Righteous Among the Nations Bella Liper: 1917-2012

ATZUM is saddened to announce the passing of Bella Liper, a Righteous Among the Nations and all-around extraordinary individual who lived in Haifa for over 60 years.

Here is her story:

Bella Liper was born in 1917 in Kiev, Ukraine as Valentina Yakimova.

As the only girl among five children, Bella was pampered by her parents and enjoyed a very happy and comfortable childhood.  In school, Bella met Luvka Liper, a Jew from the area.  Later, they married and finished their education together. In 1941, Bella gave birth to their first daughter, Hanna.

When the Nazis reached Bella’s hometown, all of the Jews were ordered to gather in the ghettos.  Bella decided to smuggle her husband out of the ghetto and hid him in her room. Soon, they realized that this arrangement was unsafe and they looked for a new hiding place.  They decided that Luvka would hide in the storage area below the house, a large space created between the ground and the floor by the house’s wooden support beams.

As time passed, several members of Luvka’s extended family came to Bella for help. Without a second thought, she welcomed each of them warmly and hid them in the hiding place below her house. After three weeks, there were seven people under Bella’s care. Bella kept them all safe and well-fed until 1945, when the Russian soldiers had conquered the area.

After the Russians took over, the Germans were forced to escape.  As they retreated, they burned everything within 300 meters of the railroad tracks to ensure that no one would attack the German trains and they would have a clean getaway.  Because Bella’s house was located next to the railroad, the whole group, including Bella, Luvka, their baby and Luvka’s extended family, was forced to escape and find refuge elsewhere.  After traveling a great distance by foot, the group happened upon a safe house.  They stayed there until 1948, when Bella, Luvka and little Hanna immigrated to Israel.

In Israel, Luvka was immediately drafted to the army.  Bella settled down in a little apartment in Haifa, where she gave birth to her second child, a son.  After Luvka was released from the army, the family bought a new house and lived a peaceful life in Haifa.

A few years ago, Luvka passed away, and Bella moved into an apartment in Kiryat Eliezer.  Though she missed Luvka, she was never alone – her big loving family, including actual family members and her extended ATZUM family, visited her all the time.

On Friday, July 13, Bella passed away at the age of 95.  She was laid to rest by family and friends at the Old Haifa Cemetery. 

May her memory always be a blessing for the Jewish people and a constant reminder of the humanity within us all.

Yael Rosen
Project Coordinator, Righteous Among the Nations

 

ATZUM Mourns Ivan Vranetic

Ivan VraneticATZUM 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.

ATZUM Organizes Gathering of Righteous Among the Nations

Righteous Among the Nations gathering organized by ATZUMOn Dec. 28th, ATZUM organized a luncheon for Righteous Among the Nations living in Northern Israel. The gathering was in lieu of the annual meeting of Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel, organized by the Tel Aviv municipality and Bank Leumi which many rescuers from the North had been unable to attend due to the distance and their failing health.

The luncheon was held at the Nagish cafe run by physically, emotionally and mentally disabled people. It is part of a social volunteer project organized by Righteous Among the Nations, Esther Boissevain-Grinberg.

The participants came from Haifa, Nazareth Illit, Tivon and Karmiel and
enjoyed a three course meal and the chance to visit with one another. Esther shared with the group the background of the cafe and the steps towards its establishment. ATZUM’s Russian speaking field worker, Raya, translated Esther’s address, as well as the opening and closing remarks, into Russian for the rescuers that do not understand Hebrew.

It was a wonderful gathering – bringing together honorable, remarkable people in a very special setting.

The Human Spirit: Lunch with the Righteous

Jerusalem Post
January 7, 2010

By Barbara Sofer

Esther Grinberg-Boissevain On the patio of Nagish Café, a blind man is drinking coffee with a friend who has arrived in an electric wheelchair. Inside, I’m having lunch with the Righteous Among the Nations, a group of women who all risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. We’re in Ramat Yishai, a small town in the Jezreel Valley, emerald green this winter from abundant rain.
Righteous Among the Nations..

Over the past weeks, the probability that we will need to release so many of our malevolent enemies to free Gilad Schalit has weighed heavy on us. In addition, I’ve just finished reading Operation Last Chance, Ephraim Zuroff’s biographical account of his work as a Nazi hunter. Despite the worthy cause, too often mass murderers of our people have succeeded in living out their lives without having to face justice.

In contrast to those evil persons, I am privileged to be surrounded by these living examples of righteousness and valor. A voluntary organization called ATZUM has initiated the gathering. Officially recognized Righteous Among the Nations are entitled to citizenship in Israel. Over the decades since World War II, 100 rescuers have taken advantage of this right and have moved here. Many have passed away, but currently the country is home to a surviving 29 rescuers and nine widow/ers of surviving rescuers. They were youngsters when their parents stood against the tide of anti-Semitism, risking their children to save strangers. [Read more…]

Rescuer Who Saved Rabbi Lau Honored as Righteous Among the Nations

A righteous gentile was added to the honored list of Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem last week. The righteous rescuer, Feodor Mikhailchenko, was posthumously honored for saving the young life of the past chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Rabbi Lau was a young child when he was separated from his family and incarcerated in Nazi Germany’s Buchenwald concentration camp.

Mikhailichenko was a Russian prisoner of war who shared the same barracks as Rabbi Lau. He took young Lau under his wing and tried to secure him food and clothing whenever possible. Rabbi Lau had tried unsuccessfully to locate Mikhailichenko through the years. Not knowing his last name was a huge obstacle in his search. This past year, Rabbi Lau, who now serves as the chairman of Yad Vashem, was notified that a Holocaust researcher in the U.S. had found his rescuer. Unfortunately Mikhailichenko passed away in 1993 but he is survived by two daughters who remember their father telling them about the young Jewish boy he took care of in Buchenwald.

Mikhailichenko’s daughters attended the ceremony at Yad Vashem last week that honored their late father as a Righteous Among the Nations. Rav Lau was emotional when he spoke about the person who saved his life. Pointing to his son and grandchild, Rabbi Lau stated that neither would be here today if not for Mikhailichenko.

Rav Lau has always been extremely supportive of the Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel. With his help, a special plot in the Tel Aviv Kiryat Shaul cemetery was allocated for Righteous Gentiles. Several of the righteous rescuers whom ATZUM assisted were buried there. The memorial in the middle of the plot quotes the Jewish source that states: “Righteous Among the Nations have a place in the world to come”.

A new righteous gentile was added to

the honored list of Righteous Among the

Nations at Yad Vashem Holocaust

Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance

Authority in Jerusalem last week. The

righteous rescuer, Feodor

Mikhailchenko, was posthumously

honored for saving the young life of the

past chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yisrael

Meir Lau.

Rabbi Lau was a young child when he

was separated from his family and

incarcerated in Nazi Germany’s

Buchenwald concentration camp.

Mikhailichenko was a Russian prisoner

of war who shared the same barracks as

Rabbi Lau. He took young Lau under his

wing and tried to secure him food and

clothing whenever possible.

Rabbi Lau had tried unsuccessfully to

locate Mikhailichenko through the years.

Not knowing his last name was a huge

obstacle in his search. This past year,

Rabbi Lau, who now serves as the

chairman of Yad Vashem was notified

that a Holocaust researcher in the U.S.

had found his rescuer. Unfortunately

Mikhailichenko passed away in 1993 but

he is survived by two daughters who

remember their father telling them about

the young Jewish boy he protected in

Buchenwald.

Mikhailichenko’s daughters attended the

ceremony at Yad Vashem last week that

honored their late father as a Righteous

Among the Nations. Rav Lau was

emotional when he spoke about the

person who saved his life. Pointing to his

son and grandchild Rabbi Lau stated

that neither would be here today if not for

Mikhailichenko.

Rav Lau has always been extremely

supportive of the Righteous Among the

Nations living in Israel. With his help, a

special plot in the Tel Aviv Kiryat Shaul

cemetery was allocated for Righteous

Gentiles. Several of the righteous

rescuers whom ATZUM assisted were

buried there. The memorial in the middle

of the plot quotes the Jewish source that

states: “Righteous Among the Nations

have a place in the world to come”.

Anton Polischuk ז”ל

We are deeply saddened to inform you that Anton Polischuk, grandson of  Righteous Among the Nations Viktor Polischuk’s, passed away July 7th at Hadassah Ein-Kerem in Yerushalayim. Over the past few weeks Anton’s condition deteriorated drastically despite Hadassah staff’s untiring, wonderfully directed and remarkably devoted efforts to restore Anton’s remission to enable a bone marrow transplant. The aggressive return of his cancer was uncontainable and Sunday Anton knew his death was approaching.

After fighting so hard for many years and especially the last five months he was able to find the final strength and courage to say goodbye to his fiancé and mother at his bedside. They are returning home to Ukraine with his body and ATZUM has arranged that final journey for Anton.

We wish to express our gratitude to those who generously contributed to this struggle to try to save Anton’s life. His unanticipated five month hospitalization and surgeries, intensive care treatments and chemotherapies were made possible by your caring. By so doing you honored the last wish of his heroic Righteous Rescuer grandfather; afforded his family the assurance they did all possible for their only child; brought support to his fiancé; and allowed Hadassah to gain crucial experience with a course of treatment that may well help save the life of a bone marrow transplant patient in the future.

Update on the Condition of Anton Polischuk

ATZUM is deeply grateful for the generous contributions we have received to date to assist our efforts in trying to save the life of Anton Polischuk, grandson of Righteous Among the Nations, Viktor Polischuk. ATZUM has raised $69,760 of the $97,000 required for Anton’s medical costs.

Anton is in treatment at Hadassah Hospital, Ein-Kerem in Jerusalem. After an extensive search worldwide, a suitable bone marrow match and willing donor were located. Unfortunately, in the interim Anton’s leukemia unexpectedly returned. Hadassah’s hematology and bone marrow transplant departments are making valiant efforts to restore his remission and then proceed with the bone marrow transplant. Together with you we pray for Anton’s speedy recovery.

Urgent Plea for help to save a life

When Righteous Among the Nations rescuer Viktor Polischuk discovered his grandson Anton had leukemia, he turned to ATZUM for help. Viktor, together with his family saved Jews during the Holocaust. Now his grandson is critically ill and needs a life saving bone marrow transplant.

ATZUM is reaching out to raise the funds needed to try to save Anton Polischuk’s life. We cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to a grandfather who risked all to save a Jewish family and allow future generations to come to life.

Read a translation of the article published in Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharanot about ATZUM’s efforts to  save a life .

To make a tax deductible contribution see:

http://atzum.org/contribute/

Please mark your contribution for “Anton”.

Righteous Among the Nations, Ivan Vrantetic, Meets the Pope in Jerusalem

Ivan Vranetic meets the Pope

photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

On May 11th, Righteous Among the Nations Ivan Vranetic met Pope Benedict XVI at the Yad Vashem Hall of Remembrance in Jerusalem.

A Catholic born in Yugoslavia, at the age of 17, Ivan saved the lives of over 20 Jews in his home town. In 1963 he moved to Israel and in 1970 was honored by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance as a Righteous Among the Nations for his part in saving Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Ivan serves as the chairman of the Organization of the Righteous Among the Nations in Israel.

ATZUM is in touch with Ivan on a daily basis, visits him regularly and has catered to a variety of his needs. When speaking to groups about Righteous Among the Nations, ATZUM always shares Ivan’s story as a sample of true heroism and inspiration.

Upon meeting the Pope this week in Jerusalem, Ivan stated that he was deeply moved and honored by the opportunity to meet the pontiff.  He added, “I want the Pope to bring peace to the world. I have always wanted peace all my life. That is why I did what I did.”

Ivan was only a teenager when he put his life on the line to save the lives of escaped Jews who had found their way to his town. Ivan was rarity in a town that largely supported the Nazi-allied militia. Ivan found hiding places for these Jewish escapees as well as securing for them food and other necessary items.

For many years Ivan remained in contact with the holocaust survivors that he rescued. Included in these contacts was a woman that he rescued. He eventually married her in Israel 20 years after the war.

Ivan says that it is hard to understand what it was like during the Holocaust years for someone who didn’t live through that time. He remains greatly disturbed that so much racisim still exists in the world.

When asked what made him risk his life to save others, he cited the upbringing his parents gave him. He was not just driven by a religious obligation to do the right thing, “it was something else”, Ivan explains.