ATZUM is deeply saddened by the death of Ivan Vranetic, 82 year old rescuer of Jews during the Holocaust who later moved to Israel and became chairman of the Organization of Righteous Among the Nations in Israel. His funeral was attended by family, friends, other rescuers and various public figures. ATZUM staff were in attendance and eulogized Ivan who we had worked closely with to bring aid to Righteous Among the Nations in need.
In 1942, Ivan began giving shelter to Jews in his native Croatia. Because his town of Topusko was on the German border, the Nazis frequently conducted raids which forced Ivan to escape to the forest with the Jews he was harboring. In Israel, Ivan took on the position of chairman of the Organization for Righteous Among the Nations and worked tirelessly to bring help and support to other rescuers who had also made their home in the Jewish state.
May his memory be blessed.
