Jaschik Álmos

Jaschik, Álmos Álmos Jaschik, a resident of Budapest, was known for his work in a number of creative fields. He was a graphic designer, a book illustrator, a set designer for opera and theater productions, an essayist, and a pioneer of animated films. Above all, however, he was a great teacher and humanitarian. Jaschik devoted himself to saving Jews. He presided over a workshop in Budapest, where he groomed a new generation of artists. During the war, Jaschik’s studio became a center for forging documents, as well as a temporary hiding place for his students and for anyone who needed help. Veronique Hámor was 14 years old when she started to study with Jaschik. After her father died, Hámor looked upon Jaschik as a father figure. During the period of Arrow Cross rule Jaschik used his graphic talent to forge birth certificates and other papers for Jews. As Hámor later testified, some 35-40 Jewish families survived thanks to papers provided by Jaschik. Lilla Vámos de Grosz was another student at the workshop. After escaping from a death march, she turned to Jaschik for help. He provided her with a Christian birth certificate and transferred her to a monastery, where her life was saved. Marianne Leichter (later Barlow) was another Jewish woman saved by Jaschik. After the war, Veronique Hámor moved to Australia. She became a sculptress and dedicated her time to teaching young children, to honor the memory of her savior, Álmos Jaschik, who she described as “a man of pure heart, who endangered himself in order to save others.” Marianne Barlow also immigrated to Australia. Lilla Vámos moved to Argentina. On July 26, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Álmos Jaschik as Righteous Among the Nations.