Rybak Anna

Rybak, Anna Anna Rybak, the daughter of a poor family, had worked as a domestic for the Kirszners of Przemyslany (Eastern Galicia) since she was a girl. Even after she married, Rybak remained on friendly terms with her former employers and proved loyal to them even during the occupation, when they were in distress. The Kirszners always knew they could rely on Rybak, and during Aktionen they called on her while they were in hiding and out of touch with the outside world. At the time of one of the Aktionen, Rybak concealed Mrs. Kirszner and her two children in her home, risking her own life and the lives of her three young children. After the ghetto was liquidated, Rybak offered Moshe Kirszner, her employer’s son, who had fled to the forest with his girlfriend Anna and a group of Jews, to dig a shelter on her premises and hide there. Kirszner accepted Rybak’s offer, prepared a bunker, and stayed in hiding for about two months with Anna and a young boy. Rybak took care of them devotedly and met all their needs. When Rybak’s neighbors became aware that she was concealing Jews in her home, the fugitives had to abandon their sanctuary and return to the forest, but Rybak continued to help them and assisted other Jews who were hiding in the forest. She opened her home to Jewish refugees and provided a temporary refuge for forest dwellers who came to stock up on food. Rybak sought no material reward in rescuing Jews and acted out of sincere friendship that withstood the perils of the time. On October 8, 1992, Yad Vashem recognized Anna Rybak as Righteous Among the Nations.