September 21, 2005 – New York – Poland has honored David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, with the Commander’s Cross of Merit with Stars, one of the highest Polish medals bestowed on foreigners.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski presented the medal to Harris during a dinner at AJC headquarters in New York, in recognition of his “commitment to peace and reconciliation and friendship with Poland and the Polish people.”

President Kwasniewski praised Harris for his “activities and cooperation with Poland, for our personal friendship” and for his statement made earlier this year to clarify the media misuse of the term “Polish death camps” instead of Nazi death camps. “The statement constitutes a significant proof of our joint efforts for the truth,” said Kwasniewski.

Accepting the honor, Harris said, "Poland and the Jewish people have lived together for nearly a thousand years. It was not always easy, but we must never view the arc of ten centuries through the prism of difficult times alone."

Looking ahead, Harris said, “As far as I am concerned, the journey is not yet over. There is more work to be done. We will do it together. It may not be completed in our lifetimes, but, as our Jewish tradition teaches us, we are not free to desist.”