New Righteous Honoured in Wrocław

Over a period of two years, in the village of Gruszówka near Kowel in Wołyn, Maria and Władysław Kotowscy helped more than twenty escapees who were hiding in a nearby forest. In the beginning, they provided food to their friends, the Berenholtz family. Over time, they helped other Jews who were hiding there. During manhunts organised by Ukrainian collaborators, the Kotowski family hid the Berenholtz family in the barn.

After the War, the families lost contact with each other. Two of those rescued, at that time just boys, Reuven (Rubin) and Ben (Berl) Barenholtz, decided to locate the Kotowski family and applied to Yad Vashem to have them honoured. In the name of the now deceased Maria and Władysław Kotowski, the Medal was accepted by their grandson, Stefan Kotowski.

Teresa Burza-Wilczkiewicz was honoured with the title of Righteous Among the Nations for help given to Ignacy (Izaaki) Sturm and his granddaughter, Julia Wittal. Before the War, Teresa worked for Ignacy as a housekeeper. She knew his entire family who, every Friday, would come to celebrate Shabbat. When war broke out, the majority of the family ended up in the ghetto. Ignacy hid in the attic of his home. Soon, he was joined by his 4 year old granddaughter, Julia.

Teresa cared for both of them. The conditions under which they hid were particularly difficult as German soldiers had moved into the ground floor of the building. Teresa become their carer. In secret, she cooked for them and brought them food. Despite many dangerous situations, Ignacy and Julia survived until liberation by the Soviet army.

After the War, the little girl was taken to Australia and Ignacy married Teresa.