Some individuals from diverse nations and religions took great risks to aid Jewish neighbors despite widespread indifference or animus, earning recognition by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.
They aided Jews by hiding them, giving them false papers or visas, smuggling them across borders or simply showing kindness toward their fellow man.
Non-Jews Who Risked Their Lives
At a time when indifference was the norm, the Righteous stood up to defend human values. They demonstrated how people from diverse nations, backgrounds and faiths could all make an impactful statement about human dignity - and taught that doing the right thing never becomes too late.
During the Holocaust, non-Jews intervened on behalf of their Jewish neighbors to save them from different forms of persecution and discrimination. Their actions were grounded on the fundamental belief that all individuals are born free from oppression. Rescuers were comprised of various individuals, ranging from Christian and Muslim clergy members, high-ranking diplomats, businessmen, farmers and peasants residing across Europe - they lived in towns, villages, cities and remote regions alike. Some were highly educated while others lived on the margins of society, not having access to education and therefore living a precarious existence. Motives for saving Jews ranged from conversion to Christianity or protection as Christians to providing employment for Jewish children who were often taken from ghettoes and murdered, or simply saving their own lives.
One rescuer, Swedish police officer Hans Rosenberg was so moved by Maria's courage that he founded Yad Vashem to remember her and other victims of the Holocaust. A commission chaired by a Supreme Court justice then awarded him with official designation as "Righteous Among the Nations".
Yad Vashem's mission is to commemorate the Shoah through research, documentation and education. One program within this mission is the Righteous Among the Nations program, which honors individuals who risked their lives to assist Jews during the Holocaust. No other nation that experienced genocide established such an honor roll for its citizens to recognize their bravery and recognize them for it.
The selection process for the award is meticulous and involves an in-depth evaluation of rescuer stories by a committee, which then determines their plausibility against the circumstances of the Holocaust and their overall history. Once selected for honorary citizenship at Yad Vashem they receive a medal and certificate as well as their names added to Yad Vashem's Wall of Honor as appropriate.
Non-Jews Who Saved Jews
Yad Vashem has recorded the names of individuals deemed Righteous Among the Nations who, despite facing denouncement, imprisonment, or even death, rallied to uphold human values and rescue Jews despite knowing it could lead to denouncement, imprisonment or even death for doing so - because these fellow citizens fell within their scope of obligation.
Yad Vashem was established as the Holocaust memorial and museum in 1953 with one of its core objectives being to recognize gentiles who, without financial gain or other motivations, helped rescue Jewish lives from genocide during the Shoah. These individuals, known as Righteous Among the Nations by Israel, are honored with medals and honorary citizenship to the State. Additionally, their names will be immortalized on plaques at Yad Vashem Avenue of Righteousness.
Righteous among the Nations (RATN) recognition is not easily achieved; one must act to save Jews in various ways, from hiding them on their property to providing food, false documents or visas, helping smuggling or helping with escape attempts, and being part of rescue operations - some were famous, while many ordinary individuals chose to make the moral choice and often put their lives on the line in doing so.
Many Righteous were recognized in response to requests by Holocaust survivors who knew them or their families; however, some survivors struggled with reconciling their painful past and did not come forward; others lived behind the Iron Curtain and could not apply; while still others died before making such requests. Furthermore, Yad Vashem selected individuals based solely on what materials were available and does not always reflect the full extent of rescue efforts performed by them.
More than 26,120 individuals and groups from Europe as well as Asia and Africa have been recognized as Righteous among the Nations; among these are Lithuanian priests, German Wehrmacht soldiers, Polish housewives and French farmers.
Non-Jews Who Helped Jews
At a time of indifference or hostility, some non-Jews rose above it all to help Jews in need. Their courage and selflessness is remembered today; as is Yad Vashem's recognition program honoring these individuals for their heroic deeds - now known as Righteous among the Nations (Hebrew: Hassidei Umot HaOlam).
No other nation who has experienced genocide has established such a program to honor those who rescued its citizens - thus making Israel unique among nations that experienced genocide in this regard. Their heroes include Lithuanian priests, German Wehrmacht soldiers, Polish housewives and French farmers among many other peoples.
At their core, Righteous among the Nations were ordinary individuals who decided to defy convention and shelter Jews against their will against Nazi authorities' wishes. Living their daily activities undercover often put them in jeopardy of being detected.
Some were forced into it by the Nazis; others came to understand that exterminating Jews was a horrific crime and did not want to participate. These individuals often went against their families' wishes by refusing to be complicit, placing themselves at great risk; many became outcasts from communities and co-workers alike and were often required to live undercover, leading a dangerous existence.
At first, there were very few people recognized as Righteous by Yad Vashem; the criteria were rigorous. Many rescuers did not wish to be honored by Yad Vashem as some saw their wartime acts as ordinary and did not consider them extraordinary; others worried their story of helping Jews might be used against them in their home countries.
At Yad Vashem, the criteria for awarding the title "Righteous" was gradually relaxed over time and later reduced to "the ones who saved lives." Starting in 1963, public recognition for those who risked their own lives to save Jews was initiated and this continues today.
Non-Jews Who Saved Their Family
Righteous Among the Nations is an extraordinary effort. For one thing, victims of genocide created a category to honor those who stood by them during this most painful of times - like Lithuanian priests, German Wehrmacht soldiers, Polish housewives and French farmers in their Israeli Pantheon of Heroes. Additionally, Holocaust survivors can pay a lasting tribute to those who saved Jewish lives through this program.
Yad Vashem was established by Israel's Knesset (parliament) in 1953 as its authority to commemorate and memorialize six million Jews killed during World War II by Nazi Germany and its collaborators; honor those who fought against it; as well as recognize "high-minded Gentiles" who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews. Yad Vashem's mandate includes Holocaust commemoration, documentation, research and education - with Righteous among the Nation being an integral component.
Individuals recognized as Righteous among the Nations were typically selected at the request of their families or upon death; some survivors did not wish to deal with confronting their pasts and died before making such a request.
An individual seeking the title "Righteous among the Nations" must meet four essential criteria. First, they must demonstrate that their efforts were motivated solely by moral values rather than for financial gain; secondly, they should have taken steps to protect Jews during and after World War II; finally they must have provided genuine assistance to a Jewish family or group in need; finally they should have saved Jewish lives without regard for their physical or psychological well-being.
If these criteria are fulfilled, individuals or groups can receive a special minted medal, certificate of honor and plaque to plant at Yad Vashem in honor of those they helped. Furthermore, honorary citizenship of Israel may be bestowed posthumously upon such recipients.
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