Page 48 - Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana. Edelman

Marek Edelman on the set of the US-produced
Uprising movie, Bratislava 2000.
Photo by Ewa Nowicka
48
In 1972, Pirogow Hospital in Lodz created an intensive
therapy ward with Marek Edelman as its Chief doctor,
a position he held for the rest of his life. He was a great
doctor as recalled by his coworkers, friends and
patients, as well as people who opposed him. He took
part in the development of revolutionary methods of
surgical treatment of heart diseases. What he cared
about the most, however, was the sick person in need
of help. In the face of sickness, nothing else mattered
for him.
“God wants to put the candle down and I have to
quickly cover the flame when he isn’t looking. Let
it burn just a little longer than he intends,” he told
Hanna Krall in an interview conducted in the 70s.
After the publication of Krall’s book, Zdążyć przed
Panem Bogiem (Shielding the Flame), Edelman started
to publicly voice his opinions, including those regard-
ing political matters. First came his signature under
the “Letter 101” against the proposed changes in the
constitution of PRL in January 1976 and collaboration
with Worker’s Defense Committee (KOR), then the
co-founding of “Solidarity”. He often said that KOR
and “Solidarity” were an ideological continuation of
Bund. The purpose was the same: brotherhood and
social justice. His internment during the martial law
was met with protests all around the world and right
after his return from the prison he became the pillar
of Lodz underground movements and an important
figure of the democratic opposition in Poland. He
believed in “Solidarity”, he was a delegate for the