Przewalska Maria ; Son: Przewalski Stefan

Przewalska, Maria Przewalski, Stefan In March 1943, during the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto, Janina Schrager (later Nina Vardi) was courageously smuggled out of the ghetto and brought to Warsaw. Using her father’s connections, the Jewish girl was handed over to the care of Maria Przewalska and her son Stefan Przewalski. Przewalski, a historian, lived with his elderly mother, and although they had never met Schrager before, they received her warmly and treated her as if she were a member of the family. To keep her safe, they warned the girl against leaving the house or even approaching the window, and did whatever they could to give her love and make her feel at home. Przewalski taught the Jewish girl all the subjects studied at school, so she will be able to continue her education after the war. Schrager remained with Przewalska and her son for a year and a half, until her mother came to claim her on the eve of the Warsaw Uprising, in the summer of 1944. After the war, Schrager renewed contact with her rescuers and kept in touch with them for many years, even after she left Poland and immigrated to Israel. Until her passing, Przewalska treated her like a granddaughter, and refused to accept any payment for saving her life during the occupation. On January 17, 1985, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Przewalska and her son Stefan Przewalski as Righteous Among the Nations.