Daughter of righteous gentile won't be deported
Following Yedioth Ahronoth report, interior minister decided to grant permanent resident status to daughter of Ukraine man whose family hid two young Jewish boys in its home during WWII
During World War II, the family of Pieter Senevich, 83, hid two Jewish children in its home despite the fact that this act put the family members' lives in danger. The children's mother, who had been deported to the concentration camps, was able to allow the boys to escape, telling them they must run and try to immigrate to Palestine, which was under British mandate at the time.
After the war, the two Jewish boys - David and Buszia Schmeigel – immigrated to Israel and settled in Beersheba.
In 1993, the Israeli consul in Ukraine managed to locate and reconnect the two families, which resulted in Yad Vashem granting Pieter the title of 'Righteous Among the Nations' – bestowed on non-Jewish men and women of all religions who helped saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
Five years ago, Pieter and his wife Olga immigrated to Israel with their 29-year-old daughter Rosa. They settled in Beersheba, wishing to live close to David and Buszia.
But the Senevich family was dealt a devastating blow after Rosa's visa expired and the Ministry of the Interior informed her she must leave the country.
Rosa has already established herself in Israel, having found a job and giving birth to her daughter. She lives with her parents and provides for them.
“How are we to remain here without Rosa, who is our sole supporter?” asked Pieter. “Why are they asking her to leave? We thought this was our home.”
The Ministry of Interior said at the time that “Senevich has a permanent resident status for humanitarian reasons, and due to his Righteous Among the Nations title. His daughter has been living in Israel on a work visa, which has expired. She can visit her parents whenever she wants.”
Following the publication in Yedioth Ahronoth, Rosa's request was turned over to Minister Sheetrit, who decided to grant Rosa a permanent resident status, in an unusual move and against customary procedures.
"Rosa's parents are righteous gentiles who have aided the Jewish people tremendously, and the least we can do is grant them an Israeli status," the minister said.
Zvi Alush contributed to this report
