Holocaust Survivors Meet Their Savior 75 Years Later
Source: AFP
Eyes brimming with tears, 92-year-old Melpomeni Dina Gianopoulou was reunited Sunday with Jewish siblings she had helped hide from Nazis in her native Greece during World War II.
Holocaust survivor Sarah Yanai, 86, had tears in her eyes as she held Melpomeni's hand. "It is a very emotional feeling, I can't describe it," she said. "We were hidden in her house. She saved all my family. Six persons... you can't imagine how dangerous it was for her, for her family, to keep us all," she added. "What can I say. They saved our lives."
The highly emotional meeting took place at the Hall of Names, in Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial centre, a memorial to millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust. During World War II, Melpomeni and her two sisters first hid the Mordechai family in a mosque before moving them to their own home in Veria, a small town near Thessaloniki, where they stayed for two years.
Sarah's brother Yossi Mor was barely two months old at the time. He is now 77, but still carries with him stories he was told about their life in hiding. Mor said their situation was "deteriorating" in the mosque, especially that of his small brother Shmuel, who had fallen ill...
Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/holocaust-survivors-meet-their-saviour-75-years-later/ar-AAJMnel?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15
On Sunday, Sarah and Yossi brought their children and grandchildren to meet their saviour. More than 20 people, young and old, stood in front of the white-haired lady before hugging her, one by one. "I would like to have saved more," Melpomeni said in Greek.
In 1994, Yad Vashem honoured Melpomeni and her sisters by granting them the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" given to those who helped save Jews during World War II.
- Greek World War II rescuer Melpomeni Dina Gianopoulou is reunited with Holocaust survivors Yossi Mor (R) and his sister Sarah Yanai (L) at the Yad Vashem centre in Jerusalem on November 3, 2019.
- Melpomeni Dina Gianopoulou poses with the children and grandchildren of the Mordechai siblings her family hid from Nazis during World War II in Greece.
Collimator
(1,639 posts)I teared up over the bravery and gratitude and love demonstrated in the tale.
Then I started to read the comments.
Dear god, the hateful crap that Jewish people still have to worry even in this day and age. I don't like knowing that I have to share the world with people who harbor such miserable, paranoid thoughts.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)looked at some comments-- vicious, evil and accusations about her I could never imagine. People can be so sick.
Mazeltov Cocktail
(569 posts)Then, I quit reading anything on Yahoo. It's the ostrich approach but it works for me.
Besides, the name does give a fair warning, Yahoos write it, read it and comment.
Also, this is a beautiful story. Thanks for posting. I think I have some dust in my eyes. . .
Thekaspervote
(32,764 posts)Damn near as awful as F...ckbook
soldierant
(6,857 posts)are a special kind of stupid, a special kind of crazy, and a special kind of evil. I don't know why they bother with Yahoo News, which actually has some decent journalists and a lot of truth. (Michael Issikof is there, for one.) If they are trying to keep the comment section o awful as to keep sane people away from the actual news, then, sadly, it's working.
Behind the Aegis
(53,956 posts)However, it is good for people to read those comments and realize how virulent anti-Semitism is and realize it isn't just some assholes off on a RW site, they are willing to be quite open about it. Too many fail to see Jews as an actual minority worthy of protection, unless it suits their needs at a given point in time. The truth is, anti-Semitism is on the rise in this country, and throughout the world at alarming rates and many are turning away from it instead of facing it head on.
Evolve Dammit
(16,725 posts)RiverStone
(7,228 posts):
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Hav
(5,969 posts)"There will be generations because of what you did." It's remarkable that everyone in that picture wouldn't be there without her.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)catbyte
(34,382 posts)appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)wendyb-NC
(3,327 posts)Such courage, loving kindness and generosity, enabled the Mordechai children to escape Nazi persecution and live to grow up. The amazing beautiful, multi generational Mordechai family a reality, because of her efforts. Miss Gianopoulou, is truly righteous, and a hero.