“Henryk Reiss Must Cease to Exist” (PL, EN)
25.06.2025 - 17:30 / Galicia Jewish Museum, ul. Dajwór 18The exhibition “Henryk Reiss Must Cease to Exist” presents the dramatic story of the Reiss family: Henryk, his wife Łucja, and their daughter Elżunia, who hid their Jewish identity during the Second World War and the Holocaust.
In 1942, facing mortal danger, the Reisses decided to buy false documents – known as “Aryan papers” – under the name of the Daraż family, a Polish, Christian household from Lviv. Under this assumed name, they managed to survive until the end of the war. Unfortunately, almost none of Łucja and Henryk’s numerous relatives and friends survived.
The exhibition is based on Henryk Reiss’s post-war memoirs and the family’s collection of priceless documents. Almost 50 artifacts will be on display, including one of the most completely preserved collections of “Aryan papers” used by a specific family.
The story of the Reiss family is one of fear and courage, sadness and resilience, loss and hope. While the exhibition focuses on a single family, it frames their personal experiences within the wider historical context and allows visitors to examine the chronology and geography of the Holocaust. The narrative goes beyond the Second World War, shedding light on the difficult realities and challenges of the postwar years faced by those who managed to survive.
This is an accompanying event organized by the Galicia Jewish Museum.
