Marianna and Józef Walczyński Honoured in Kielce

KJ, 16 November 2016
A ceremony took place in Kielce during which new Polish Righteous Among the Nations were honoured. The title was awarded to the late Marianna and Józef Walaszyński from Piekoszowa who, during the War, saved five Jews, escapees from the Kielce ghetto. The award ceremony took place on 4th July 2013 at the Municipal Offices, as part of the commemorations of the 67th anniversary of the Kielce pogrom.

Over two years, Marianna and Józef Walczyński hid five Jews in their home in Piekoszowa - brothers Dawid and Judek Bekierman, the Baum brothers and their cousin Mosze. In the winter, they hid in the basement, while in summer they hid in the attic. All survived to see the end of the War.

The certificate and medal was accepted by the Walczyński’s son Edward, and their great-grandson, Bartłomiej. Among those who attended the ceremony in Kielce was the son of Judek Bekierman, Manny Bekier, together with his family. Manny Bekier is President of the Association of Kielce Jews in New York.

The ceremony was one of the events, organised by the Jan Karsky Society, linked with the 67th anniversary commemorations of the Kielce pogrom, Researchers took part in a debate, prior to the ceremony, on the subject of “What Happened in Kielce After the War”. Following the ceremony, a traditional March of Remembrance and Reconciliation took place along the streets of Kielce.