Righteous Gentiles
God’s Children
The term “Righteous Gentile” or “Righteous among the Nations” is used to name those non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The title is used informally as referring to anyone considered to be a savior of Jews, but it has an official role in the Israeli program of Holocaust remembrance, administered by Yad Vashem. The criteria established by Yad Vashem include the following: — “The rescuer ensured the survival of a Jew or Jews by extending aid to them when they were in danger of being killed or sent to a concentration camp; — The rescuer knew that he was risking his own life, freedom, and safety by acting to save the Jewish life; — The rescuer did not receive and did not expect any compensation for the aid he was giving; — The rescuer acted on his own initiative, and was directly involved and personally responsible for what he did; — The rescuer’s aid can be authenticated by eyewitness evidence and, whenever possible, by relevant documentation.”(Righteous). Everyone who attempted to rescue Jews was considered a criminal and put their life on the line to save the lives of others. Righteous Gentiles were not only brave, but were ultimate examples of the goodness still left in humanity. There are countless examples of these “righteous gentiles” throughout the Holocaust who went to extreme measures solely to save Jewish lives. The punishment for a righteous gentile who was caught in the act was different from country to country also. Although there are countless numbers of unrecognized righteous gentiles who gave all they had out of the goodness of their hearts, there are many that are widely renown for their heroic acts. Raoul Wallenberg is a wonderful example of a righteous gentile who inspired many others to stand up against the German army. Raoul had an army of people who “issued protective passports and housed Jews, saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives” “between July and December 1944”(THE RIGHTEOUS).
The term “Righteous Gentile” or “Righteous among the Nations” is used to name those non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The title is used informally as referring to anyone considered to be a savior of Jews, but it has an official role in the Israeli program of Holocaust remembrance, administered by Yad Vashem. The criteria established by Yad Vashem include the following: — “The rescuer ensured the survival of a Jew or Jews by extending aid to them when they were in danger of being killed or sent to a concentration camp; — The rescuer knew that he was risking his own life, freedom, and safety by acting to save the Jewish life; — The rescuer did not receive and did not expect any compensation for the aid he was giving; — The rescuer acted on his own initiative, and was directly involved and personally responsible for what he did; — The rescuer’s aid can be authenticated by eyewitness evidence and, whenever possible, by relevant documentation.”(Righteous). Everyone who attempted to rescue Jews was considered a criminal and put their life on the line to save the lives of others. Righteous Gentiles were not only brave, but were ultimate examples of the goodness still left in humanity. There are countless examples of these “righteous gentiles” throughout the Holocaust who went to extreme measures solely to save Jewish lives. The punishment for a righteous gentile who was caught in the act was different from country to country also. Although there are countless numbers of unrecognized righteous gentiles who gave all they had out of the goodness of their hearts, there are many that are widely renown for their heroic acts. Raoul Wallenberg is a wonderful example of a righteous gentile who inspired many others to stand up against the German army. Raoul had an army of people who “issued protective passports and housed Jews, saving tens of thousands of Jewish lives” “between July and December 1944”(THE RIGHTEOUS).
Cited: "The Holocaust." Holocaust History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. ""Righteous Among the Nations": History & Overview." History & Overview of the Righteous Gentiles. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. "“THE RIGHTEOUS GENTILES”." "The Righteous Gentiles" N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.