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Today, the Office of the Government held a Righteous Among the Nations Award Ceremony paying tribute to 11 families (overall – 21 individual), who rescued Jews from the Nazi genocide during the Second World War, putting their own lives at risk. Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said that the Righteous Among the Nations did unparalleled feat by returning the fundamental human right of life to the condemned during the Second World War.

In his speech, the Head of Government referred to the ancient Jewish wisdom, which says that whoever saves one life, saves the entire world. “The Righteous Among the Nations were aware in their hearts all along that they were saving the world, when they helped to save their friend, neighbour or a total stranger. Today, we bow our heads to our fellow-countrymen, who put their lives to risk saving Jews from the execution. These brave people felt compelled, through their life, to celebrate humanism, that is to remain human even in the face of death”, said the Prime Minister.
 
The awards to the Righteous Among the Nations were conferred on by Ambassador of the State of Israel to Lithuania, Hagit Ben-Yaakov. The Righteous Among the Nations were awarded with diplomas and medals with the following words: “Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world”.
 
The event was also attended by Chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish community, Faina Kukliansky, guests from Israel, and the participants of the March of the Living. The event was organized by the Israeli Embassy in Lithuania, Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum, the Jewish Community of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Government.
 
Every year, the State of Israel seeks to express appropriate appreciation to the people, who rescued Jews from the Nazi genocide during the Second World War. The names of the Righteous among the Nations are entered on the wall of the Hall of Fame in the garden of the Righteous among the Nations, which is in the territory of the Yad Vashem Museum of Jerusalem.
Until 19 March 2014, 872 Lithuanian citizens were recognized as Righteous among the Nations.