Plan your Visit to Yad Vashem
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Yad Vashem is open to the general public, free of charge. All visits to Yad Vashem must be reserved in advance.

Program History

The term “Righteous Among the Nations” (Chasidei Umot HaOlam) was taken from Jewish tradition – from the literature of the Sages – where it was used to describe non-Jews who came to the aid of the Jewish people in times of need, or non-Jews who respect the basic tenets set down in the Bible – including the prohibition of bloodshed. The Yad Vashem law took the existing term and added new meaning to it.  The law went on to characterize the Righteous Among the Nations as those who not only saved Jews, but risked their lives in doing so. This was to become the basic criterion for awarding the title. 

The Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
The Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962

The Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
The planting of a tree in the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1977
The planting of a tree in the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1977

The planting of a tree in the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1977
Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from the USA, 2006
Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from the USA, 2006

Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from the USA, 2006
Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from Poland, 2007
Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from Poland, 2007

Ceremony in honor of Righteous Among the Nations from Poland, 2007
Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962

Inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
The planting of a tree in honor of Leo Tschoell, Austria, 1971
The planting of a tree in honor of Leo Tschoell, Austria, 1971

The planting of a tree in honor of Leo Tschoell, Austria, 1971
The planting of a tree by Gertruda Bablinska, Poland, 1962
The planting of a tree by Gertruda Bablinska, Poland, 1962

The planting of a tree by Gertruda Bablinska, Poland, 1962
The inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
The inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962

The inauguration of the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, 1962
Zehava Shwartz and her family with grandaughter of Righteous Among the Nations Wojciech Twardzicki, 30 December 2009
Zehava Shwartz and her family with grandaughter of Righteous Among the Nations Wojciech Twardzicki, 30 December 2009

Zehava Shwartz and her family with grandaughter of Righteous Among the Nations Wojciech Twardzicki, 30 December 2009
The descendants of the Nomkin brothers and sisters (Survivor Bella Nomkin in the center) who were saved by Teodora Olszewski (grandson Staszek Olszewski is standing behind Bella), August 2010
The descendants of the Nomkin brothers and sisters (Survivor Bella Nomkin in the center) who were saved by Teodora Olszewski (grandson Staszek Olszewski is standing behind Bella), August 2010

The descendants of the Nomkin brothers and sisters (Survivor Bella Nomkin in the center) who were saved by Teodora Olszewski (grandson Staszek Olszewski is standing behind Bella), August 2010