Newspaper pushes Three Star decoration to rescuer of Jews

Feb 03, 2000

The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Ilma Rugaja, believes awarding of the decoration would be Latvia's "opportunity to express gratitude and write down with stronger letters in the history of Latvia his name and his heroic deeds of human conviction."

Rugaja said the newspaper decided to nominate Rozentals for the award exactly at this point due to coincidence of several circumstances – both because the name of Latvia has been cited in connection with the Holocaust lately and because Rozentals has been recognized as a hero in Israel and recently a material was published about him in a newspaper.

The newspaper in the future as well will gather information about people who were saving lives.

The paper voiced regret that Rozentals so far had not been proposed for the top award of the Latvian state. His achievements have been highly appreciated in Israel where his name has been forged onto the wall of the Alley of Prophets in Jerusalem.

Presently Rozentals, 74, serves with Jauna Gertrude church while during the period when Latvia was under Nazi occupation he lived in his father's home in Miltini farm in Dobele district, central Latvia. The Rozentals family were hiding 12 Jews in their house and another 24 Jews were hiding in the neighbouring house.

Three of those of were rescued are still alive, one of them lives in Riga.

The Three Stars decoration was established in Latvia in 1924 and was renewed in 1994. It is granted for achievements for the benefit of Latvia regardless of area of activity of the recipient.

The newspaper's editorial office Feb. 1 sent a letter to Three Stars decoration council comprising President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Skele.

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