Fall 2007 Exhibit: The Rescuers
Artist’s Statement: Nicholas Macchio
The existence of convents provided an opportunity to offer refuge to Jews who were fleeing the Nazis. They were located in areas where they were able to hide Jews without detection. Of the 63 female Latin-rite religious communities that existed in Poland over 50 assisted Jews. Nuns ran more than 300 institutions that sheltered Jews. These included convents, schools, orphanages, poorhouses, pediatric hospitals and adult medical centers.
Over 1,200 Jewish children were rescued by nuns in Poland. In addition, nuns helped adult Jews find hiding places, food and transportation. Some Jewish children were adopted by Polish families and raised as Catholics after the war.