Rescuers of Jews

Sofija BINKIENĖ, Kazys BINKIS, Lilijana BINKYTĖ-MOZURIŪNIENĖ, Vladas VARČIKAS, Irena NACEVIČIŪTĖ-DAMIJONAITIENĖ, Gerardas BINKIS, Eleonora BINKYTĖ

From the very first days of the German occupation in Lithuania, when persecution and ruthless extermination of Lithuanian Jews started, journalist and wife of the famous poet and playwright Kazys Binkis, who was already severely ill at that time, Sofija Binkienė together with the other members of her family got involved in active rescuing of the Jews. The home of the Binkis became the main address for the Jews of Kaunas city. Here, the breakouts from the ghetto were planned and documents were forged. Several fugitives from the ghetto were constantly staying with the Binkis family until a new safe-house was found. Some people would stay for longer periods.
The following people found the refuge in the Binkis family: Gita Judelevičiūtė, Raja Judelevičienė, Pesia Melamed, Mironas Ginkas, Fruma-Mania Ginkienė, Kama Ginkas, Sonia Ginkaitė-Šabadienė, Beba Šatenstein-Taborisky, Gutia Šmuklerytė, Roza Stenderienė, Adina Segal, Samuelis Segalis and many others.
All members of the Binkis family – Sofija Binkienė’s daughters Lilijana and Irena, Kazys Binkis’ children Gerdas and Eleonora, and Lilijana’s husband Vladas Varčikas who came into the family during the war – were risking their lives during the three long years of war.