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Jewish Rescuers Citation

Perhaps one of the least told stories of the Holocaust is the story of Jews who rescued fellow Jews. Jewish rescuers put their own lives in jeopardy to help other Jews escape the Nazi killing machine.

The B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem and the Committee to Recognize the Heroism of Jewish Rescuers During the Holocaust (JRJ) created the Jewish Rescuer Citation in 2011 to pay honor and respect to Jewish rescue of other Jews. B’nai B’rith had been involved in promoting the recognition of Jewish rescuers in other ways long before the citation’s creation.

The citation is also meant to show a side of Jewish reality during the Holocaust not often discussed in conversations about the Holocaust: that of Jewish resistance.

B’nai B’rith and JRJ have recognized some 175 rescuers who operated in France, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, Yugoslavia, Russia, Poland, the Netherlands and Lithuania.

​Thousands of Jews were saved by other Jews across Europe during the Holocaust. Many of these rescuers, rather than flee to ensure their own safety, chose to help other Jews escape. Forgery, smuggling and concealment were all called into play by scores of rescuers in their efforts to save fellow Jews.

​The stories of bravery have been remarkable. But many end with a version of this sentiment and gratitude: “I am standing here only because of you, Berta.” Those were the words spoken by a now-70-something citizen of Israel to Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn, who, in her early 20s, saved Jewish children in Budapest from certain death. At the ceremony in her honor in 2014, one of the children Berta rescued, Meir Brand, said he was hiding under a bridge in Budapest, barely alive, when Berta found him and became like a mother to him when he was just seven years old.

Want to nominate a Jewish rescuer for a citation? Click here to email B’nai B’rith World Center – Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider.


2021 Jewish Rescuers Citation Ceremony

The B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem and JRJ presented their joint Jewish Rescuers Citation in honor of 18 heroes at a moving virtual ceremony on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2021. The ceremony, which took place mainly in Hebrew (see here), included presentations by relatives of all of the recipients —in one case a span of four generations. Learn more about the recipients and watch the ceremony below.


Watch the 2017 Jewish Rescuers Ceremony

In July 2017, B’nai B’rith International held a ceremony in our New York City offices recognizing Jewish rescuers and their families. You can watch the complete program below.

Read their Stories:


Complete List of Jewish Rescuers

2021

  • Moshe Haim Bezalel Shapiro, Austria
  • Hanna Szenes, Hungary
  • Oskar Gluek, Lithuania
  • Vitka Kempner Kovner, Poland
  • William Bachner, Poland
  • Nachum Remba, Poland
  • Ruth Uzrad, France
  • Kaufmann Line, France
  • Rodolphe Furth, France
  • Wilhelm Filderman, Romania
  • Hubert Isaac Pollack, Germany
  • Henryk Goldszmit – Janusz Korczak, Poland
  • Stefa Stefania Wilczyńska, Poland
  • Maidenberg (Racine) Sacha, France
  • Maidenberg Maurice, France
  • Jarblum Marc Mordrhai, France

2020

  • José Aboulker, Algeria
  • Shalom Semion Zorin, Belarus
  • Jacob Gutfrajnd, Belgium
  • Sara Gutfrajnd, Belgium
  • Beate Berger, Germany and Austria
  • Verolme Hetty, Holland
  • Cassuto Itzack, Greece
  • Neuman Oscar, Slovakia
  • Emilka Kosover Rozencaig, Poland
  • Yosef Givon, Poland
  • David Liwer, Poland
  • Vladka Meed, Poland
  • Alina Brewda, Poland
  • Dawid Daniel Guzik, Poland
  • Zalman (Zenek) Hochman, Poland
  • Feretz Hochman, Poland
  • Yechiel Grinshpan, Poland
  • Einhorn Erna, France
  • Einhorn Arnold Arthur, France
  • Rachel Ida Lifchitz, France
  • Shulamit Roitman Einhorn, France
  • Jack Roitman, France
  • Leon Roitman, France
  • Simon Schwarzfuchs, France
  • Yitzhak Artzi, Romania
  • David (Dadu) Rosenkranz, Advocate, Romania
  • Fred Șaraga, Romania
  • Alexey (Eliahu) Bunimovich, Belarus

2019

  • Paul Halter, Belgium
  • Rabbi Eliyahu (Elia) Barzilai, Greece
  • David Gomes de Masquita, Holland
  • Prins Jansje Gomes de Masquita, Holland
  • Marga Grunberg, Holland
  • David (Dodè) Trocki-Muscnicki, Belgium
  • Dgani Shraga (Solomiansky Feivel), Poland
  • Hazan Bela Yaari, Poland
  • Aldo Tedeschi, Italy
  • Giuliano Treves, Italy
  • Wanda Lascar, Italy
  • Luciana Lascar, Italy
  • Gerda Meijer-Wijler, Holland
  • Harry Meijer, Holland
  • Fella Meiboom-Cajtak, Poland
  • Yaacov Segalchik, Poland
  • Odette Abadi, France
  • Moussa Abadi, France
  • Adeline Salome-Finkelstein (Dr.), Holland
  • Bernard Fenerberg, Belgium
  • David Ferdman, Belgium
  • Jankiel Parancevitch, Belgium
  • Jean Franklemon, Italy
  • Joseph Ziegler, Italy
  • Tobie Cymberknopf, Belgium
  • Pessia Kissin, Lithuania
  • Hans Kahlberg, Italy
  • Raffaele Cantoni, Italy
  • Nathan Cassuto, Italy
  • Matilde Cassin, Italy
  • David Rodrigues de Miranda (Dr.), Holland

2018

  • Ernest Appenzeler, France 
  • Rose- Chava (Leesha) Bornstein, Holland
  • Robert Reuven Gamzon-Castor, France 
  • Fabius Ornstein, Belarus
  • Esta Heiber, Belgium 
  • Maurice “Hache” Heiber, Belgium 
  • Isadoor Van Dam, Holland
  • Abush Werber, Belgium
  • Shifra-Sonia Werber, Belgium 
  • Miriam-Mania Zeidman, Poland
  • Israel Tabacman, Belgium 
  • Paulina Trotsky, Belgium 
  • Yvonne Jospa, Belgium 
  • Hertz, Ghert, Joseph Jospa, Belgium 
  • Leo Cohn, France 
  • Edward Laufer, Slovakia
  • Marc Levi, France 
  • Jeanne Latchiver, France
  • Georges Youra Livchitz, Belgium 
  • Anne-Marie Lambert-Finkler, France 
  • Ernest Lambert, France 
  • Abraham Manaster, Belgium 
  • Sig Menko, Holland
  • Sally Noach, France
  • Bejamin “Nestor” Nykerk, Belgium
  • Ida Sterno, Belgium 
  • Gerard Sanders, Holland
  • Henri Pohoryles, France
  • Abraham Polonsky, France 
  • Leopold Flam, Belgium 
  • Chaim Perelman, Belgium 
  • Fela-Fajga Perelman, Belgium 
  • Paula Kaufmann, France 
  • Marianne Cohn, France 
  • Adolfo Kaminsky, France 
  • Regine Ariane Knout, France 
  • David Knout, France 
  • Lazaros Elizabeth Knout, France 
  • Mila Racine, France 
  • Emmanuel Racine, France 
  • Erna Finkelstein nee Stern, Belgium 
  • Joseph Sterngold, Belgium 

2017

  • Walter Suskind, Holland
  • Hadassa Schneerson Karlibach, France
  • Rabbi Zalman Schneerson, France
  • Rebitzen Sara Schneerson, France
  • Ben Zion Kalb, Poland
  • Aaron Grunhut, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Hadassah Bimko-Rosensaft, Bergen-Belsen
  • Rachel Grunstein, France
  • Nelly Willer, France
  • Georges Loinger, France
  • Fanny Loinger, France
  • Liliane Lieber Klein, France
  • Theo Klein, France
  • Ines Cohn, Holland
  • Dr. Leon Cuenca, Greece
  • Dr. Gisella Perl, Romania
  • Shlomo Cohen, Hungary
  • Yeshayahu Gottlieb, Poland
  • Moshe Simon, Hungary
  • Adolf Burger, Slovakia
  • David Lavi, Hungary

2016

  • Hanna Oren, Hungary
  • Dr. Atchildi Asaf, France
  • Anschel Einhorn, Hungary
  • Joseph Eligoulachvili, France
  • Leon Eligoulachvili, France
  • Daizy Aruch, Greece
  • Yakov Beeri, Hungary
  • Moshe Bisseliches, Hungary
  • Haim Blau, Hungary
  • Avigdor Ben-Zev, Hungary
  • Jona Ben Tzvi, Hungary
  • Mordechai Ben-Zvi, Poland
  • Naftali Backenroth-Bronicki, Poland
  • David Bar Sela, Hungary
  • Hansi Brand, Hungary
  • Joel Brand, Hungary
  • Alexander Grossmann, Hungary
  • Joseph Dotan, Hungary
  • Simha Hunwald, Hungary
  • Hilel Hakohen, Hungary
  • Wolf Galperin, Poland
  • Haim Wiesel, Hungary
  • Betty Goudsmit-Oudkerk, Holland
  • Israel Wilfrid, Germany
  • Siney Cohen-Kattenburg, Holland
  • Harry Cohen, Holland
  • Ester Maestro, Greece
  • Marcel (Mangel) Marceau, France
  • Shmuil Pevzner Markowitz, Russia
  • Arie Funk, Hungary
  • Miriam Peleg, Poland
  • Tom Freiman, Hungary
  • Haim Tzur, Hungary
  • Lea Tzur, Hungary
  • Zion Kalb Ben, Slovakia
  • Anna Klein, Hungary
  • Wanda Rotenberg, Poland
  • Yakov Ronen, Hungary
  • Hella Rufeisen-Schupper, Poland
  • Tzvi Shahar, Hungary
  • David Stern, Hungary
  • Rabbi Schneerson Zalman, France

2015

  • ​Dr. Ungar Yehoshua (Sandor), Hungary
  • Rafi Benshalom, Hungary
  • Tamar Benshalom, Hungary
  • Yakov Hollande, Hungary
  • Judith Herbst, Hungary
  • Yitzhak Herbst, Hungary
  • Moshe Weiszkopf, Hungary
  • Eliezer Weisz, Hungary
  • Yehoshua Weisz, Hungary
  • Moshe Weisz, Hungary
  • Dr. Jacoby (Uzi) Emil, Hungary
  • Giora Leiner, Hungary
  • Miriam Amir, Hungary
  • Rabbi Moshe Shimon Pessach, Greece
  • Dan Zimmermann, Hungary
  • Yirmiyahu Kama, Hungary
  • Avraham Rone, Hungary
  • Razon (Jacko) Yaacov, Greece

2014

  • Efraim Agmon, Hungary
  • Seff Eisikovics, Hungary
  • Jonas Eckstein, Slovakia
  • Moshe Biedermann, Hungary
  • Hava Ben-Porat, Hungary
  • Joseph Ben-Porat, Hungary
  • Nahman Berko, Hungary
  • Neshka Goldfarb, Hungary
  • Tzvi Goldfarb, Hungary
  • Hanna Grunfeld, Hungary
  • Uri Hermann, Hungary
  • Yisrael Harai, Hungary
  • Shraga Weill, Hungary
  • Joseph Meir, Hungary
  • Jacob Maestro, Greece
  • Jacob Meron, Hungary
  • Hedva Szanto, Hungary
  • Shnuel Szanto, Hungary
  • Joseph Atzmoni, Hungary
  • Avraham Karni, Hungary
  • Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn, Hungary
  • Yitzhak Roth, Hungary
  • Miriam Roth, Hungary
  • Gyorgy Gyori, Hungary
  • Eliyahu Sagi, Hungary
  • Eli Shalev, Hungary

2013

  • Mihaly Ya’akov Adoram, Hungary
  • Ostrover “Donia” Dina, Ukranie
  • Pnina Blum, Hungary
  • Shoshana Barzel, Hungary
  • Ya’akov Diosi, Hungary
  • Vera Weisz, Hungary
  • Esther Vardi, Hungary
  • Yehuda Kahani Meir, Hungary
  • Yirmiyahu Lavi, Hungary
  • Judith Makai, Hungary
  • Ephraim Nadav, Hungary
  • Tzipora Nadav, Hungary
  • Yehoshua Neuwirth, Hungary
  • Mihaly Salamon, Hungary
  • Hanna Atzmon, Hungary
  • David Asael, Hungary
  • Benjamin Feigenbaum, Hungary
  • Avigdor Friedmann, Hungary
  • David Friedmann, Hungary
  • Aharon Zuckermann, Hungary
  • Prof. Kadari Menahem Tzvi, Hungary
  • Otto Komoly, Hungary
  • Avraham Kos, Hungary
  • Haya Kleinmann, Hungary
  • Klari Karni, Hungary
  • Noemi Revesz, Hungary
  • Peretz Revesz, Hungary
  • Rabbi Dr. Rosenbaum Pinhas, Hungary
  • Yitzhak Shalmon, Hungary

2012

  • ​Itai Josef – Yoshko Indig, Yugoslavia 
  • Zehava Arieli, Hungary
  • Dr. Alice Balazs, Hungary
  • Dr. Adonyahu Billitzer, Hungary
  • Eitan Guinat, France
  • Lili Guinat, France
  • Dr. Sandor Grozinger, Hungary
  • David Grunwald, Hungary
  • Hava Halevi, Hungary
  • Mordehai Weisz, Hungary
  • Margot Cohen, France
  • Sarah Kohavi, Hungary
  • Moshe Katz, Hungary
  • Shmuel Lowenheim, Hungary
  • Prof. Arie Levi, Hungary
  • Levi Yehuda, Hungary
  • Tzvi Nadivi, Hungary
  • Braha Fuksz, Hungary
  • Mordehai Fleischer, Hungary
  • Recha Freier, Yugoslavia 
  • Avigdor Freiman, Hungary
  • Eliezer Kadmon, Hungary
  • Dr. Moshe Konig, Hungary
  • Marta Revesz, Hungary
  • Yehayahu Rosenblum, Hungary
  • Lea Rosenblum, Hungary
  • Yitzhak Stern, Hungary
  • Dovi Shimon, Hungary
  • Judith Charody, Hungary

2011

  • Henni Birnbaum, Holland
  • Joschua Birnbaum, Holland
  • David Gur, Hungary
  • Eliezer Lev-Zion, France
  • Max (Nico) Leons, Holland
  • Denise Siekierski, France
  • Meir Friedmann, Hungary