological Garden in the name of Antonina and Jan Zabinski in Warsaw”. The Warsaw City Council has undertaken such a resolution on Thursday, August 25, 2022.
Celebration of 125th anniversary of Jan Żabiński’s birthday
On April 8th we celebrated the 125th anniversary of Jan Żabiński’s birthday.
CEO of the Zabinski Foundation – Anat Arazi, Founder David F. Dixon as well as Anna Żabińska (the oldest granddaughter of Jan and Antonina) and Dominik Zawadzki (Founder, Vice-President of the Zabinski Foundation) – grandchildren of Jan Żabiński laid a wreath on his grave on Powązki and together with Andrzej Kruszewicz, the Warsaw Zoo director and Ewa Rembiszewska CEO of Panda Foundation laid another wreath at the commemorative rock of Jan Zabiński, located on the Zoo grounds.
Upon this occasion the Rzeczpospolita newspaper published an article authored by Anat Arazi, describing the life and the achievements of Jan Zabiński, as well as Anna Zabińska’s memories, his oldest granddaughter and the daughter of Ryś – Ryszard Żabiński.
The article was published both in printed and in electronic version.
Link to the article:
Uncovering of plaque honouring Jan and Antonina Zabinski
On March 24, 2021 ceremony of uncovering of the plaque at the Villa under Crazy Star, honouring Jan and Antonina Zabinski for their enormous legacy and lessons for wider humanity in rescuing more than 300 people, mostly Jews taken out of the Warsaw Ghetto, at enormous personal risk. Present at the ceremony were the President of the National Memory Institute (IPN) dr. Jarosław Szarka, the Vice President of the City of Warsaw Aldona Machnowska Gora and Andrzej Kruszewicz, the Warsaw Zoo Director.
