Father Jan Patrzyk and Barbara Patrzyk
All information below comes from
The Encyclopedia
of the Righteous Among the Nations
Rescuers of Jews
during the Holocaust: Poland
edited by Sara Bender and Shmuel Krakowski
Copyright © 2004 Yad Vashem
The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority,
Jerusalem, Israel
Reproduced with permission of Yad Vashem
Dr. Meir Eisenberg, a Jewish
doctor, and Jan Patrzyk, a priest, had become friends before the war
when they both served in Medenice, near Drohobycz, in Eastern
Galicia. During the occupation, Patrzyk was transferred to the
village of Lipinki in Gorlice county, Cracow district, and Eisenberg
was deported with his family to the Drohobycz ghetto. In 1942,
after losing his wife in an Aktion,
Eisenberg decided to try to save at least his 13-year-old daughter,
Judit. He turned to his friend Father Patrzyk and smuggled the
girl into his home. Patrzyk took the Jewish girl under his wing
and obtained Aryan papers for her. She became a part of his
family, and his sister, Barbara Patrzyk, cared for her as if she were
her own sister. After the war, when Patrzyk discovered that his
friend Meir Eisenberg, the girl's father, had perished, Judit remained
under his care and continued her studies in the local high
school. Only after a year, when an aunt of the girl's was found,
was she handed over to her, all without ever asking for or receiving
anything in return. Judit eventually immigrated to Israel and,
never forgetting the kindness she found in the home of Father Patrzyk
and his sister, Barbara, remained in touch with them for many years and
sent them parcels to help them out.
On September 4, 1979, Yad Vashem
recognized Jan Patrzyk as Righteous Among the Nations.
On September 4, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Barbara Patrzyk as
Righteous Among the Nations.