Tuesday, January 18, 2022 - 6:00 pm Pacific Time
Ellen Meth never knew the name of the man who saved her life. She was just a child when she and her father, Jewish refugees who had fled to Turkey in 1940, were declared “Catholic” by a diplomat at the Polish Consulate in Istanbul, allowing them safe passage out of Europe. It would be decades before Ellen’s son Robert would take it upon himself to uncover the identity of this unsung rescuer. Through diligent research and chance encounters, Robert Meth unearthed the story of Wojciech Rychlewicz, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Istanbul, who saved not just Robert’s family, but hundreds of Jewish lives. Robert Meth will discuss his historic discovery, his developing friendship with Rychlewicz’s granddaughter, and his efforts to have Rychlewicz recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. This program is presented in partnership with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles and will feature remarks by Consul General Jarosław Łasiński.