Righteous Among the Nations
people involved in rescuing Jews from extermination during the Second World War, who were awarder with the Israeli Order of Righteous Among the Nations
World War II led to almost total annihilation of the Jewish population. According to statistics, more than 6 million people of Jewish faith (including 3 million Polish Jews) were killed during the war.
Fortunately, there was also a handful who managed to survive. The survivors often owed their lives to non-Jews - people not accepting to the omnipresent persecution and were ready to help no matter what the consequences.
In honour of those very heroic people, in 1963 a decision of the Israeli parliament established the Order - Righteous Among the Nations. The definition of Righteous ... comes directly derived from the Jewish tradition, referring to non-Jewish people, Gentiles with an outstanding virtuous and god-fearing attitude.
The order can be awarded to deserving individuals, families, organizations, and even cities that rescued Jews while risking their own health and lives, without expecting any compensation or material benefit in return.
The order quickly gained the status of the most important civil distinction intended for non-Jews. It is awarded by the Institute of Remembrance of the Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Besides a medal stamped with the recipient's own name, they are also awarded an honorary diploma together with a privilege to have their name recorded on the Wall of Honour in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem. Part of the medals are awarded posthumously. The awarding of the medal is preceded by an official ceremony held in Israel.
To date, the Order was awarded to representatives of over fifty nations. Poland is on the list in the honourable first place - at the moment it has been awarded 6620 orders. Connected with many of these people there are unusual stories, worth remembering and publishing.
One of the most famous Polish Righteous was Irena Sendler, who died in 2008. This Polish nurse and member of the Rada Pomocy Żydom (Council for Aid to Jews) saved during the Nazi occupation nearly 2.5 thousand Jewish children by placing them in foster families, orphanages and convents. Sendler was one of the first people awarded the medal. She received it in 1965.
A very different, unusual, although also much more tragic is the story of another Righteous - Henryk Sławik. The journalist and social activist ended up in Hungary during the war, where he organized help for newcomers from abroad, Poles and Jews. All of the destitute refugees received false documents, which facilitated their escape to the West. It is estimated that in this way Sławik helped save up to 30 thousand Polish refugees, including 5 thousand people of Jewish origin. Unfortunately, his work was discovered by Gestapo in 1944. Arrested, he accepted all the blame on himself, for which he was sentenced to be hanged. He was honoured posthumously with The Order in 1990.
Do you know?
- The medal of the Righteous Among the Nations bears an eloquent inscription that comes from Talmud - Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world.
- In exceptional cases, besides the order and the diploma awarded, non-Jews are also granted an honorary Israeli citizenship.
- The Righteous residing in Israel receive monthly financial support in the amount of the average national income. They are entitled to health benefits. Currently, this privilege is used by dozens of people.
