Last Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel, dies at 91

Jaroslawa Lewicka, the last Righteous Among the Nations living in Israel, died Thursday at the age of 91.

As a young child in Nazi-occupied Poland, Lewicka risked her life to smuggle food and medicine to Jews facing persecution, using her schoolbag to evade German and Ukrainian guards.

Lewicka and her mother and grandfather were officially recognized by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem in 1989 for their efforts to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Born in Poland, she immigrated to Israel in 1995, became an Israeli citizen and settled in the northern city of Haifa.

The term Righteous Among the Nations refers to non-Jews from various countries who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav paid tribute to Lewicka, praising her efforts and the lives she helped save.

“Thank you, Jaroslawa, on behalf of the State of Israel, the Jewish people and the generations who were able to live thanks to people like you,” Yahav stated in his eulogy.

“Haifa was fortunate to be your home for more than 30 years. We were fortunate to have you,” the mayor continued. “We will continue to tell your story, educate others through it and honor your memory."

The Haifa Municipality also called on residents to attend Lewicka’s funeral at the Darchei Shalom cemetery in Tel Regev.

Lewicka was born in 1935 in Zloczow, a small city that is today in Ukraine. She grew up with her mother, Katarzyna and grandfather, Aleksander. When Nazi German forces occupied the city in 1941, the family began smuggling food and medicine to local Jews who were facing severe restrictions.

At just six years old, Lewicka served as a messenger for her grandfather, carrying supplies in her schoolbag and evading German and Ukrainian guards.

One person she helped was a Jewish boy named Jurek, who later changed his name to Yoram Miron. Lewicka brought him food while he was living in the city's Jewish ghetto. According to the Israel advocacy organization StandWithUs, she continued to maintain contact with Jurek after her grandfather moved him between various hiding places outside the ghetto.

The Lewicka family also provided food to approximately 25 Jewish refugees hiding in a ruined building about 2 kilometers (around one mile) from their home, according to the Haifa Municipality.

Despite the considerable risks, Lewicka later recalled that she had never been afraid to help her Jewish friends.

“I wasn’t afraid of anything,” Lewicka said in a 2022 interview with Ynet News. “My Jewish friends had nothing to eat, so it was important to me to take care of them."

Before her death, Lewicka lived in an assisted living residence. In January, students from Haifa’s Bosmat school visited her for her 91st birthday, bringing a cake and flowers and singing songs in Russian and Hebrew.

“I am happy that you are happy. I was always happy to help Jews. The most important thing is that there should finally be peace in the world,” Lewicka told the students, according to the Haifa Municipality.