Righteous Among the Nations. Those who did not fear death became immortal

Tauras Budzys, Barbora Karnienė, Alfredas Simonavičius: "Righteous Among the Nations. Those who did not fear death became immortal"

From our history, people look back at us who, quietly and without any personal gain, did what was right. They risked everything – not only their own lives but also the lives of their loved ones. These are the Righteous Among the Nations. Their morality was stronger than fear, and their determination to help others became a quiet but meaningful resistance to evil.

In the exhibition "Righteous Among the Nations. Those who did not fear death became immortal," we invite you to get to know 45 people from Lithuania who have been awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations. These are people who, during the Holocaust, while not being Jewish and seeking no reward, saved Jews from persecution and death. This honorable status is granted by Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel. The criteria that the Righteous must meet are very strict, which is why not all Jewish rescuers known in Lithuania have been granted this title.

Righteous Among the Nations were of various ages, professions, and social backgrounds. Jews were saved by both a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl and a seventy-five-year-old president. Providing help during the German occupation was one of the most dangerous actions. In Lithuania, it carried the threat of death not only for the rescuer but for their entire family. However, they chose conscience over silence, action over fear.

The idea for the exhibition arose from a desire to thank those who saved humanity in Lithuania. It is a continuation of the "Remembrance of the Righteous" project, which has been running since 2018. The goal of the project is to cherish the memory of Lithuania's Righteous Among the Nations: to mark their graves with uniform memorial signs, record burial sites, and share their stories and information about the graves on a special website.

Every year, on March 15th, commemorating the Day of the Rescuers of Lithuanian Jews, the exhibition is updated with new names and stories. When one miller from Samogitia heard that help was needed, he replied: "Let us all contribute to good deeds." This "all" was enough for 24 people to survive.

This exhibition is a tribute to the Righteous. And to those whose names are not on the lists, but whose actions live on in stories, family memories, and our collective memory. Let us be proud of these people – they remind us that there is always a choice.

Exhibition prepared by: VšĮ PTTP

Exhibition authors: Tauras Budzys, Barbora Karnienė, Alfredas Simonavičius

The exhibition is partially funded by the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania

Entrance to the exhibition in the walking courtyard is free and open! Follow the signs or ask the team on-site.

Visiting is open daily from 12:00 to 20:00.

The exhibition will run until October 15th.