Another seven Slovaks were honoured as 'Righteous Among Nations' by representatives of Israel in Bratislava on Wednesday for their heroism in putting their lives at risk to save fleeing Jews during WWII. The accolade was bestowed posthumously on Filip and Anna Martisek, Ondrej and Helena Hazer, František and Gizela Svrbický, and Katarína Pastorková. Their descendants received the honour from Israeli Ambassador to Slovakia Zvi Aviner Vapni and Israeli Consul in Slovakia Avital Gershon. A number of senior officials, including Slovak President Andrej Kiska, Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko, Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská, Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Informatisation Peter Pellegrini, parliamentary vice-chairs and MPs attended the ceremony in Parliament's old seat on Župné námestie. Nearly 570 Slovaks and 27,000 people worldwide have received the highest honour given to non-Jews by Israel and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum for saving Jewish people during the Holocaust.
The Israeli ambassador said that human lives had no value under Nazism and that what the awardees did was often punished with cruel death, both for themselves and their families. It was the fact that they remained profoundly human even in the darkest of times that makes them Righteous Among Nations. Their heroism was also recognised by Kiska, who said that the current generation needs to prevent the evil of fascism and Nazism from causing more pain. "Our homage to these heroes will be genuine and sincere only if we do our best to make sure that we don't need more heroes of the Righteous Among the Nations kind. I bow in respect before their deeds, and I believe that their stories will inspire all our citizens," said Kiska. In his speech, Danko extended an apology for the past and acknowledged the valour of all those who weren't afraid to help under Nazism.
