He Who saves One

The Polish heroes and heroines of the World War II era are aging, and passing away. Ninety year old Jerzy Bielecki died Thursday 20 October. He a polish Catholic, fell in love with a Jewish girl, and saved both of their lives when he orchestrated escaping the death camp in Oswiecim, or known under the Nazi name Auschwitz. Jerzy was among the first inmates sent to Auschwitz in 1940, and had been imprisoned two years by the time Cyla's family was sent to Auschwitz. His tatooed number is 243 and hers is 29558.
Upon escaping, they went into hiding in seperate locations, planning to meet after the war, but never were able to do so. Fate took her to New York USA, and he to Novy Targ, Poland.
They did meet again. In Krakow airport, with him presenting her with 39 roses, one for each year they were apart.
He stayed in Poland with his family, and she returned to the USA. She passed away in 2002. I encourage you to read more about their story, follow the link below.





http://auschwitztourguide.com/pole-who-sneaked-jewish-girl-out-of-auschwitz-dies

Easter Monday Tradition

"Smigus Dyngus" or Wet Monday. If you are in Poland or many other Eastern European countries this day (Easter Monday), watch out for buckets of water being tossed about. Traditionally it is a fertility ritual from way back. The custom of pouring water was an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification, and fertility, and now-a-days, is practiced by young males towards young females. But we were warned that even the opening doors of the city tram sometimes would open to "hoodlums" and their buckets of water.






http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/21/6507371-annual-watering-of-the-girls-goes-back-centuries