Heger Adam & Maria (Nakoneczna)

Heger, Adam Heger, Maria During the liquidation of the Mielnica ghetto, in the county of Borszczow, in the Tarnopol district, Ita and Ester Apfelbaum’s parents died. After escaping from the Aktion and wandering at length through villages and fields, they reached the village of Germakówka near Borszczów, where Adam and Maria Heger, friends of their parents, lived. At dead of night, the Jewish refugees knocked on their door, and after being given a warm welcome and fed, they were hidden in the Hegers’ attic. Despite the danger to themselves and their baby, the Hegers, guided by compassion and humanity, looked after the sisters and saw to all their needs. As devout Catholics, they considered it their duty to tie in their lot with that of their two charges. After the war, the survivors immigrated to the United States, while the Hegers moved to an area within the new borders of Poland. On January 26, 1994, Yad Vashem recognized Maria and Adam Heger as Righteous Among the Nations. File 5955