THE ALLEY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: VACLOVAS MARTINKUS

From the first days of the Nazi occupation, Židikai parish priest Vaclovas Martinkus communicated with the local administration and German officers trying to coax them into behaving differently and thus resolutely resisted the policy of annihilating Jews. He managed to postpone the shootings of Židikai Jews for several weeks and the Jews were even released from the collection point – the synagogue. However, later all the Jews were herded to a place where the parish priest could not help them anymore and shot. Nonetheless, Vaclovas Martinkus managed to rescue Mordechai Michnicky, a son of attorney Jankel Michnicky and dentist Nechama Gurvich-Michnicky. Thanks to the parish priest, the baby was adopted by farmers Jeronimas and Marija Bukontas from Dapšiai village. Martinkus baptised the baby Alfonsas. When someone betrayed him, Martinkus had serious problems with the police, but he managed to get out of the awkward situation and avoid punishment.

 

From: Whosoever saves a single life, saves an entire universe

Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History, Vilnius, 2019