Rescuers of Jews
Žvanska (Zwanska) Halina
HALINA ŽVANSKA (ZWANSKA)
Halina Zwanska lived in Vilnius with her mother Aleksandra Gurska. During the German occupation, a woman approached Halina's mother, asking her to save her five-year-old granddaughter, Miriam Griner (later Miriam Goldin), who was then being hidden in a labor camp.
When Vilnius was occupied by the Germans, the Griner family – father Faibish, his wife, and daughter Miriam – along with all the remaining Jews of Vilnius, found themselves in the Ghetto, and later, after the Ghetto was liquidated, they were transferred to a labor camp. In late March 1944, a Children's action was organized in the camp, but Faibish Griner managed to hide his daughter Miriam in time, and she survived. Aleksandra Gurska, who agreed to hide and care for the girl, carried her in a large pot used for washing laundry. This is how Miriam Griner ended up in Gurska's apartment, where she lived with her married daughter Halina Zwanska. Both women took care of the girl for four months, until the Red Army arrived on July 10, 1944. In his testimony to the Yad Vashem, Faibish Griner mentioned that at that time Miriam spoke only Yiddish, making the care even more challenging. Both of Miriam's parents survived, and after the war, the family stayed in Vilnius. In 1974, Miriam and her family moved to Israel.
The Zwanska family also saved a Jewish woman named Helena Verner, who approached them asking for hot water to warm up. Out of compassion, the family allowed her to stay in their home. For some time, both Jewish women hid in Halina Zwanska's house together. After the war, Helena Verner moved to Israel.
On January 11, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Halina Zwanska and her mother, Aleksandra Gurska, as Righteous Among the Nations.
Halina Zwanska lived in Vilnius with her mother Aleksandra Gurska. During the German occupation, a woman approached Halina's mother, asking her to save her five-year-old granddaughter, Miriam Griner (later Miriam Goldin), who was then being hidden in a labor camp.
When Vilnius was occupied by the Germans, the Griner family – father Faibish, his wife, and daughter Miriam – along with all the remaining Jews of Vilnius, found themselves in the Ghetto, and later, after the Ghetto was liquidated, they were transferred to a labor camp. In late March 1944, a Children's action was organized in the camp, but Faibish Griner managed to hide his daughter Miriam in time, and she survived. Aleksandra Gurska, who agreed to hide and care for the girl, carried her in a large pot used for washing laundry. This is how Miriam Griner ended up in Gurska's apartment, where she lived with her married daughter Halina Zwanska. Both women took care of the girl for four months, until the Red Army arrived on July 10, 1944. In his testimony to the Yad Vashem, Faibish Griner mentioned that at that time Miriam spoke only Yiddish, making the care even more challenging. Both of Miriam's parents survived, and after the war, the family stayed in Vilnius. In 1974, Miriam and her family moved to Israel.
The Zwanska family also saved a Jewish woman named Helena Verner, who approached them asking for hot water to warm up. Out of compassion, the family allowed her to stay in their home. For some time, both Jewish women hid in Halina Zwanska's house together. After the war, Helena Verner moved to Israel.
On January 11, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Halina Zwanska and her mother, Aleksandra Gurska, as Righteous Among the Nations.