"RIGHTEOUS AMONG NATIONS" CERTIFICATE AWARDED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - Representatives of the Zagreb Jewish Community on Monday presented the grandchildren of one Croatian married couple with certificate "Righteous Among Nations" Late Mister and Mrs Kumric were proclaimed righteous among nations in May 1999, because Kumric's saved two Jewish boys during the Ustashi persecution in the World War Two. The "Righteous Among Nations" certificate is being awarded by Israel to non Jewish persons who, during World War Two, helped Jews risking their own lives. The Yad Vashem memorial centre from Israel presented the certificate to the Kumric couple from Cerje Nebojse, near the northern Croatian town of Varazdin, because they saved two Jewish boys Artur and Vedran from racial laws in the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945). Upon their arrival to the Kumric house in 1942, Artur was four and Vedran was only five months old. With their new names - Francek and Slavek, the boys and three Kumric's children lived in the house until the summer of 1945. During those three years, the Kumric family was hiding the boys from frequent Ustashi patrols. The Kumric family had the understanding and support of their neighbours. Both Vedran and Artur survived horrors of the Holocaust. Vedran, now dr. Jair Palgi, lives in Israel, while ing. Artur Rosner lives in Varazdin. The "Righteous Among Nations" certificate was presented by the president of the Jewish Community in Zagreb to the grandchildren of the late Kumric couple, Josip Kumric and Tomislav Osterman. The Family of the Righteous has about 15,000 members world wide, including 66 from Croatia. (hina) it jn