Funds collected from a benefit concert in Munich organized by the Order of Malta Relief Organization will go to support Righteous Gentiles in Lithuania, of whom there are currently 87 living. The idea to help the rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust in this way came from Order of Malta ambassador to Lithuania baron Christian von Bechtolsheim and Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky. “It was of great concern to us that our rescuers in their old age would get at least a little relief and be cared for,” Kukliansky said at a press conference held at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius April 6. “There’s no such thing as being too grateful, neither can there be too much material thanks. We wanted to materialize at least a little that which we feel towards our rescuers,” she explained.

Order of Malta Relief Organization in Lithuania secretary general Eitvydas Bingelis said some of the monies generated from the benefit concert, which totaled over 123,000 euros, will be added to debit cards for the Righteous Gentiles to purchase medicine not covered by national healthcare and medical goods, with another portion held in the fund for use for the individual needs of each Righteous Gentile.

Photos from the press conference: