Family Focus
Completing The Circle
Mary Dudizk of Mielec, Poland; Patty and Jack Allweiss of Mission Viejo, Calif.; Jack's cousin Esther Allweiss Ingber of Oak
Park; and Esther's father Zygie Allweiss of West Bloomfield at the Yad Vashem ceremony honoring Zygie's rescuers, the late
Maciej and Zofia Dudzik.
Polish rescuers nominated by local survivor are honored by Yad Vashem.
Esther Allweiss Ingber
Special to the Jewish News
hi
y father, Zyga "Zygie" Allweiss,
80, of West Bloomfield had
unfinished business last year,
following his first visit to Poland since
World War II. He wanted to honor Maciej
and Zofia Dudzik, his wartime rescuers.
While staying with Janek and Janina
Dudzik in Mielec last year, Dad noted
Janek's pride in the deeds of his parents.
This Polish Catholic couple sheltered Dad
and his brother Salek (Sol) for more than
a year on their farm in Czajkowa, keeping
a promise made to their friend Jacob, the
boys' father.
The Allweiss brothers and the Dudziks
lost contact for 55 years, until Dudzik
granddaughter Barbara Rzeznik of
Chicago in the late 1990s searched the
Internet for "Allweiss" and found the
brothers.
When she connected the three older
Dudzik women living in America and
the two Allweiss men, it was like finding
long-lost brothers and sisters. Their joy-
ous reunion culminated with Detroit's
CO
November t5 2007
Holocaust Memorial Center posthumously
honoring Maciej and Zofia Dudzik at its
1999 annual dinner.
Recognition For Parents
During our trip last year, Dad and I visited
Marysha Pluta, the oldest Dudzik daugh-
ter, and other relatives in Poland. During
our appointment in Warsaw with Rabbi
Michael Schudrich, Poland's chief rabbi,
he surprised us with Janek Dudzik's letter
seeking Yad Vashem's Righteous Among
the Nations designation for his parents.
Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to
victims of the Holocaust, created the pres-
tigious title to honor non-Jews who risked
their lives to save Jews from extermination
by the Nazis. As of January 2007, 21,758
people had been recognized as Righteous
Among the Nations.
Dad was touched that Janek wanted this
honor for his family, but Rabbi Schudrich
said only a Holocaust survivor can apply
to Yad Vashem.
I reworked and sent Dad's letter of 1999,
describing the Dudziks' heroism. Months
went by. Rabbi Schudrich checked on our
application with the Israel Embassy, assur-
ing us things were moving along.
In July, the embassy's Ewa Rudnik wrote
that Zofia and Maciej Dudzik had been
approved. Our families in two countries
rejoiced!
Rudnik's e-mail, dated Sept. 24, stated
that the ceremony would be held at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21, in Krakow, Poland, and
that Janek, the oldest son, would be given
a medal and certificate on his parents'
behalf.
Dad wanted to go, of course. Though
it was costly for him, especially after last
year's "trip of a lifetime," I reserved our
flights. We were welcome to stay again
with Janek and Janina.
Our family also was represented by
Jack and Patty Allweiss of California, who
rerouted their European vacation. Jack's
father was the late Sol Allweiss. Many
Dudziks attended from Poland, and also
Barbara Rzeznik and her mom, Lottie, of
Wisconsin.
The ceremony was held in the Wysoka
(High) Synagogue in Kazimierz, the for-
mer Jewish section of Krakow. Built in
the mid-16th century, the reconstructed
synagogue had a lot of character, with the
original stone frame of the Holy Ark in the
chapel and frescoes on the southern wall.
Guests were screened before entering
and security guards stood watch to protect
Israel Ambassador David Peleg. He was
among three English speakers, including
Dad.
After the story of Zofia and Maciej
Dudzik was read, Janek was called up. His
wife beside him spoke poignantly of the
Dudziks, with 10 children of their own,
"sharing food with Salek and Zyga. They
did not do it for money, only because of
friendliness," Janina said.
For his part, Dad expressed eternal
gratitude to the Dudziks. Sadly, he was
the only survivor present although Yad
Vashem honored three other righteous
Poles that evening.
Following group photos of the families,
everyone mingled at a reception. A Mielec
newspaper reported on the event.
It may have been Dad's last visit to
Poland, but he left knowing his rescuers
were properly recognized. He also tells
everyone that the goodness of Maciej and
Zofia continues in the wonderful Dudzik
family. Li