Yesterday, May 14, was marked as the Day of Remembrance of Ukrainians who rescued Jews during World War II. The memorial date was set by a special Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as a sign of respect for Ukrainian rescuers, their compassion and solidarity.
Ukraine ranks 4th in the world in the number of Righteous Among the Nations. At present, 2,659 Ukrainians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust are honored with this high award.
The history of many Ukrainian – rescuers and people, who were rescued is studied at “Tkuma” Ukrainian Institute for Holocaust Studies and Museum “Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine”. The result of research work is holding international scientific conferences on this topic, monographs publishing, reference books, publications, memoirs of rescuers and rescued.
Together with the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, a program was implemented to name the streets of settlements in the region in honor of Ukrainians – the Righteous Among the Nations. Thanks to this project, 14 new street names appeared on the map of our region, in particular 2 in Dnipro.
As part of a partnership with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, “Tkuma” Ukrainian Institute for Holocaust Studies and Museum “Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine” are participating in the Portraits of UA project. It is dedicated to Ukrainians who rescued Jews from extermination during World War II. The aim of the project is to record and publish as many stories of rescue and names of the Righteous Among the Nations as possible, to preserve examples of their humanity in historical memory.
Currently, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine together with “Tkuma” Institute is preparing a digital project “Righteous Among the Nations. Ukraine “, which will be presented in the nearest future.