THE ALLEY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: PRANAS KARALEVIČIUS AND STANISLAVA KARALEVIČIENĖ

In autumn 1941, Stanislava and Pranas Karalevičius from Bijūnai village, Trakai region, received a visit from the large Alpert family from Semeliškės who came asking for help. Among them were: Gershon Alpert, Alter Alpert, Yosef Alpert with his wife Chana and daughter Gita, and Elijah Alpert with his wife Beile. The Karalevičius agreed to help. Overnight, working together, they installed a hideout in the barn, but the number of refugees kept growing. Leizer Musnickas with his children – eldest son Faivush, youngest son Shlomo and daughter Cile and Shulman with his wife, daughter Sarah and son Elijah came asking for help, too. In 1943, the Shmuilovich family with their 3-year-old son Piner were brought in from the Vilna Ghetto. The first hideout became too small, thus another hideout was installed four kilometres further away in Strėva Forest. According to Elena Karalevičiūtė-Čepanonienė, the hardest thing was to feed and dress such a big number of people. Pranas Karalevičius had only 8 ha of land, but was really skilful and had a virtuous heart, just like his wife Stanislava. Their children were also brought up in the spirit of justice and virtue. With the help of Leonardas, Genrikas and Elena, Stanislava and Pranas Karalevičius saved a dozen people.

 

 

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

Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History, Vilnius, 2019