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.