69 years later, survivor meets her rescuer

Helena Weglowski (left) Mira Wexler (right) reunited after 69 years
Helena Weglowski (left) Mira Wexler (right) reunited after 69 years

NEW YORK (Press Release) – A Holocaust survivor met her rescuer for the first time in 69 years on Wednesday, November 26th, at JFK International Airport in New York. Mira Wexler and Righteous Gentile, Helena Weglowski of Poland, were brought together by The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) the day before Thanksgiving.

The Wexler Family owned a mill that was located on the farm of Florian and Maria Weglowski in the village of Stara Huta, Poland, (now in Ukraine) in a house where both families lived. After the war broke out in 1939, the area was first occupied by the Soviets. In June 1941, Germany invaded and later that summer, the Wexler family was forced into the newly created Ludwipol ghetto.

In late August 1942, Germans began the liquidation of the ghetto. When Mira’s father, Jacob, was killed by Germans, Mira’s mother, Chana, led the family in an escape from the ghetto. Chana, Mira, and Jacob Wexler’s brother, Joseph, made their way to the Weglowski farm, as the two families had been close for many years. Mira and Chana Wexler were taken in by Helena Weglowski and her family. Joseph Wexler, who had smuggled his wife out of the ghetto earlier, joined her at Florian Weglowski’s brother, Franciszek’s home.

It was too dangerous for Mira and Chana to stay with Helena and her family as the town knew of their friendship. For the next two years, Mira and Chana alternated hiding in the woods and the Weglowski farm. Helena and her brother, Stainslaw, would bring food to Mira and Chana in the woods.

Helena and Stainslaw put their own lives at risk to help Mira and Chana. If the Germans discovered the Weglowski family helping Mira and Chana Wexler they all would have been killed. Helena and her family also helped Mira’s cousins, Sam and Sylvia Weinstein, whose parents were killed in the liquidation of the Ludwipol ghetto.

After the war, Chana and Mira went to Brazil, while Joseph and his wife went to Canada with Sam and Sylvia. The Russians forced the Weglowski family to leave their home in Stara Huta. Maria and Florian Weglowski are now deceased. Helena and Stanislaw Weglowski live in Ilawa, Poland. Mira Wexler resides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“In the many years we have worked with survivors and their rescuers, I continue to be amazed by the heroism of the thousands of Christian rescuers who risked their lives to save Jews from certain death,” said JFR Executive Vice President Stanlee Stahl. “We owe a great deal of gratitude to these Righteous Gentiles, and through our work, hope to improve their lives and preserve their stories of heroism,” she added.
As it moves forward, the JFR continues its work of providing monthly financial assistance to more than 550 aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, living in 20 countries. Since its founding, the JFR has provided more than $34 million to aged and needy rescuers—”helping to repay a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Jewish `people to these noble men and women.”

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Preceding provided by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous