I just read an special book about a beautiful man. It is called "A Special Fate" by Alison Leslie Goad and details how a Japanese diplomat (Chiune Sugihara) saved the lives of over 6000 desperate Jewish refugees during the second world war. He went against the instructions of his government and issued hand written visas that allowed the holder to escape through Russia and eventually Japan and onward. An incredible true story of goodness that brought me to tears.
The eventual known descendants from the people he gave visas number over 40000. They are known as "Sugihara Survivors" In 1985, in Jerusalem a monument to Sugihara was erected and he was awarded the Righteous Among Nations medal by Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust and Museum. On a hillside overlooking Yad Vashem a tree was planted in Chiune Sugihara's honor, over 70 visa recipients attended. In addition a forest of trees was planted in Sugihara's honor South of Jerusalem.
A man of great honor, and modesty, who followed his heart, doing what was right, regardless the consequences. We can all learn so much from such people.
"I didn't do anything special...I made my own decisions, that's all. I followed my own conscience and listened to it."
The eventual known descendants from the people he gave visas number over 40000. They are known as "Sugihara Survivors" In 1985, in Jerusalem a monument to Sugihara was erected and he was awarded the Righteous Among Nations medal by Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust and Museum. On a hillside overlooking Yad Vashem a tree was planted in Chiune Sugihara's honor, over 70 visa recipients attended. In addition a forest of trees was planted in Sugihara's honor South of Jerusalem.
A man of great honor, and modesty, who followed his heart, doing what was right, regardless the consequences. We can all learn so much from such people.
"I didn't do anything special...I made my own decisions, that's all. I followed my own conscience and listened to it."
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| The endorsements of Chiune Sugihara and Jan Zwartendijk, the Japanese and Dutch consuls, respectively, in Kovno, Lithuania, appear on the Leidimas, or travel document, that allowed Isaac Lewin and his family to escape Lithuania in 1940. (Courtesy of Alyza D. Lewin) |
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| Chiune Sugihara (seated, center) with family and then foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir in Tokyo, 1985. (courtesy Nobuki Sugihara) |
