Language:
English
Year of publication:
2012
Titel der Quelle:
Yad Vashem Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
40,1 (2012) 23-47
Keywords:
Wylezynska, Aura
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Personal narratives
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Rescue
Abstract:
During her life in German-occupied Warsaw, the Polish writer Aurelia Wyleżyńska wrote a diary, which she regarded as her testament, intended for publication after the war. A great part of the diary is devoted to Polish-Jewish relations during the war and it reflects on the behavior of both Poles and Jews vis-à-vis the genocide of the Jews, the uprising of the Warsaw ghetto, and Wyleżyńska's own work to rescue Jewish intellectuals at her home and elsewhere. The problems of interpersonal relationships within the context of rescue occupy a central place in her diary. Wyleżyńska notes that the Nazi occupation and policies affected negatively both Poles and Jews. Among Polish intellectuals, antisemitism rose up all of a sudden; she criticizes Poles' uncaring and even derisive attitude toward the Jewish tragedy. Wyleżyńska's determination to help Jews became a means of preserving her moral self. She also could not overcome her contempt toward the Jews whom she was rescuing. The fugitives were paralyzed by fear and lost their sense of dignity, which contrasted with the heroism of the ghetto defenders. Wyleżyńska was aware that their ethics were negatively affected by the Nazi genocide and by their incomprehensible experiences and asked herself what she would have done in their situation. Pp. 45-47 contain excerpts from Wyleżyńska's diary.
Note:
In English and Hebrew.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
