Djurković Aleksandar

Blendić, Nikola Djurković, Aleksandar Nikola Blendić had a small cottage in the mountains near the village of Jabukovac, about 30 km from Negotin, where he lived with his wife and made his living from growing fruit and wheat. His children were adults and no longer lived at home, but lived in the area. Nikola’s brother Djordje Blendić* lived on the other side of the same village, separated by a river. After the Germans conquered Serbia and the roundup of Jews began, Nikola heard that Žak Levi, a merchant from Negotin, was hiding in his brother Djordje’s home. One day, Nikola’s brother approached him with a request to shelter Levi’s wife and young daughter in his home while the Germans were looking for Jews and partisans in the area. When Nikola agreed, Mitra Blendić*, Djordje’s wife, brought Anka Levi and her four-year-old daughter Rina to his house. Mrs. Levi was pregnant at the time and was very concerned about how she would be able to deliver a child so far from doctors and from the hospital. One night in autumn 1942, she was ready to give birth. The Blendić women helped her through the delivery, and the newborn was named Djordje (later Gideon Levi). The next day, the mother and child had to escape again because the Germans were approaching. Nikola put the woman on her mattress, along with the newborn and Rina, in a cart, and headed to the other side of the village to the home of Djordje and Marija Popović*. The weather was stormy, the paths were covered in mud, and Nikola walked alongside the cart, paving the way for his wards and clearing any trees that blocked their passage. A few months later, Mrs. Levi and the children were moved to the village of Popovica, to the home of Aleksandar Djurković, a farmer. The Levis remained with Djurković close to a year, and throughout this time, Mrs. Levi helped with the household chores. Once in a while, various members of the Blendić clan paid them a visit to check if everything was well. In late 1943, danger loomedand the Levis, forced to find another hiding place, moved to the home of Ljubo Milenković* in the village of Štubik. On June 30, 1999, Yad Vashem recognized Nikola Blendić, and Aleksandar Djurković, as Righteous Among the Nations.