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Genia Pajak’s “Righteous Among the Nations” document
Israel, 1983
Genia Pajak was a Polish woman with three children who earned a living during the war smuggling food into the Bedzin Ghetto in Poland. This is how MHM Guide, Kitia Altman, came to know her. In July 1943, shortly before the Bedzin Ghetto was liquidated, Genia offered to hide Kitia. Kitia asked if she would consider hiding her young cousin, Tamara (Marusia) Cyngler, instead. Even though she did not know the child, Genia agreed. Despite the danger Genia organised for Tamara to be hidden in different locations in and around Bedzin for the rest of the war.
In 1985 Kitia acknowledged Genia’s selfless actions by nominating her to be recognised by Yad Vashem as a ‘Righteous Among the Nations’.