Matulewicz Stanisław & Helena

Matulewicz, Stanisław Matulewicz, Helena In September 1943, David and Miriam Gerstein managed to escape from the transport that took the Jews of Vilna to a forced-labor camp in Latvia. They found temporary refuge in the home of Bronisław Krzyżanowski*, and he eventually moved them to the cabin of Stanisław and Helena Matulewicz, poor farmers who lived in the nearby village of Skorbuciany. Although they were not previously acquainted, the Matulewicz couple received the Jewish fugitives warmly, and giving them their full protection, arranged a hiding place for them in the attic of their cabin. Fearing that suspicious neighbors would inform on them, Gerstein and his wife remained in the hiding place without leaving it even once until the liberation by the Red Army in July 1944. Throughout the entire period of their hiding, Stanisław and Helena Matulewicz took care of all their needs without asking for or receiving any payment for their efforts. Stanisław Matulewicz visited them nightly in their hideout, bringing them food, removing their waste and bringing them news from the war front. Everything Matulewicz and his wife did for the Jewish fugitives was motivated by their deep love of humanity, which stemmed from their religious faith. They repeatedly maintained that they viewed the saving of human life as a commandment from God. After the war, the Gersteins moved to Canada and kept in touch with their rescuers through letters. On February 22, 1983, Yad Vashem recognized Helena Matulewicz and Stanisław Matulewicz as Righteous Among the Nations.