RACZYNSKI, Shoshana (1921-2007) widow of Stefan Raczynski (1921-1995)
Stefan Raczyński, who lived with his family in the village of Wegelina, in the Vilna district, was superficially acquainted with Jews in the nearby town of Niemenczyn. In September 1941, after the massacre perpetrated by the Germans and Lithuanians against the local Jews, Jewish fugitives began turning up at Raczynski’s home, asking for help. Stefan and his family helped the Jewish refugees to the best of their ability, and provided them with food and a temporary hiding place. Stefan’s mother even looked after a baby which a Jewish woman had abandoned on her doorstep. Thanks to her rescue work, her home became known as “the home of Abraham, the patriarch.”
In 1942, Raczyński became acquainted with Shoshana Dezent, a young Jewish woman from Vilna, who was hiding under an assumed identity in the surrounding villages, working in peasants’ homes as a casual laborer. Dezent, who had lived in a town all her life, found it hard to adapt to village life. Fearing for her safety, Raczyński decided to protect her, and whenever she was in difficulties, arranged for her to stay with acquaintances of his in the nearby villages.
In the spring of 1944, armed Polish nationalists, suspecting Dezent of being Jewish, attacked her and beat her almost to death. Raczyński immediately summoned the local priest, who testified that Dezent was not Jewish, thereby saving her life. Following this incident, Raczyński took Dezent home and looked after her until the area was liberated. After the war, Raczyński decided to tie in his lot with the Jews, and married Dezent.
In 1960, the Raczyńskis immigrated to Israel with their two children. Both were very involved with the plight of the rescuers who chose to live in Israel and Shoshana served as vice president of the Organization of Righteous Among the Nations in Israel.
On June 28, 1966, Yad Vashem recognized Stefan Raczyński as Righteous Among the Nations.
