Prof. Piotr Gliński Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage informed the public about receiving by the National Archives five 19th-century architectural drawings of the synagogue at Wolborska Street in Łódź by Adolf Zeligson, which were stolen in 1998. The drawings were found in the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage with the Police Headquarters and the American investigative agency DHS / ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
Drawings made by Adolf Zeligson in 1896 in the technique of ink and watercolors on paper show the synagogue at Wolborska Street in Łódź. It was the most important synagogue of the pre-war Jewish community in Łódź. The building was completely destroyed during World War II.
Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński emphasized that the drawings are related to the multicultural Łódź, which was vibrant with cultural and religious life, including Jewish tradition. The works are depicting the no longer existing synagogue in Łódź and are part of the heritage of the multinational II Republic of Poland.
“These drawings are unique and so valuable that somebody decided to steal them from here”, said the head of the Ministry of Culture during the handover ceremony. “They show the synagogue at Wolborska Street in Łódź, of which there is currently nothing left. The value of these drawings for Łódź cannot be overestimated”, added Glinski.
Expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed to the recovery of the unique drawings, Deputy Prime Minister Gliński said: “The help of the federal agency Homeland Security Investigations in the United States, which specializes in the recovery of works of art, has been invaluable. I would also like to thank the Polish services, especially the Police, which actively participated in the search for the stolen drawings. The Polish state works systematically and effectively. It is the result of cooperation of cultural and heritage institutions, museums and archives employees that allows presenting recovered works of art.
Adrian Andrzejewski