honouring courage, solidarity and human dignity

By Sonya Shaipak

The 26th of Iyar on the Hebrew calendar marks the Day of Salvation and Liberation. Established in 2005 by Holocaust survivors from the former Soviet Union and veterans of the Red Army, this day commemorates the rescue and liberation of Jews during World War II. Unlike other days of mourning, it is a day that honours courage, solidarity, and human dignity – recognising acts of light in the darkest of times.

This year, the village of Porechye in Belarus became the site of a deeply moving commemoration. Among those present was Frida Reizman (now almost 90), a survivor who was among 40 Jewish children who escaped the Minsk Ghetto and were hidden by Belarusian villagers. While Frida herself was hidden in a nearby village, not Porechye itself, this day marked her return to the region where her life was saved.

With help from local residents, the group was able to locate the very house where Frida had been hidden for two years during the war. She was welcomed by the current resident — the wife of the grandson of the woman who risked her life to protect Frida. The reunion was intimate, emotional, and profoundly human — a quiet but powerful affirmation that memory lives not only in monuments, but in people, places, and stories passed down through generations.

Frida was joined by students from the Minsk Construction College — located on the former territory of the Minsk Ghetto — and representatives of the Jewish Religious Union of Belarus. These young participants listened, asked questions, and absorbed history in the most meaningful way – from those who lived it.

Tamara Kurdadze, a volunteer at the Jewish Religious Union, shared:

“It is incredibly important to remember such acts of bravery. These stories teach us that even in times of unimaginable cruelty, there were people who chose to be human. They show us that even the smallest actions — hiding a child, sharing bread — can change the course of a life. This is history that must be told, especially to those who will carry it forward.”

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Monument to the Righteous in Porechye, erected in the early 2000s by Frida Reizman and Maya Krapina, in gratitude to the villagers who saved them. At that time, it was one of the first monuments of its kind in Europe. 

Among the guests at the ceremony was Viktor Cherny, the son of Viktor Cherny Sr., who was officially recognised as a Righteous Among the Nations for saving a Jewish family in Borisov during the Holocaust. His father’s act of courage ensured the survival of a family whose legacy now includes 18 descendants living across the world.

“We must continue telling these stories to the younger generations,” Viktor said.

“So they can understand the horrors our ancestors endured — and the power of courage, even in the darkest times. Thanks to my father’s decision, 18 lives were born. And here in Porechye, 40 children were saved. These are not just numbers. These are entire worlds that continued, because someone chose to help. Places like this, and stories like these, should not fade into silence. They must be shared, again and again, until they are part of us.”

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Austrian and German embassies including the Austrian Ambassador to Belarus Dr.Ronald Shturm, as well as national mass media, who covered the event in their official reports — highlighting the continuing relevance of Holocaust remembrance and acts of moral resistance in today’s world.

Upon returning to Minsk, participants gathered at the Jewish Heritage Centre for the presentation of the Russian version of the ‘Making History Together’ exhibition. Developed by The Together Plan with the support of Jewish Child’s Day and the British Embassy in Belarus, this exhibition is part of an innovative educational initiative that explores the largely unspoken story of the Holocaust in the German-occupied Soviet Union, with a particular focus on Jewish life in Belarus before, during and after the war. Click here for an update on what is happening with the ‘Making History Together’ programme in the UK.

In Belarus, where no formal Holocaust education currently exists, the project has taken on an even deeper significance. The presentation sparked active discussion among attendees, many of whom expressed interest in bringing the exhibition to other schools, museums, and cultural institutions. 

This was not only a day of remembrance — it was a day of return, reunion, and renewed responsibility. It reminded us that the past is never truly past when it lives in memory, and that healing begins when stories are honoured and shared.