Leżeńska Maria & Leżeński Jerzy ; Son: Leżeński Cezary

Leżeński Jerzy Leżeńska Maria Leżeński Cezary The Jewish Henner family and the Polish Leżeński family who lived in Poznań, had been close friends for many years. After the annexation of Poznań (renamed Posen) to the German Reich in September 1939, the two families were forced to leave the city and became refugees in Warsaw. The Henner family -- the mother Klara and her two young daughters, Waldyna and Irena -- were in an extremely difficult situation. They were destitute and did not know the city. Jerzy Leżeński took them under his protection in their distress, brought them into his family and decided to take the place of the father who had not returned from the front. Initially, the two families lived together and he did not let them enter the ghetto that was established in November 1940. Subsequently, he gave them reliable forged "Aryan" documents, found work for Klara and lodged them at different times with acquaintances in Warsaw and its surroundings. When problems arose, they always found shelter again in the Leżeński apartment, where they received emotional and financial support. The mother, Maria Leżeńska, a doctor by profession, treated them medically whenever necessary. When Waldyna Henner was arrested by an extortionist Polish policeman, Jerzy Leżeński came to her rescue and paid for her liberation despite his family's own difficult financial situation. In May 1944, Jerzy was murdered by the Gestapo and his 14-year old son Cezary took over responsibility for the Henner family. Even during the Warsaw Uprising of August 1944 in which Cezary fought, he continued as liaison between the two families. The Henner daughters, who survived the terrors of the war thanks to the devoted help of the Leżeński family, never forgot their dedication. After the war, when Maria Leżeńska was in need, the Henner daughters helped her as a matter of course. These ties of friendship continued without interruption for decades. On January 2, 2000 Yad Vashem recognized Jerzy and Maria Leżeński and their son Cezary Leżeński as Righteous Among the Nations. File: 8774