Righteous Honoured in Warsaw

In the presence of Polish bishops and the families of the rescued and rescuers, two nuns were honoured – Sister Kornelia Jankowska and Sister Serafia Adela Rosolińska, as well as three priests – Father Mikołaj Ferenc, Father Antoni Kania and Father Jan Raczkowski.

The Sisters were honoured as Righteous on the evidence submitted by Joan Kirsten who, as a four year old child, was hidden in an orphanage run by the nuns in Suchedniow.

Father Ferenc and Father Kania aided, in turn, Ewa Trauestein-Turzyńska and her son Leon in Lwów. Father Ferenc took the woman and child into his own presbytery. Following his tragic death at the hands of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Ewa and Leon were cared for by Father Kania, a parish priest from Nowa Huta.

Father Jan Raczkowski was honoured for his commitment in coming to the aid of Jews in Otwock. Together with Father Ludwik Wolski (who was honoured a few years ago), he helped Jews find shelter and provided them with false birth certificates. Father Raczkowski was honoured on the evidence submitted by Hanna Pinkert-Langer.

Medal and certificates were accepted by relatives of the Righteous.

A few hours later, in Warsaw’s Nożyk Synagogue, a further six Righteous were honoured.

Czesława Dietrich and Zofia Sydry were honoured for help provided to the Pinkert and Wilner families in Otwock. The women helped Father Raczkowski and Father Wolski, who had been honoured earlier.

Stanisław Drabich helped Jews in Warsaw. He perished in 1943, the result of being denounced. One of those he saved, Marian Rosenbloom who travelled from the USA to attend the ceremony, had applied to have him honoured posthumously.

Maria Kaczyńska of Milanówka, contributed to the rescue of Joan Kirsten who, as a small child, together with her mother, ended up in Maria’s home. Later, after the tragic death of Joan’s mother, the little girl was moved to the Righteous sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus in Suchedniow.

Stanisława and Wacław Libera, from Biała Rawska, were honoured for saving a small boy, Mendel Gwiazdy (today Mel Goldberg). They took him into their home and hid him for many months. Mel Goldberg came from Canada to attend the ceremony honouring the Libera couple. The medal and certificate were accepted by relatives of the Righteous.