rescuers of jews
Dalia Striogaitė „Asmenybė, kuria didžiuojamės“
/.../ During the Nazi occupation, Šimaitė was shaken to the bottom of her soul by the devastating onslaught of evil: trampled humanity, humiliation of people and death sentence to the Jewish nation. She stood beside the condemned, tried to identify herself with them and did her best to help the suffering. She used to take food, medicine, mail and weapons to the Vilnius Ghetto, she saved children and provided the refugees with documents. She was the bearer of human kindness and hope to the martyrs of the ghetto. She was touched by the daily silent heroism of the ghetto residents and ability to create spiritual values in the face of death. She used to repeat that a human being cannot be defeated, that a human being has to remain a human being no matter the circumstances. Despite the risks, she worked as a kind of care and rescue centre for the Jews with the help of some of the university professors, friend writers and other Vilnius intellectuals. 1941-1943 were the years of great risk, tension and self-sacrifice: until the liquidation of the Vilnius Ghetto and afterwards until Šimaitė’s arrest.
Šimaitė not only saved the Jews, but also protected the valuables of their culture. Books were being destroyed, while the rare and valuable ones were taken to Germany. Hiding of the books, documents and manuscripts was of high importance. /.../
/.../ When honouring Šimaitė’s heroism we can not discount the fact that her actions always were in harmony with her words. She would say: “Even the smallest one can do big things.” A small and weak, but great-hearted human being upholding kindness and humanity stands against the nightmare, injustice and an armed system. Šimaitė’s deed is very womanly and motherly. Patient toil, distribution of self, saving of lives, love, care, strengthening of hope –only a Mother is capable of such a sacrifice. /.../
/.../ Ona Šimaitė is a simple and extraordinary person at the same time. In Paris she socialised with the diplomats of the Republic of Lithuania, famous scientists, artists and writers. But the ‘small ones’ – especially children and the sick – were the ones she loved the most.
She did not want any acknowledgments, honour or self-importance. Not even a grave was left after her death: by her own will, she gave her body for the students of medical researches to serve the cause of science.
Ona Šimaitė’s lifestyle, attitude and perception of the human existence are symbolic. It is a symbol of Humanity, Goodness, Love and Faith in Future.
From the Chronicle of the Vilnius University library. 2005
/.../ During the Nazi occupation, Šimaitė was shaken to the bottom of her soul by the devastating onslaught of evil: trampled humanity, humiliation of people and death sentence to the Jewish nation. She stood beside the condemned, tried to identify herself with them and did her best to help the suffering. She used to take food, medicine, mail and weapons to the Vilnius Ghetto, she saved children and provided the refugees with documents. She was the bearer of human kindness and hope to the martyrs of the ghetto. She was touched by the daily silent heroism of the ghetto residents and ability to create spiritual values in the face of death. She used to repeat that a human being cannot be defeated, that a human being has to remain a human being no matter the circumstances. Despite the risks, she worked as a kind of care and rescue centre for the Jews with the help of some of the university professors, friend writers and other Vilnius intellectuals. 1941-1943 were the years of great risk, tension and self-sacrifice: until the liquidation of the Vilnius Ghetto and afterwards until Šimaitė’s arrest.
Šimaitė not only saved the Jews, but also protected the valuables of their culture. Books were being destroyed, while the rare and valuable ones were taken to Germany. Hiding of the books, documents and manuscripts was of high importance. /.../
/.../ When honouring Šimaitė’s heroism we can not discount the fact that her actions always were in harmony with her words. She would say: “Even the smallest one can do big things.” A small and weak, but great-hearted human being upholding kindness and humanity stands against the nightmare, injustice and an armed system. Šimaitė’s deed is very womanly and motherly. Patient toil, distribution of self, saving of lives, love, care, strengthening of hope –only a Mother is capable of such a sacrifice. /.../
/.../ Ona Šimaitė is a simple and extraordinary person at the same time. In Paris she socialised with the diplomats of the Republic of Lithuania, famous scientists, artists and writers. But the ‘small ones’ – especially children and the sick – were the ones she loved the most.
She did not want any acknowledgments, honour or self-importance. Not even a grave was left after her death: by her own will, she gave her body for the students of medical researches to serve the cause of science.
Ona Šimaitė’s lifestyle, attitude and perception of the human existence are symbolic. It is a symbol of Humanity, Goodness, Love and Faith in Future.
From the Chronicle of the Vilnius University library. 2005