Recognizing the Rescuers

Some 70 years after the last days of the Holocaust, inspiring stories of rescue continue to come to light. Today, in an extraordinarily moving ceremony at Yad Vashem, Antoine Sala and his daughters Henriette, Louise, Marie Paule and her husband, Giovanni Angeli were posthumously honored as Righteous Among the Nations. Veronique Dorothy, Marie Paule and Giovanni's  granddaughter, arrived especially from France to attend the ceremony and accept the medal and certificate on her family's behalf. Holocaust survivor Henri Dzik who was rescued by the Sala Family, met Veronique and proudly introduced her  to his extended family – children, grandchildren, and more - who literally embody the Talmudic saying embossed on the medal: Whosoever save a single life, saves an entire universe  

            The ceremony began with a memorial service at the Hall of Remembrance where Dorothy lit the Eternal  Flame in honor of her grandfather, Antoine Sala and his daughters Henriette, Louise, Marie Paule and her husband, Giovani Angeli. Afterwards, the ceremony continued at the Yad Vashem Synagogue where the exceptional story of the Sala family was told of how they graciously took Henri into their homes and saved his life. Antoine Sala was a barber who lived with his children in Pau, France. One of his daughters, Marie-Paule, was married and lived near her father with her husband, Giovanni Angeli. In 1942, the two families hid Henri Dzik, a Jewish child from Paris, and protected him until the end of the war. At the beginning of the war, Henri's father, Maurice volunteered for the French army. When France surrendered, he was released, however he decided not to return to his family in Paris but stayed instead in Pau. Henri and his mother Anna stayed in Paris. On July 16, 1942 during the Vel d'Hiv roundup, Henri spent time in a summer camp for Jewish children in La Varenne, France. Anna managed to escape when the French police arrived and fled Paris together with her sister Esther and one of their neighbors. She was very worried about Henri and asked her sister to help her return to Paris, and the three of them crossed the French demarcation line and were joined by Maurice in the "free zone."  They made contact with the Sala family and Henri was sent to them.

Dorothy Veronique lighting the Eternal Flame at the Hall of Remembrance

The Sala family took care of Henri and treated him as if he were family. He became attached to Marie-Paule's children, especially Yvan who was the same age as him. He spent his days with Giovanni and Marie-Paule, but due to the lack of space in their apartment he went to Antoine's home to sleep at night. Henri quickly got used to his new life. Thanks to the devoted care of his rescuers, Henri managed to live a fairly normal life, protected from danger and fear. At the end of the war, Maurice Dzik, who had joined the French forces that fought in North Africa, came to collect Henri, and the family returned to Paris. The two families kept in touch for about a year, but over time the connection was lost. The families reconnected recently, after Henri's son discovered Yvan, who remembered his childhood friend Henri from the period of the war. 

After Dorothy humbly accepted the certificate and medal on behalf of her family she read a  speech from her father, Yvan Angeli who was unable to attend the ceremony. Yvan noted that is a shame that his family could not be here today to accept this award however "It is with great pride and appreciation, that myself along with my wife, my children Igor and Veronique, honor those who protected Henry Dzik and are unable to be here today with us." Thanks to the devoted care and bravery of the Sala family, Henri recounted how he managed to live a generally fairly normal life and survived the war. Henri commented: "They were well aware of the perils that awaited because of my presence among them. Their solicitude at all times have saved me."  Henri now has a vibrant and beautiful family who were so excited to partake in this ceremony. Henri said that along with his family will be forever grateful to Dorothy and her family for risking their lives to save Henri. 

Dorothy Veronique and Dora Weinberger, commission pour la designation des justes accepting the certificate and medal of honor

The certificate and medal of honor

The ceremony concluded at the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations where together Henri and Dorothy eagerly unveiled the Sala family names on the Wall of the Honor. Henri and Dorothy posed for pictures next to the wall of names along with Henri's family. It was a moving and special moment to see Dorothy together with Henri and his beautiful family who are here today thanks to the unforgettable bravery and heroism of one special family.

Dorothy Veronique and Henry Dzik unveiling the Sala family names on the Wall of Honor

Dorothy Veronique and Henry Dzik and family