Jaroslawa Lewicka, Israel's final Righteous Among the Nations, dies at 91

Jaroslawa Lewicka, the last individual in Israel recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, died in Haifa on Tuesday night. She was 91 years old, passing away two months before she would have turned 92. Her death marks the end of a chapter for the city, which has been home to many survivors and rescuers since the mid-20th century.

Born in Poland in 1935, Lewicka was raised by her mother, Katarzyna, and her grandfather, Alexander Levitska. During the Holocaust, she began assisting her family in their efforts to save Jewish neighbors at the age of six. Her youth allowed her to move about with less suspicion, enabling her to deliver food and medicine while serving as a messenger for the group.

In 1943, the Lewicka family provided shelter to two Jewish individuals within their own home. Additionally, they supplied food to a larger group of Jews who were hiding in the basement of a destroyed building located approximately two kilometers from their residence. These acts of bravery laid the foundation for her later recognition by the State of Israel.

In 1989, Lewicka was officially honored as Righteous Among the Nations alongside her mother and grandfather. Five years later, in 1995, she immigrated to Israel. After becoming a citizen, she settled in Haifa, where she lived for more than three decades. Her personal story has been preserved in the book Only Red Candies, written by Maya Klinger-Cohen.

Lewicka remained an active figure in the Haifa community until recently. In January of this year, dozens of students from the Basmat School gathered at the Beit Gil HaZahav assisted living facility in the Kiryat Eliyahu neighborhood to celebrate her 91st birthday. This was the fourth consecutive year that the students organized such a celebration in her honor.

During the gathering, the students read greetings, sang songs in both Hebrew and Russian, and presented her with flowers and a cake. Lewicka expressed her gratitude for their dedication and shared her hopes for the future. She told the students, 'I'm happy that you're happy. I've always been happy to help Jews. The most important thing is that there should finally be peace in the world.'

The birthday celebration was part of the activities of the Haifa Municipality's Municipal Institute for Holocaust Studies. This institute works to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and honor the Righteous Among the Nations. It runs a joint program with the Rotary Moriah-Haifa Club and the Basmat School, through which students learn about the actions of rescuers and gather information to keep their stories alive.

Haifa holds a special place in the history of the Righteous Among the Nations, with eleven such individuals buried in the city's Latin Cemetery. The municipality has also established a dedicated garden in the Ramat Alon neighborhood to honor their memory and deeds. Lewicka's passing leaves a significant gap in the local community of survivors and rescuers.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav eulogized Lewicka, describing her as a symbol of courage, humanity, and kindness. He noted that at just six years old, she risked her life to save others during the Holocaust, proving that humanity can prevail over fear and evil. Yahav stated that her actions demonstrate that heroism is not defined by age or physical strength, but by the willingness to stand by others even at personal risk.

The mayor added that Lewicka was one of the rare individuals who chose goodness during a time when evil reigned. He said she leaves behind a moral legacy that transcends time and place. Yahav extended his condolences to her family and all who cherish her memory, promising that Haifa will continue to commemorate her story and pass her legacy on to future generations, particularly the youth.