Szymon Symcha Szurmiej (18 June 1923 − 16 July 2014) was a Polish actor, director, and general manager of the Ester Rachel Kamińska and Ida Kamińska State Jewish Theater in Warsaw. He was a director of the Yiddish Theater of Warsaw.[1] Since July 2004, he has been an honorary citizen of Warsaw.[2] Member of the World Jewish Congress.

Szymon Szurmiej
Szymon Szurmiej celebrating Purim in 2009
Born(1923-06-18)18 June 1923
Died16 July 2014(2014-07-16) (aged 91)
NationalityPolish
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1951-2014
SpouseGołda Tencer
ChildrenDawid Szurmiej, Jan Szurmiej, Lena Szurmiej, Małgorzata Szurmiej
Parent(s)Jan Szurmiej
Ryfka Biterman
AwardsFor Merits to Culture - Gloria Artis
Grand Cross Order of Polonia Restituta
Commander's Cross with Star of Polonia Restituta
Officer's Cross of Polonia Restituta
Knight's Cross of Polonia Restituta
Gold Cross of Merit
Officer's Cross of the Order Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Biography

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Szymon Szurmiej was born on 18 June 1923 in Lutsk, Volhynian Voivodeship as a son of Polish father Jan Szurmiej and Jewish mother, Rebeka (Ryfka) née Biterman. Szurmiej debuted as an actor in 1951 at the Polish Theater in Wrocław. In 1969 he moved to Warsaw, where he has become a general manager of the Jewish Theater.[3] Szymon Szurmiej was a member and activist of different Jewish organizations in Poland and world.[4]

In 2007 Polish writer Krystyna Gucewicz-Przybora wrote a Szurmiej's biography. Szymon Szurmiej died on 16 July 2014 in Warsaw.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Yiddish Theater Director Szymon Szurmiej. Accessed on 13 May 2014.
  2. ^ Szymon Szurmiej - Honorowy Obywatel Warszawy; Polish. Accessed on 13 May 2014.
  3. ^ Historia Teatru Żydowskiego; Polish. Accessed on 13 May 2014.
  4. ^ Szymon Szurmiej biography; Polish Archived 2011-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on 13 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Szymon Szurmiej nie żyje" (in Polish). 16 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
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