Šleževičius Vladas & Šleževičienė Uršulė

Šleževičius, Vladas Šleževičienė, Uršulė The farmers, Vladas and Uršulė Šleževičius, lived in the village of Labūnava, near the town of Užventis, Kelmė region, with their young son, Adolfas. They were on friendly terms with the Katz family from the nearby village of Vidmantai. When the Germans occupied the area, the Šleževičiuses accepted Adela (Ita), one of the Katzes’ daughters, in their home providing her with false documents in the name of Terese Povilionytė. Adela lived with the Šleževičiuses throughout the entire period of German occupation, introduced to friends and neighbors as their relative. Adela’s brother Shalom Katz also found periodic shelter in their house, when his rescuers expected visitors or danger was in the air. In spring 1942, the Šleževičiuses agreed to give shelter to another four women, including Rachel Leshem (later Katzav), her mother-in-law, Liba Leshem, Esther Blecher (later Kreingel) and her mother-in-law, Musia Blecher. They were brought to the Šleževičiuses by Alfonsas Songaila* after their previous hiding place with Jadvyga and Petras Klimas* was no longer safe. For three months, the four women were hidden in a storeroom of the house, but when the neighbors learned of this and threatened to burn down the house, they were forced to leave. Once again, Songaila came with his cart and took them to the home of Bronislavas Černiauskas*. Despite the hostile atmosphere in the village, the Šleževičiuses continued to shelter Adela in their home, and other Jews would also spend a night there from time to time. On January 4, 1995, Yad Vashem recognized Vladas Šleževičius and Uršulė Šleževičienė as Righteous Among the Nations.