Viksna Kristina

Kristina Viksna Eizenija Apoga Katrina Apoga Kristina (Tina) Viksna, born in 1889, resided in Riga. In the 1920s, she worked as a nanny at the family of Lemech and Esther Kleiman, taking care of their four children, the youngest of which, Isaak, was born in 1924. When the children grew up and had no more need of a nanny, Viksna found another job, but occasionally visited her former wards, taking interest in their social and educational development. Following the German occupation, the Kleiman family was forced to move into the ghetto, and lost contact with their non-Jewish acquaintance. Eighteen-year-old Isaak Kleiman accidentally met his former nanny only in 1943 – Viksna recognized him among Jewish workers in the street. During their short conversation, Kleiman told Viksna about the deaths of his mother and sisters, shot in the Rumbule Forest on December 8, 1941. His former nanny began to cry. Parting from Kleiman, she told him to memorize her address, just in case he ever needed her help. On August 14, 1943, Kleiman appeared at Viksna's tiny apartment after his escape from detention. Viksna was nervous: how could she hide the young man when there was not enough room for even another bed? However she welcomed Kleiman in – and later that day his friend, Benno Berman; the two had become separated after their escape. Berman had first gone to his prewar friends, but they refused to shelter him. With no other choice, he came to Viksna's apartment. After spending the night, they went out in search for a better hiding place. In the evening, Kleiman came back empty-handed. Berman never returned. Later they found out that he had been arrested and murdered. Through his former nanny, Kleiman became acquainted with Eizenija and Katrina Apoga, spinster sisters living in the same apartment building. The pious Seventh Day Adventists were already sheltering a three-year-old Jewish child, Josef Abramson, whom they called Seryozha and presented as a war refugeefrom Russia. The Apoga sisters strongly believed it was their sacred duty to help the persecuted. For 14 months, Kleiman was periodically hidden either by Viksna or the Apogas. Eizenija and Katrina treated him and little Josef equally, keeping in touch with other Adventists who were sheltering Jews as well. Their kindness and sincere belief in God influenced Kleiman deeply; at the end of the war he converted to Christianity and became an Adventist pastor. He kept in close touch with his rescuers until they passed away; Eizenija Apoga even lived with his family in her final years. Josef Abramson was reunited with his mother in 1945. On July 23, 2007, Yad Vashem recognized Kristina (Tina) Viksna, Eizenija Apoga and Katrina Apoga as Righteous Among the Nations.