SrugimCulture21:54

Righteous Among the Nations Yaroslava Leytska Dies in Haifa at 91

By חדשות סרוגים

Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba

Religious-rightNeutral tone

Hebrew · 4 newsrooms covering

Yaroslava Leytska, the last living Righteous Among the Nations in Israel, died in Haifa at age 91. She was recognized for saving Jews during the Holocaust as a child, risking her life to deliver aid and hide survivors. Leytska immigrated to Israel in 1995 and was honored by Haifa students in recent years. The Mayor of Haifa praised her courage and pledged to preserve her memory.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Yaroslava Leytska, a Righteous Among the Nations honoree, died in Haifa at 91.
She saved Jews during the Holocaust as a child, delivering aid and hiding survivors.
Leytska immigrated to Israel in 1995 and settled in Haifa.
Students recently celebrated her 91st birthday, an annual tradition.
Haifa's mayor praised her courage and pledged to honor her legacy.

Righteous Among the Nations Yaroslava Leytska Dies in Haifa at 91 — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Yaroslava Leytska, the last living Righteous Among the Nations in Israel, passed away in Haifa on Tuesday, two months before her 92nd birthday. Leytska, who saved Jews during the Holocaust as a six-year-old child, risked her life to deliver food and medicine to Jews in hiding. She was born in Poland in 1935 and began helping her grandfather rescue Jews at the age of six. In 1943, her family hid two Jewish survivors and provided food to another group in hiding nearby.

In 1989, Yaroslava, her mother, and her grandfather were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for their efforts. Six years later, in 1995, Leytska immigrated to Israel, settled in Haifa, and became an Israeli citizen. Her story was documented in the book "Just Red Candies" by Maya Klinger-Cohen.

In January, dozens of students from the "Basmat" school in Haifa celebrated Leytska's 91st birthday at her assisted living facility, an event that had occurred annually for four years. During the celebration, Leytska expressed her joy in helping Jews and her hope for peace. The event was part of the Haifa Municipality's Holocaust study program.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav eulogized Leytska, calling her a symbol of courage, humanity, and kindness. He stated that her actions demonstrated that humanity can overcome fear and evil, even in the darkest times, and that her bravery was not measured by age but by her willingness to help others at personal risk. Yahav pledged that Haifa would continue to honor her memory and legacy, especially among youth.

Haifa is home to 11 Righteous Among the Nations buried in the Latin Cemetery, and the city has established a special garden in their honor.