Emilia Voitovych (Luperyba)

Emilia was born on March 1, 1935 in the village of Nova Mohylnytsia, Terebovlya district, Ternopil region, to a many-children family. The family had a large household and a huge plot of land. Many Jews lived in the village. Emilia’s father, Mykhailo, worked for the Jew named Mendel.

When Ternopil region was occupied by the Nazis, they made an announcement to the villagers: “Whoever gives at least a sip of water or a crust of bread to a Jew will be considered a Jew.”

One day Mendel asked Mykhailo to hide his family.

Emilia was seven years old those days. At that time, Jews were shot like cattle in the lord’s forest and new people were constantly delivered from all over the region. Those Jews who still had strength carried their children in their arms and shoulders. Those who fell did not get up, they were shot. The road was covered with sharp stones that cut the legs to blood. The Gestapo marched on both sides with dogs and machine guns. Emilia still recollects with horror how in front of her eyes the Gestapo man took a candy out of his pocket and beckoned a little girl who was crying. He asked the baby to open her mouth. He waved a candy over her and the girl opened the mouth, Gestapo man shot her in the throat.

Until 1944 Mendel’s family (Mendel, his wife, two sons and a daughter) was sheltered by the Luperyba family. Emilia always helped her parents in hiding, brought food, played with Mendel’s children.

On May 17, 2005 the Jewish Council of Ukraine recognized Emilia Voitovych (Luperyba) as Righteous of Ukraine.