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.
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
2019
2018
2017
2016
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2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
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