On August, 11, 2018, in Memorial Site in Bełżec, an exceptional meeting of two families – descendants of Maciej and Cecylia Brogowski from Bełżec and members of Irena Sznycer’s family took place.

During World War II, Maciej and Cecylia Brogowski, despite the threat of death penalty, decided to save a Jewish child – a few years old girl, Irena Sznycer. Irena was born and lived in Cracow. In spite of the imprisonment of her parents, she was taken to her relatives in Warsaw. There, the aunt of the girl asked the acquainted housekeeper Ksawera Brogowska who was Maciej’s relative, for help in rescuing the child. After a short stay in an orphanage run by nuns, the five-year-old was transported to Bełżec. The Brogowski family had three children. The youngest one, Marysia, was almost the same age as Irena. The girls became inseparable. The moment of separation after the end of the war was a very painful experience for both of them.

In 2008, Maciej and Cecylia Brogowski were posthumously honored with the title 'Righteous Among the Nations.'

The August meeting of these families was the second meeting since the end of the war. The first meeting took place in 2007. Both families also visited the Memorial Site at that time. This year, the daughter of Maciej and Cecilia was present – Mrs Maria Jurczak along with her children and grandchildren and daughter and granddaughter of Irena Sznycer – Puah i Or. During their stay, the guests visited the Memorial Site, the house where the Brogowski family lived and the local parish where Irena was baptized. Her family - her parents and her older sister - most probably died in the death camp in Bełżec.

For the members of both families and for the other participants it was an extraordinary meeting, accompanied by tears of happiness and reflections about the war, sacrificial help and the essence of humanity.