Sir Nicholas Winton, a hero for the ages.

A couple of years ago I was lucky to be invited by a friend to go to Paris.  My visit there coincided with the visit of one of those rare individuals who –in his unassuming way- was a giant of his era. He made an incredible contribution to mankind and is known as the British Schindler.

Sir Nicholas Winton, “Nicky” to his friends, was in France for a special program on anti-Semitism.  He hails from Maidenhead (UK), is a lover of gardens, a gentle, kind, no-nonsense man who stresses that he is not a diplomat.

His story is one for the ages. In 1939, as an English stockbroker, Sir Nicholas Winton  spent some time in Prague and he became a “living angel” by rescuing 669 Czech children from their doomed fate in the Nazi death camps. Most of the saved children never saw their parents again. These unfortunate souls perished in the German Nazi concentration camps.

Nicholas Winton’s feat was unrecognized for more than 50 years, and most of the children he saved were totally unaware who their savior had been.  His story came to light when his wife Greta, rummaging through their attic, found an old leather briefcase that contained lists of the children and letters from their parents.  Here’s a short clip of the impact of his remarkable achievement.

Sir Nicholas’ perspicacity made him aware that something was terribly wrong. Unlike so many others, he was courageous enough to do something to right what was so terribly wrong at the time.  Because he was born of Jewish parents who later converted to Christianity, he was not recognized as one of the Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem.

I had the privilege and great fortune to meet a living legend, who turns 100 years old this May. I think of him often, and how it is so true that one person can make a difference.

Sir Nicholas Winton never thought what he did was outstanding. It was just the right thing to do.