"Righteous Among the Nations" or "Righteous Gentile" is the name given to non-Jews who aided and saved Jews during the Holocaust. They are people who had the courage to care for others, and most certainly risked their lives for the sake of what was right. There were Righteous Among the Nations in every country under Nazi occupation; in total about 14 000 people. Some ask the question why so few became Righteous Among the Nations, while others ask why so many?

It was certainly much harder to save Jews during the Holocaust than to kill Jews, and hiding Jews was harder and more dangerous than any other activity. Those who chose to do so displayed monumental bravery, although they generally see nothing unique in their behaviour and usually speak of luck and miracles. They discount notions of heroism and make light of risking their lives and the lives of their families. They asked nothing in return and often say they wished they could have done more. Our faith in goodness and humanity is renewed by the deeds of these exceptional people, who identified with the Jewish victims of Nazi injustice and were not mere bystanders. They remind us that individuals do make a difference.

Since 1953 in Israel the Righteous Among the Nations have been recognised, honoured and rewarded, in accordance with Israeli law. Yad Vashem, the National Holocaust Remembrance Authority, gives a special medal to people identified and proved to have been Righteous Among the Nations. Often a rescued Jew informs Yad Vashem about their saviour and once the facts have been checked and the person established as being a Righteous Among the Nations, he or she is invited to plant a tree at the central memorial museum in Jerusalem. To date Yad Vashen has honoured over 8000 Righteous Among the Nations, but this figure is far from complete as many people's actions have never been reported.

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