This is Holy Land Moments, a radio ministry of
the International Fellowship of Christians and
Jews. On today's program, the fellowship's C
.J. Burroughs shares one of our heroes of the
Holocaust stories called, Be Careful You Don't
Get Dirty. Father Jacob Rehla has been largely
eclipsed by his associate in secret Holocaust
rescues, the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.
But Father Jakob hasn't been ignored, and his
name appears in numerous books, including one
which identifies him as one of the leading organizers
and leaders of the rescue work in Budapest. A
Hungarian Christian, Father Jakob was born in
1894. He entered the Jesuit order, the Society
of Jesus, before the First World War at age 17.
By the Second World War, he was serving as director
of a Budapest monastery. So, When the Nazi -aligned
fascist group, the Arrow Cross, began rounding
up and deporting Hungarian Jews, Father Jakob
was able to act, and he was quick to do so. Father
Jakob used his monastery as a hiding place for
at least 150 Hungarian Jews, all of whom faced
certain death. And during the time he sheltered
them, the kindly man was like a true father to
these fugitives, worrying about their safety,
providing for all their needs. In addition to
taking care of the Jews hidden in his own monastery,
he was the coordinator of rescue activities carried
out by the Swedish Red Cross. Gangs of Arrow
Cross fascists routinely came to the door of
the monastery. Sure, they would find Jews hidden
inside. Father Jakob would stand in the doorway
arguing with the Nazi sympathizers until the
Jews inside had time to hide. I'll share more
of his story next time on Heroes of the Holocaust.
The State of Israel has recognized over 27 ,000
friends of the Jewish people as righteous Gentiles.
Find out more at ifcj .org.