29 April 2010
The Righteous Among the Nations designation is awarded to non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. The title is awarded by an independent, autonomous commission, chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel. The Commission operates according to a well-defined set of rules and criteria that are based on the definition that was included in the Law establishing Yad Vashem. According to this definition the Righteous are non-Jews "who risked their lives to save Jews". Cases must be substantiated by primary sources, i.e. survivor testimony and/or archival documents of the period. Each story is carefully examined, and discussed in a closed forum, free from political or outside pressures.
The title is awarded to individuals. Media reports today indicating that Yad Vashem is studying whether to grant Corsica the title of Righteous are incorrect. Should there be information on individual Corsicans who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, Yad Vashem would be pleased to receive it and to study each case on its own merit.
For information about the Righteous: click here
