The Righteous Maria Żurawska

, 16 November 2016
The Yad Vashem Institute has posthumously honoured Maria Żurawska for saving three Jews during World War II. Maria decided to help them despite the fact that, a year earlier, her husband was murdered for hiding Jews.

In 1943, Helen Haber, together with her mother Gettel and five year old daughter Julia, were hiding in the woods near Sasów, in the Lwów district of what is today Ukraine. Little Julia was injured and the harsh conditions in the woods made her return to health impossible. The women decided to seek help.

They turned to Maria whom Gittel knew by sight from before the War. They had stalls at the same market. Maria decided to take the women under her roof despite that, a year earlier, the Germans had murdered her husband Józef, as well as the four Jews hiding in the bunker which Józef had created especially for the purpose. Maria remained alone with five children .

Maria, with great commitment, took care of little Julia until she returned to health. After the War, the Lakritz family (Haber) left for the Dominican Republic, but the women remained in touch via mail until Maria died in 1996.

At the ceremony honouring Maria Żurawska, held on 17th January 2014 at the Yad Vashem Institute, the family of those rescued were present – Julia’s son and daughter who had flown in from the United States, Julia’s brother, as well as Maria’s family – her daughter, great-granddaughter and her great-great-granddaughter.

Source: PAP