Honorary Consul

In May 2007, the Republic of Poland appointed businessman and philanthropist, Tad Taube, one of the Bay Area's distinguished civic leaders to represent Poland as an Honorary Consul in northern California.

Mr. Taube was born in Krakow, Poland, in 1931 and immigrated to the United States in the summer of 1939, just weeks before the outbreak of World War II. Taube has dedicated his life to efforts strengthening the civic and cultural life in both the United States and Poland and to building a close connection between the two.

Taube’s designation is the second significant honor conferred upon him by the government of Poland. In 2004, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski awarded Taube the Commander’s Cross, the second highest civilian medal for foreigners, in recognition of his tremendous contribution to his native country.

At his induction ceremony in October 2007, Mr. Taube was officially welcomed by Janusz Reiter, the (former) Ambassador of Poland to the United States and by Paulina Kapuscinska, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles. "As a highly regarded entrepreneur and philanthropist, Taube will be a great asset for Poland. He represents the best in the American experience: the more you have, the more you share," Reiter said.

"I am truly honored to accept the title of Honorary Consul of Poland and to serve as a conduit for the good will between the people and the leaders of both my native and my adopted countries," said Consul Taube.

Poland's Foreign Minister, Anna Fotyga, also recognized Mr. Taube for his central role in preserving and celebrating Poland's Jewish heritage and history through the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture's Jewish Heritage Initiative in Poland, a philanthropic program established in 2003.

Mr. Taube has spearheaded the efforts to preserve and celebrate Jewish heritage and history, primarily through his leadership in Warsaw's planned Museum of the History of the Polish Jews and the Jewish Historical Institute, as well as the Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow.

Outside of his Jewish communal work, Mr. Taube has served as a trustee of the Hoover Institution for over 20 years, where his major achievements include archival acquisition of Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe archives, and a joint archival project with the Polish State Archives, achieved in cooperation with the Polish government.

As Honorary Consul, Mr. Taube is empowered to represent the government of Poland in the United States in the same capacity as a professional consular officer. The position is strictly honorary and Mr. Taube has no visa, passport, or document legalization duties. All such questions and inquiries should be addressed to the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles:

address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 555, Los Angeles, California 90025

telephone: +1 310 442 8500.
fax: +1 310 442 8515
e-mail: la.polishconsulate@msz.gov.pl
website: https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en