Seth Brysk, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Central Pacific region, was awarded the Officer Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in recognition of his service in building Polish American and Polish Jewish relations.

The consul general of Poland in Los Angeles,  Joanna Kozinska-Frybes, presented the award to Brysk on behalf of Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski in a private May 31 ceremony at the Polish Consulate in L.A.

Kozinska-Frybes nominated Brysk for the award, which was conferred upon request of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Brysk, who traces his family history back to Poland, visited the nation, meeting with members of government, the Jewish community and nonprofits fostering improved relations between Jewish and non-Jewish Poles.

“I was most struck by the ongoing rebirth of the Jewish community in Poland as part of the country reclaiming its democratic past,” he said. “It is a remarkable and inspiring transformation.” n