Righteous among the Nations honoured in Minsk

Every year on Nisan 27, which is April 21 this year, Israel and Jews all over the world mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Mourning ceremonies in memory of six million of European Jews exterminated during World War II are held all over the world on this day. The Righteous among the Nations, those who risked their lives during the Holocaust in order to save Jews, were honoured on this day in Minsk.

As informed by Radio Svaboda, today diplomats of Poland, Hungary, the Great Britain, Ukraine, the US Charge d’Affaires and representatives of the Belarusian society gathered in the museum of the Great Patriotic War. The ceremony started with lighting of memorial candles, a prayer and one-minute silence. There were mourning music and poems, ghetto prisoners recalled their experience.

Eduard Shapiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Belarus, said:

“This year the main topic of the Remembrance Day is children who died in Holocaust. 1.5 million children were killed in those horrible times. “Every person has a name, given by God and parents,” A Jewish poetess Zelda wrote. Every victim out of 6 million Holocaust victims had a name too…”

Every year the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority Yad Vashem bestows the title of the Righteous among the Nations to people of different nations. Those who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust are given this name. “Who saves one life, saves the world” are the words on the medal. The names of the Righteous are listed on the wall of honor of Yad Vashem; a tree is planted I honour of each righteous man.

This year two more Belarusian families were named the Righteous among the Nations. Syarhei, Ullyana and Mikalay Valynets from the village of Tsyntsevichy Asipovichy district rescued a Jewish family of Yastshomb from Vileyka. For 17 months the Belarusians hid Mark, a vet, and a pharmacist Rosa in a little hiding place. The Valynets are no longer alive. Their award was received by the granddaughter of Syarhei and Ullyana, Halina Eutushenka:

“When I read the letters of aunt Rosa to my grandmother, I understood that she was extremely grateful to her, she called her mum. She wrote: “You are my mother, as you have given me life too”. When I imagined how they, poor people, where sitting in a little dugout, which they left only at night; that wise, intelligent people were forced to hide there, it is awful. Such things shouldn’t repeat,” the woman said.

Kanstantisn Matsyukevich from Hrodna region was awarded a medal and a diploma posthumously. He hid Jews from Lithuania. Kanstantsin was betrayed by a traitor, and he was sent to forcible labour in Germany.

The president of the Union of Belarusian Jewish associations and communities Leanid Levin expressed gratitude to relatives of the Righteous among the Nations:

“Dear Righteous men! I am ready to kneel in front of you, as you symbolize all the 600 Righteous among the Nations in Belarus. You are the golden ears of our country. You are made of gold. You risked, you sacrificed everything to rescue one or a few Jews. The Jewish state does not forget about you. I am deeply convinced that the time will come when you will become heroes of our state. Thank you!”

Almost 600 Belarusians have been awarded with medals and diplomas of the Righteous among the Nations. But less then 50 are living now.