23 May 2008 First World ORT project in Poland after 40 years World ORT and The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation have partnered with the Lauder-Morasha Jewish School in Warsaw to install a state-of-the-art digital multimedia language laboratory at the school the first ORT project in Poland since 1968. Work has started on creating the laboratory at the school, which was founded by The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in 1994. The laboratory will be fully-equipped with 12 enclosed study workstations for students and one for the teacher. This is an excellent school with particularly high standards in the humanities and social sciences, said the Head of World ORTs Coordination Department, Vladimir Dribinskiy. However, the school has asked for our support in modernising its technological facilities. World ORT is happy to help maintain the schools competitive edge, which in turn will serve to attract even more Jewish students. The laboratory will have computers loaded with all the necessary network and educational software for the study of Hebrew and English as foreign languages, as well as microphones and a set of speakers and headphones. English and Hebrew books and instructional CDs, DVDs and CD-ROMs will also be provided. Effective English language tuition is more important than ever if students are to be able to exploit the career opportunities opened up by Polands membership of the European Union, and a good grasp of Hebrew is essential to fostering a strong Jewish identity, Mr Dribinskiy said. The project in Warsaw where World ORT will be holding its General Assembly next month is the latest example of the highly successful cooperation that World ORT has enjoyed with The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova. The Jewish community in Poland is experiencing something of a revival after a century of unimaginable suffering, Mr Dribinskiy said. We hope that this project at the Lauder-Morasha School presages greater cooperation with The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation for the benefit of this historic and highly deserving community. World ORT was active in Poland between the wars and, by 1936 had 18 day schools, 28 workshops for adults and 20 craft course. During World War II, ORT operated workshops in the Warsaw Ghetto which closed only days before its destruction. ORT returned to Poland in 1957 but was thrown out a decade later as part of an official antisemitic campaign.