Szepelowski Władysław & Szepelowska Stanisława ; Son: Władysław ; Daughter: Grell Jadwiga (Szepelowska); Daughter: Jakubowska Janina (Szepelowska)

Szepelowski, Władysław Szepelowska, Stanisława Szepelowski, Władysław Jakubowska-Szepelowska, Janina Grell-Szepelowska, Jadwiga In May 1943, after losing her entire family in the Kopyczynce ghetto (Tarnopol district), thirteen–year-old Yaffa Rafaeli was left alone with no source of support. To ease her plight, Yaffa decided to sell objects in the house where she remained, and for this purpose, she invited Władysław Szepelowski, a farmer and occasional merchant. While Szepelowski was visiting her apartment, Germans surrounded the dwelling and began an Aktion. Without a moment’s delay, Szepelowski grabbed Yaffa, placed her in his cart, covered her with sacks, and took her to his home, where his entire family decided to protect and conceal her. The participants in this rescue effort, taken in disregard of the family’s dire economic circumstances and the mortal danger associated with sheltering Jews, were Władysław Szepelowski, his wife Stanisława, and their children Janina, Władysław, and Jadwiga. Although the Szepelowskis were in touch with a group of Jews hiding in the nearby forests, they did not allow Yaffa to join them out of fear for her fate. Yaffa stayed with the Szepelowskis until the Red Army liberated the area on March 23, 1944. Everything they did to rescue her was motivated by altruism; remuneration was not a consideration. After the war, Yaffa Rafaeli moved to Israel but stayed in touch with the Szepelowskis. On March 23, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Władysław Szepelowski and his wife, Stanisława Szepelowska as Righteous Among the Nations. On June 7, 1983, Yad Vashem recognized their son, Władysław Szepelowski, and their daughters, Janina Jakubowska, née Szepelowska, and Jadwiga Grell, née Szepelowska, as Righteous Among the Nations.