30 righteous Poles honoured at special Warsaw event

 A special event was held in Warsaw to honour 30 Poles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

The group, some of whom are aged over 100, made their way to the capital on Sunday for a luncheon organised by Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR).

The rescuers have all been recognised as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial and museum.

More than 27,000 non-Jews risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis during the war, the most of any nation, but many have since passed away. “These righteous gentiles are dwindling in number, such that the JFR luncheon is likely to be among the last of such commemorations of its kind,” the organisation said.

The event was also attended by foreign diplomats, as well as religious and community leaders, who spoke at the gathering.

Israeli ambassador-designate Alexander Ben-Zvi and US Deputy Chief of Mission Bix Aliu, who is of Albanian heritage, both paid tribute to the rescuers’ extraordinary courage.

JFR vice president Stanlee Stahl said: “These are heroic people of exceptional character who risked their lives and those of their families to save Jews during the Holocaust. This special event is designed to recognise them and give them the proper honour they deserve.”

JFR is one of several organisations that provide monthly financial assistance to the Righteous in 18 European countries. The majority live in Eastern Europe, with Poland having the largest number.