New Righteous Among the Nations honored in Nożyk synagogue

Official medals of Righteous Among the Nations were given to Agnieszka Kaniut and Maria Kałuża, from Chorzów. Kaniut and Kałuża received the medals for taking care of the two young sisters, Ester and Tzipora Spiegel, during the war, making sure to hide them from the Nazi authorities, despite the risks and difficulties. The medals were given by Ester (now named Ester Gur-Arie) and Tsipora (now Tsipora Klang), and received in the name of the late Righteous by their children, Angelika and Eugen Kałuża.

Official medals were given as well to the late members of the Matacz family- Leokadia, Marianna, Stefan, Helena and Mieczysław, from Warsaw. During the war, these members of the Matacz family made a common effort to hide and take care of Ewa Feldsztein-Wasserman and her young son, Stefan, refugees who escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto. The medals were given by the boy, Stefan (now Stephen Felton), and received in the name of the late Righteous by their relatives.

The special ceremony was honored by the presence of the Ambassador of Israel to Poland, Mr. Zvi Rav-Ner, who assisted in the granting of the medals, and of students of “Alliance” high-school from Haifa, Israel. Touching speeches were given during the ceremony by the survivors, who shared with the audience their life story, and thanked the Righteous and their families.