Jastrzębska Maria (Sobertin); Son: Jastrzębski Bogdan

Jastrzebski, Bogdan Jastrzebska, Maria The friendship between Bogdan Jastrzebski and Krystyna Geisler, two youngsters from Czestochowa, began already in 1940, before the Jews of the town were interned in the local ghetto. Even after Krystyna was incarcerated in the ghetto, her friend, Bogdan, continued visiting her there, and despite the danger, kept up regular contact with her. In October 1942, during the liquidation of the ghetto, Krystyna and her father, Arnold Geisler, were deported to a labor camp (Julag) not far from Czestochowa. Bogdan helped father and daughter escape from the camp and provided Arnold with “Aryan” documents. After Bogdan’s mother, Maria, gave him money to cover his basic needs, Arnold made his way to Warsaw where he survived the war. Krystyna was taken in by Bogdan and his mother, who looked after her devotedly and sent her to stay with friends in Czestochowa at times of particular danger. In the winter of 1943, Bogdan accompanied Krystyna to Warsaw, and obtained “Aryan” documents for her, which enabled her to find work as a nanny on an estate in the village of Radonie, near Grodzisk Mazowiecki, a small town near Warsaw. She stayed there until the area was liberated in January 1945. After the war, Bogdan and Krystyna married, and settled in Czestochowa, their native town. Krystyna’s father, Arnold passed away in 1972. On June 6, 1993, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Jastrzebska, and her son, Bogdan Jastrzebski, as Righteous Among the Nations.