Poland has returned 91 sacred Jewish artifacts stolen from Greece during the Holocaust, marking the first time the country has repatriated cultural property that was illegally taken from another nation. The items, including Torah scrolls, a Torah mantle and silver finials, were seized from synagogues in Thessaloniki by Nazi forces in 1941.

The objects were looted by a Nazi unit tasked with confiscating Jewish valuables and were later transferred to depots in occupied Poland. After the war, they were discovered in a castle and eventually housed at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, where they remained for decades.

The restitution followed years of research and advocacy, with a formal request from Greece submitted in 2024. Coordinated efforts between Greek and Polish authorities and the World Jewish Restitution Organization led to the transfer. The artifacts will now be displayed at the Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens.

The move comes as Poland continues to face criticism for lacking comprehensive legislation to address property seized during the Holocaust and later nationalized under communist rule. Advocates hope the return signals a broader commitment to historical justice and future restitution efforts.