Minister Michałowski decorates Shana Penn with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. (Photo: Bartlomiej Banaszak)
The Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union is prould to announce that Shana Penn, Visiting Scholar and Chair of CJS Advisory Committee, was decorated with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic, in Warsaw, on October 23, 2013. Penn is also Executive Director of the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life and Culture which supports the programming of CJS.
The award is granted to foreigners who have rendered great service to Poland. The award was presented by Minister Jacek Michałowski, Head of the Chancellery of the President, on behalf of President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski.
Minister Michałowski cited Penn's outstanding contribution to the development of Polish-Jewish dialogue, support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and scholarly work on the role of women in the Solidarity movement in Poland. He noted that President Komorowski's commemoration of women on the 23rd anniversary of the first democratic elections in Poland on June 4, 1989, was inspired by Ms. Penn's groundbreaking research.
Penn received this award during the Irena Sendler Memorial Award Ceremony held at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews and organized by the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture.