Which answer correctly describes the individuals recognized as the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’?

The phrase ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ is an honorific used by the State of Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust throughout WWII (1939-1945). These individuals engaged in efforts to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis.

This term originates with the concept of ‘righteous gentiles’, a term used in rabbinic Judaism to refer to non-Jews, called ‘ger toshav’, who abide by the Seven Laws of Noah. The Seven Laws of Noah according to the Talmud, were given by God as a binding set of universal moral laws for the “sons of Noah”- that is interpreted for all humanity.

In 1953, the Knesset (supreme unicameral legislature of Israel) established Vad Vashem, an official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the Shoah Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority. One of its tasks was to commemorate the “Righteous Among the Nations”.

The award has been given without regard to the social rank of the non-Jew individual who assisted Jews during WWII. The individual receives a medal in his or her name, a certificate of honor, and the privilege of having their name added to those on the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashen in Jerusalem.

As of January 1, 2020, a total of 27,712 men and women from 51 countries have been recognized, amounting to more than 10,000 authenticated rescue stories.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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11 Comments

klmilles

Those brave, brave people risking death themselves for doing the right thing in the face of overwhelming apathy and cruelty. I am reminded of the story of the Hardaga family (Bosnian Muslims) who hid and helped a Jewish family during the war. Then, 50 years later, Bosnia fell apart and the Muslims were being persecuted. The Jewish family that had been saved reached out and rescued the Hardaga family, bringing them to Israel. Compassion knows compassion. We should all be so strong if, when, the day comes to test us.

Louella Wilson

I heard of this honour recently, after the death of Prince Phillip. His mother, Princess Alice, was afforded the honour in 1993 (or 94?). Her body had been earlier been moved from Windsor Castle to Jerusalem.

Howard Groopman

Excellent question and choices. Not difficult if you know the honor.

Richard D. Boyle

klmilles, Thank you for that story. It was a very good and appropriate story for you to share.👍✌️👌👏

Chris Brown

I have a French friend here in Wellington NZ who was a member of the Resistance Movement in France. She was one of the many who helped free those who were caught up in the Nazi machine. Some years after moving here, she was awarded the Légion d'Honeur by the French Government. She died in a car crash in the late 1970s.

dmarkc

So people hid Jews from certain death, but nobody knew what was going on?

Lynne Cohen

I visited the graves of those heroic individuals. May their memory be a blessing and the world never forget the horrors of the 11 million who were killed, 6 million of them Jewish men, women and children.

Ken Putnam

Alan Waites, An undocumented feature of this site that rears its head often

klmilles

Richard D. Boyle, Thanks. The Hardaga are considered members of the Righteous. All of the stories of courage by the Righteous available on line through the Yad Vashem website. Overwhelming.