Białostocka Walentyna

Białostocka, Walentyna During the German occupation, Walentyna Białostocka’s Warsaw apartment served as a refuge for Jews on the run. Maria Bilewicz nee Wagman escaped from the Kolomyja and Lwow ghettos and arrived in Warsaw on April 20, 1943 – the second day of the ghetto uprising. The walls of the city’s houses were covered with notices prohibiting residents to extend help to Jews, and detailing the punishments for offenders. After attempting in vain – despite the forged documents in her possession – to rent an apartment, Maria was sent by an acquaintance to Walentyna Białostocka, who recommended her as though she were a long-standing acquaintance to a family who was seeking a maid. Maria remained in her employers’ house until the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. During the entire period of her stay she was assisted by Walentyna, who also helped other Jews to find refuge in the Aryan section of Warsaw. For a time, Walentyna sheltered a young Jewish writer by the name of Marcin Sarna and his sister. Sarna was later arrested by the Germans and executed, but his sister survived and remained in Poland. It is apparent from subsequent testimonies that a number of other Jewish fugitives were given refuge or assistance by Walentyna. These included two women from Chelm, who hid in her apartment; a lawyer named Weinryb, who lived next door to her until his arrest and susbequent execution; Mieczysław Nojar who was saved by her help, and Rysiek Radziejowski, who was caught in her house and executed. Walentyna was arrested and sent to the Ravensbrueck concentration camp, where she died in 1945, shortly before the liberation. Her actions were inspired solely by love for her fellow men, for which she sacrificed her life. On September 17, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Walentyna Białostocka as Righteous Among the Nations.