The U.S. Embassy proudly joined the Embassies of Israel, Belgium and Argentina in sponsoring the inaugural music festival held by the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Held at the POLIN Museum in Warsaw from February 16-18, 2018, the “Roots’n’Fruits” music festival explored the roots of contemporary Jewish, Israeli and Polish music and the artistic fruits that composers and performers from Israel, Poland and the Jewish diaspora create when collaborating together. Speaking at the opening of the festival which featured some of the world’s greatest musicians (Martha Argerich, Michael Guttman, Jing Zhao, David Krakauer, Bar Avni and the Sinfonia Varsovia), Ambassador Jones commended the POLIN Museum for always creating a space for open and free intercultural dialogue on sensitive, historical issues. He referred the audience to a video message on the Embassy’s website that he recorded earlier in the day in which he stressed the importance of the freedom of speech and media when discussing difficult historical topics. Ambassador Jones singled out the U.S. and Polish citizen philanthropist Sigmund Rolat, to whom the festival’s opening concert was dedicated, noting Mr. Rolat’s life-long efforts in teaching new generations about the importance of respect and tolerance in creating the conditions for mutual understanding, peace and friendship.
