Jonas Paulavičius

Jonas Paulavičius (1898–1952) was a Lithuanian carpenter who worked for the Lithuanian railway company. Most of his life he lived in the suburbs of Kaunas, near the bank of the Neman river. During World War II, Paulavičius saved sixteen people by hiding them in his house. Jonas was murdered in 1952 because of his rescues during World War II. In 1983 Paulavičius was recognized, together with his wife Antonia and their two children, as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.

Early life Paulavičius was born in Lithuania to a poor family of farmers, as the third of six children. In his youth, he learned the craftwork of carpentry, and later worked as a carpenter for the Lithuanian railway company. In 1918, when Lithuania became an independent country, Paulavičius volunteered as a soldier in the Lithuanian army and fought in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence. When the wars of independence ended he became the owner of land in the suburbs of Kaunas, near the bank of the Neman River. There he built a house for his new family - his wife Antonia and their two children. The family cultivated its lands and practiced agriculture.

Activity during World War II Paulavičius politically leaned to the left. In 1941, when the Nazis occupied Lithuania, he helped his Communist friends and even held Communist secret meetings in his family's house. Paulavičius wasn't a communist himself, yet he was affected by the communist ideas. Nevertheless, this was not the most influential factor on his actions. Paulavičius was described as a person who was motivated by his emotions and love of human beings rather than any ideology. Shortly after the occupation, the Kovno Ghetto was established and Lithuanian Jews were forced there.

In 1944 a friend of Paulavičius suggested he save a four-year-old Jewish child, from the Kovno Ghetto. After Paulavičius consulted with his wife Antonia, they agreed to take the child and hide him in their house.

After a couple of months, it was too difficult and dangerous for Paulavičius and his family to keep the child, Shimele, without his parents.

Honors The tree that was planted in honor of the Paulavičius family.

In 1983, Paulavičius, Antonia and their children were officially recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. A tree was planted in their honor.