On the afternoon of Sunday, 26 April 2026, the Tempel Synagogue in Kraków’s Kazimierz district hosted a moving concert of gratitude titled The Saved: “They saved our lives and preserved our faith in humanity.” The event honored the Righteous Among the Nations—those who, during the Holocaust, found the courage to say no to hatred and risk everything to save others.

The concert was conceived and organized by Kuba Rympel, a member of our community who has long been dedicated to honoring the Righteous by commemorating their deeds in many meaningful ways.

The guest of honor was Ms. Janina Rościszewska—one of the last three Righteous still living in Kraków. The families of the Righteous were also in attendance.

The evening was attended by distinguished guests, including Ms. Gretchen Cureton, Consul General of the United States in Kraków; Ms. Valentyna Kuźmin, Vice-Consul of Ukraine; Ms. Kirsten Mahnicke, wife of the German Consul General; and Mr. Cédric Peltier, Consul General of France, who was accompanied by his wife.

The ceremony was opened by Helena Jakubowicz, Chair of the Board of the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków, who began with the words: Whoever saves a single life saves the whole world…

She then welcomed the guests, noting that their presence lent the ceremony a special international dimension and served as a reminder that the memory of the Righteous transcends national borders, languages, and cultures.

These words are not merely a metaphor. Behind every life saved stood others—children, grandchildren, and an entire future that could exist only because someone had the courage to reach out and help. The Righteous did not ask about nationality, religion, or background. They were guided by something deeper—a moral impulse of the heart that told them no human being should be left alone. In a world where an entire system sought to strip people of their dignity, they preserved it—quietly, without recognition, often in secrecy.

She concluded by saying that today’s concert is not only an act of remembrance, but also a commitment. Memory cannot remain passive; it must lead to responsibility—for one’s words, for another human being, and for the world we help to shape.

Inviting the audience to listen to the concert, Helena Jakubowicz said:

May the music we are about to hear today become the language of this remembrance—a language that reaches deeper than words. May it express gratitude, but also pose a quiet question to each of us: what choices would we have made?

And finally—may it serve as a bridge. Between the past and the present. Between people of different nations, cultures, and religions. Just as today, when we are gathered here together.

May the memory of the Righteous not remain only a recollection of the past, but become a light for the future. For the world truly changes when one person has the courage to save another.

The evening was enriched by a performance by Jaga Wrońska and The Klezmers in the concert ZIKARON – MEMORY – Gems of Jewish Song.

Thank you for joining us in paying tribute to the Righteous Among the Nations.