Yatsyuk Mikhail

Yatsyuk, Mikhail Mikhail Yatsyuk, in his 40s, lived with his wife and two children in the town of Dubno, Wołyń (today Rivne District), where he owned a leather-processing workshop. In late May 1942, Josef Dajczman, a prewar acquaintance of Yatsyuk’s, asked him to employ his daughter Bracha and her friend Zahava Menis, both 19, in the workshop in the hope that Jews who worked would be spared. This was after the Aktion of May 26-27, 1942, in the Dubno ghetto, during which many Jews had been slaughtered, among them, Zahava’s parents Meir and Riwa. Yatsyuk agreed to hire the two girls, who joined the other Jews already working for him. Every morning, Bracha and Zahava left the ghetto for work and they returned there each night with the other Jews that had work permits. Yatsyuk was friendly towards his workers and he tried hard to raise their spirits. After some time, upon Yatsyuk’s suggestion, Bracha and Zahava moved into the attic of the workshop. In late September 1942, the ghetto for skilled workers was liquidated and Yatsyuk took his wards to his sister’s home, but she asked them to leave after only a short time and they returned to Yatsyuk. He dug a hole in the stable next to the workshop and he bribed the night watchman to guard them. Despite the constant fear of discovery, Yatsyuk continued to encourage his wards and he supplied them with food and took care of all their needs until the liberation, on February 9, 1944. No one, including his wife, knew about his efforts. After the war, Bracha Dajczman (later Engelman), and Zahava Menis (later Epel), sole survivors of their families, immigrated to Israel. On March 19, 1968, Yad Vashem recognized Mikhail Yatsyuk as Righteous Among the Nations.