Rescuers of Jews
Adina Segal
In 1941–1944, I was in the Kaunas Ghetto, together with my mother and my husband. By chance I got acquainted with Sofija Binkienė, the widow of a famous Lithuanian writer. During the first meeting she offered me help, whenever I might need it. When I would secretly run away from the ghetto, I would stay with Sofija Binkienė, who lived with her two daughters (one of whom was married and had a six-month old daughter, and another who was single). The daughters felt a sacred duty to help Jews. A few other Jews, who ran away from the ghetto, were hiding at her place. In the beginning of the war, when her husband was still alive (he had an incurable heart disease), they decided to help Jews, fearlessly risking their own life. During the entire war they helped Jews without any material remuneration, receiving only their gratitude.
For several months, before the liquidation of the ghetto, we were hiding at Binkis’ place. At that time, Dr. Ginkas, with his wife and a small child, was also hiding there. There was also Roza Stender with her daughter Margalit. In fact, there were more people whose names I do not remember. When the ghetto liquidation started, Sofija Binkienė walked around it to find hiding Jews and offer them shelter. In this way she saved Ester Golan, who now lives in Tel Aviv, and another young man, who lives in Lithuania. I do not remember his name. She shared her modest bread with all of us.
From Adina and Shmuel Segal’s testimonies to Yad Vashem on 6 May 1967
In 1941–1944, I was in the Kaunas Ghetto, together with my mother and my husband. By chance I got acquainted with Sofija Binkienė, the widow of a famous Lithuanian writer. During the first meeting she offered me help, whenever I might need it. When I would secretly run away from the ghetto, I would stay with Sofija Binkienė, who lived with her two daughters (one of whom was married and had a six-month old daughter, and another who was single). The daughters felt a sacred duty to help Jews. A few other Jews, who ran away from the ghetto, were hiding at her place. In the beginning of the war, when her husband was still alive (he had an incurable heart disease), they decided to help Jews, fearlessly risking their own life. During the entire war they helped Jews without any material remuneration, receiving only their gratitude.
For several months, before the liquidation of the ghetto, we were hiding at Binkis’ place. At that time, Dr. Ginkas, with his wife and a small child, was also hiding there. There was also Roza Stender with her daughter Margalit. In fact, there were more people whose names I do not remember. When the ghetto liquidation started, Sofija Binkienė walked around it to find hiding Jews and offer them shelter. In this way she saved Ester Golan, who now lives in Tel Aviv, and another young man, who lives in Lithuania. I do not remember his name. She shared her modest bread with all of us.
From Adina and Shmuel Segal’s testimonies to Yad Vashem on 6 May 1967