Cielecki Józef & Cielecka Maria

Cielecki, Józef Cielecka, Maria Before the German occupation, Józef Cielecki, an attorney, was a friend of the Izraelis. When the Izraelis were transferred from the Vilna ghetto to the nearby HKP camp (Heereskraftfahrzeugpark – military vehicles workshop), Cielecki kept up contact with them and helped smuggle food into the camp. Despite the danger, Cielecki visited the Izraelis in the camp, and tried to persuade them to escape and hide in the nearby forest. The Izraelis, however, were reluctant to abandon their elderly mother. In July 1944, when the camp faced imminent destruction, and its inmates were being deported to concentration camps, Perla Izraeli and her daughter, Miriam Koryska, escaped. Under cover of darkness, they made their way to the Cieleckis’ apartment, where Cielecki lived with his wife Maria and their four children. The Cieleckis gave the refugees a warm welcome, and arranged a hiding place for them in their house. Abba Kac and his wife were also among the lucky ones who managed to escape the transport to the death camps. However, Kac was injured while escaping, and lay in the woods, immobilized, while his wife refused to abandon him. When Cielecki was informed of their plight, he immediately went and brought the Kacs home and took Kac to hospital, amidst the street fighting following the Red Army’s entry into the city. In risking their lives to save Jews, Józef and Maria Cielecki were inspired by their Catholic faith and compassion for their fellow man. On November 6, 1986, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Cielecka and Józef Cielecki as Righteous Among the Nations.