Oldest surviving “Righteous Among Nations,” who saved Jewish boy, dies age 101

The oldest surviving person to bear the title of Righteous Among the Nations, Anna Kozminska, died at the age of 101, Poland’s Institute for Remembrance has said. She was to be buried at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.

Kozminska was believed to be the be oldest living person recognized by Yad Vashem for rescuing Jews during the Holocaust. She would have turned 102 in May.

Last year presidents Reuven Rivlin of Israel and Andrzej Duda of Poland sent birthday greetings to Kozminska, praising her in separate letters for her courage in risking her own life to help Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

Anna and her stepmother Maria Kozminska took in 8-year-old Abraham Jablonski in 1942 and sheltered him for three years. They also helped rescue three other Jews.

The Kozminskas took good care of Jablonski, whose eyesight was fading, taking him for walks and ensuring he continued with his education, according to the Institute for Remembrance. 

They were able to keep the boy safe from the Germans even though their home was searched at one point.

After the war ended, Jablonski moved to Israel where he told of his salvation by Anna and Maria. Nearly fifty years later he located Anna Kozminska in Warsaw and convinced her to write her memoirs. At Jablonski’s initiative, both Anna and Maria Kozminska were honored in February 1991 by the Yad Vashem Institue as Righteous Among the Nations.

Grazyna Pawlak, Jablonski’s niece, gave Kozminska an album with photos of the family for her birthday last year.

In addition to being honored by Israel, Kozminska was awarded Poland’s Medal of the Centenary of Regained Independence in 2016 for her efforts to save Jews.

related

Subscribe to EJC newsletter

Get EJC's bi-weekly newsletter, including the latest statements and news from the European Jewish communities, direct to your inbox.

European Jewish Congress will use the information you provide on this form to contact you. We will treat your information with respect and will not share it with others. By clicking Subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Statements

European Jewish Congress calls on EU and UN leaders to cease its one-sided Israel bashing that has direct consequences for Jews in Europe

“The constant flow of Israel-bashing by senior leaders in the EU and the UN with little to no criticism of Hamas terror is clearly the main contributory factor to huge growth in antisemitism recorded by all European Jewish communities since October 7 last year,” said EJC President Dr Ariel Muzicant.