Memorial Service for Famed Jurist Adam Strzembosz

The news in Polish

1. cmentarz  (m.)
   Miejsce pochówku zmarłych, zazwyczaj ogrodzone i zorganizowane w kwatery. ↩︎
2. datek  (m.)
   Dobrowolna ofiara pieniężna lub rzeczowa na określony cel. ↩︎
3. wsparcie  (n.)
   Pomoc udzielana komuś lub czemuś, mogąca mieć formę materialną, emocjonalną lub inną. ↩︎
4. profesor  (m.)
   Osoba o tytułach akademickich najwyższego stopnia, wykładająca na uniwersytetach lub innych szkołach wyższych. ↩︎
5. działacz  (m.)
   Osoba aktywnie działająca w określonej dziedzinie, organizacji lub społeczności. ↩︎
6. sądownictwo  (n.)
   System organów państwowych zajmujących się wymiarem sprawiedliwości. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Where did the funeral of Professor Adam Strzembosz take place?

Question 2: What did the family of Professor Strzembosz request instead of flowers?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
cmentarz  (m.)	cemetery
datek  (m.)	donation
wsparcie  (n.)	support
profesor  (m.)	professor
działacz  (m.)	activist
sądownictwo  (n.)	judiciary

Read the full story

The funeral of Professor Adam Strzembosz, a prominent figure in Polish legal history, was held at the historic Stary Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. The ceremony carried a personal rather than an official tone, in line with the wishes of the professor’s family.

Despite its private designation, the service saw attendance from several distinguished guests including state officials, members of the judicial community, and numerous friends and relatives. Notably, former Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and former deputy minister in Tadeusz Mazowiecki’s government, Aleksander Hall, paid their respects. Among them was the current Minister of Justice, Waldemar Żurek, who remembered Strzembosz as a key proponent of democratic reform in Poland post-1989.

The ceremony commenced with a rosary prayer held in the Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories in Warsaw, preceding the memorial mass. During the service, the family requested attendees to forgo floral tributes in favour of supporting a pre-adoptive intervention centre in Otwock managed by the Adoption Families Foundation. A collection took place following the mass, with volunteers gathering donations for this cause.

Adam Strzembosz, who passed away at the age of 95, had an illustrious career starting as a law student at the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University. His academic journey included a doctorate in criminology and advancing to become a professor working extensively on criminal law, juvenile delinquency, and family law at the Catholic University of Lublin.

Politically active, Strzembosz was involved in the Solidarity movement during the communist era in Poland. His commitment to legal reform continued throughout his life, highlighted by his role as the first President of the Supreme Court after 1989 and his contributions to the reform of the Polish judiciary.

In his later years, Strzembosz advocated for judicial independence, voicing concerns about potential shifts away from democratic principles in Polish governance. His considerable contributions to law and democracy in Poland were recognized with numerous accolades, such as the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the prestigious Order of the White Eagle.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a language school dedicated to teaching Polish through various online courses. To explore how to learn Polish, browse our comprehensive resources tailored for learners at any level.