Sugihara`s List

In my thoughts, I recollect each name and mentally scan through all the faces, from children to grandchildren, and even down to the newest generation, the great-great-grandsons. It’s a sprawling family, a large Israeli clan stretching from Jerusalem to the Negev Desert. I must admit, though, that I don't visit them as often as I used to, and with the great-grandchildren, I can't really say I know them well. Yet, they are there, alive and thriving, all because of our ancestor—my uncle, Zerach Warhaftig. He was a notable Warsaw lawyer who appeared on Sugihara's list, a list that became a beacon of hope. In Kaunas, the Japanese consul, Chiune Sugihara, issued life-saving visas to him, his wife, and their infant son. Along with other refugees, they journeyed across Siberia, found temporary refuge in Japan, and eventually made their way to America. After the war, they settled in Jerusalem. In a pivotal moment in 1948, Zerach Warhaftig signed Israel's declaration of independence. For fifty more years, he devotedly served the country as a politician, lawyer, and academic. He was the first to document the story of Jewish refugees from Kaunas and the heroic efforts of Sugihara, who defied protocol to save lives. Zerach was more than an uncle to me; he was the brother of my grandmother, an influential figure in my life. In his Jerusalem home, I embraced Judaism, Hebrew, and the rich tapestry of Jewish history. His legacy profoundly shaped my career as a translator and lecturer in rabbinic literature. Thus, not only his direct descendants but I too owe a deep gratitude to Chiune Sugihara.