The Righteous title

“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire” (Talmud)

The term “Righteous Among the Nations” applies to non-Jews who saved Jews from Nazi persecutors by risking their own lives. Its origin comes from the Talmud, in which “Righteous Men” were placed by God to preserve the world even though the rest of humanity was degenerated to total barbarism.

The title is awarded by Yad Vashem – The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Israel – since 1963. Till January 2008 22.216 men and women from 44 countries have been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. Even though in German-occupied Poland death-sentence was acted on everybody hiding Jews, the largest group of the Righteous, 6.066 people, are Poles.

Jarosława and Izydor Wołosiański were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations already in 1967, thanks to testimonies of the rescued who emmigrated to Israel. Due to the political situation, however, Wołosiański were not allowed to visit Israel at that time. Their tree in the Avenue of the Righteous in Yad Vashem has been planted by the rescued themselves.

Planting the tree in 1972 Sława with the tree in 1990s

Izydor has never seen his medal and the tree, since he passed away only four years later, in 1971. Sława was allowed to visit Israel for the first time only in 1984.

Sława Wołosiańska with her medal in 1984