Opinion: Poland, reclaiming property looted by Nazis, owes restitution to Jews as well

To the editor: Reading Craig Gilmore’s moving account of the restitution of the painting from his house back to Poland was bittersweet. The sweet part was the moral imperative that Gilmore and his partner followed in returning the painting to Poland. (“This painting was looted by the Nazis, then seized from my living room,” Opinion, Dec. 4)

The bitter part is the millions of Jews and their heirs who lost everything in Poland and remain stymied by bureaucracy and legal hurdles to reclaiming not only artworks, such as paintings and sculptures, but also real property in cities throughout Poland.

Let’s hope and pray the next decade finds Poland recognizing the courage of people such as Gilmore. It should look at itself in the mirror and begin an honest discussion on restitution matters for real and personal property.

It is very easy to claim a painting, but how willingly will Poland relinquish property?

Dustin Stein, New York

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To the editor: Thanks to Gilmore for sharing his story of returning “Portrait of a Lady” to the National Museum in Warsaw. I was able to share in his feelings of wholeness after making that connection across history and across the globe, and reading of his gratitude for helping to right an old wrong.

The bigger picture can never be framed.

Mary Bourke, Glendale

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