Medals for the Righteous presented in Warsaw
The medals were presented on behalf of the State of Israel by J. E. Anna Azari, Ambassador of Israel in Poland. She stressed in her speech that it was not without a reason that the ceremony was taking place on that particular day – the first day of Hanukkah. This is the holiday of light, of brightness which, as Ambassador Azari said, was symbolised by the Righteous in the tragic and dark times of the Holocaust.
The first among the awardees was Julian Kosk living near Drohiczyn. He provided shelter to 7 members of the Reznik Family whom he regularly supplied with food. On behalf of Julian Kosk, the medal was received by his children.
Other medals were awarded to Aleksandra and Władysław Czubek and Marianna and Czesław Kardasiewicz who helped Krystyna Winek and her newborn daughter Liliana by preparing appropriate documents and taking care of Liliana as if she had been their own child. The Kardasiewiczs’ daughter received the medal from Liliana and Ambassador Azari.
Rozalia Misztal was the last of the decorated persons. She rescued 6 years old Jana Krajterkraft from the Warsaw Ghetto. Thanks to false documents and aid from other people the small girl survived the war. The Ambassador of Israel presented the medal to grandchildren of the Righteous.
The ceremony was followed by lighting the first candle on the Hanukkah menorah, the candelabrum lit during the holiday of Hanukkah. The candles were lit by Rabbi Stas Wojciechowicz and Prof. Paweł Śpiewak, Director of the Jewish Historical Institute.
