Czajowska Franciszka

Czajowska, Franciszka During the occupation, Daniel Wajnryb was forced to hand over his barber’s shop in Kraków to Franciszka Czajowska, an employee of his. When the Jews of Kraków were incarcerated in the Podgórze ghetto, Czajowska hid Wajnryb, his wife, Helena, and daughter, Karolina, in a hiding place arranged for them in the barber’s shop. Later, Helena Wajnryb found shelter in the village of Zakrzów, while her husband and daughter stayed on in the barber’s shop. Czajowska, wearing an armband with the yellow star, also smuggled food into the Podgórze ghetto for Dr. Glassner and his daughter, Stanisława (later Stanisława Skimina). In December 1943, the Germans discovered the hiding place and arrested Czajowska and Wajnryb. Czajowska was deported to Ravensbrueck, the women’s concentration camp, while Wajnryb was executed. Karolina, who during the raid had been visiting her mother in the village, survived. In risking her life to save Jews, Czajowska was guided by humanitarian values, which overrode considerations of personal safety or financial considerations. After the war, Karolina Wajnryb (later Kościółek) remained in Poland and kept up ties with Czajowska. On September 4, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Franciszka Czajowska as Righteous Among the Nations.