Grzegorczyk Władysław & Olga

Grzegorczyk, Władysław Grzegorczyk, Olga About eighteen Jews who escaped from the Drohobycz ghetto, in the Lwów district, before its liquidation in May 1943, owed their lives to Władysław and Olga Grzegorczyk. The rescue operation began in 1941 when the Germans occupied Drohobycz and the Fuchsbergs turned to the Grzegorczyks begging them to save their baby daughter, Zdzisława. The Grzegorczyks agreed, and registered the baby as their own. In time, Zdzisława was joined by two other children who escaped from the ghetto. The Grzegorczyks’ home soon became a transit point for Jewish refugees. Despite their straitened circumstances, the Grzegorczyks never turned anyone away but welcomed all newcomers and did their best to help them. In risking their lives to save Jews, the Grzegorczyks were guided by humanitarian considerations and their religious faith. Among the survivors who owed their lives to the Grzegorczyks were: Zdzisława Fuchsberg; Ignacy Zilberberg and his wife, Paulina; his sister Lola Zilberberg; Berta Stein; Paul Blum, his son Milek (Emil) and his daughter, Natalia and her future husband Daniel Hochman, who joined them in the hideout in April 1944; Dolek Reihort; Nurith Kleinberg; Elzner Kuba; Bumek and Malka Bakenrot; and a boy named Samek Fridland and Zdizslawa's sister, Mina Fuchsberg (later Shulamit Aloni). Shortly before liberation Paul Blum's wife, Maria (Miriam) nee Backenroth and her sister Luckia Backenroth (subsequently Baustein) were taken in by the Grzegorcayks shortly before liberation. In her testimony to Yad Vashem Shulamit Aloni (born in 1931 as Mina Fuchsberg) told Yad Vashem how after their parents were murdered, she remained alone with her brother who was two years older. They fled from the ghetto and went to Grzegorczyk, where their baby sister was already in hiding. Grzegorczyk first told them that there were already too many people hiding at his place, but then ran after them and told them that he would take them in. Knowing his sister was safe, Mina's brother decided to join the partisans, and the two siblings parted in tears. Grzegorczyk comforted the terrified girl and asked the brother to come and visit his sister. He came several times in the dark of night, until he was caught. The Grzegorczyks did not tell Mina that he was killed and tried to explain his absence. "They gave me the most important things: faith in Mankind, love and endless care, and my very life", wrote Mina-Shulamit to Yad Vashem. Zdzisława Fuchsberg was legally adopted by the Grzegorczyks after her parents perished, and stayed in Poland after the war. All the rescued Jews survived in hidign until the liberation in August 1944, and after the war, left Poland, mostly for Israel. In 1963, Olga Grzegorczyk and Zdzisława visited Israel. On September 21, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Olga and Władysław Grzegorczyk as Righteous Among the Nations.