The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR) will honor Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, with its Yehi Or Award on Monday, November 28, at 6:30 PM at The New York Public Library. Edmonds is posthumously being honored for his heroic efforts in protecting 200 American Jewish prisoners of war during World War II at the organization’s annual dinner.

Master Sgt., Edmonds was captured during the Battle of the Bulge by the German army on December 19, 1944. As the highest ranking officer in the Stalag IXA, a prisoner of war camp, Edmonds was responsible for the camp’s 1,292 American POWs. The camp’s commandant ordered Edmonds to identify the Jewish soldiers in order to separate them from the other prisoners. Instead, Edmonds refused, and when the German commandant placed his pistol against Edmonds’ head, demanding that he identify the Jewish soldiers, Edmonds responded “We are all Jews here,” refusing to identify the Jewish soldiers thereby saving their lives.

Edmonds survived 100 days of captivity, and returned home after the war, but never told his family of his actions. Edmonds passed away in 1985, and only long after was first recognized for his heroic actions. The JFR will be honoring several of the surviving Jewish GIs saved by Master Sgt. Edmonds. His son, Pastor Chris Edmonds, will accept the award.

“Over the years we have worked with and honored many holocaust survivors and their rescuers, but the story of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds saving 200 Jewish-American soldiers truly distinguishes the man and leader he was. Though unfortunately we were not privileged enough to honor him during his lifetime, we hope that this year’s Yehi Ohr Award will show the gratitude and appreciation that our nation has on behalf of his heroic actions that day,” said JFR chairman Harvey Schulweis.

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous was created by Rabbi Harold Schulweis to fulfill the traditional Jewish commitment to hakarat hatov, the searching out and recognition of goodness. The JFR provides critical financial support to aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, offering a degree of dignity to their lives that would not otherwise be available.

As it moves forward, the JFR continues its work of providing monthly financial assistance to more than 425 aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, living in 20 countries. Since its founding, the JFR has provided more than $37 million to aged and needy rescuers—helping to repay a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Jewish people to these noble men and women. Its Holocaust teacher education program has become a standard for teaching the history of the Holocaust and educating teachers and students about the significance of the Righteous as moral and ethical exemplars.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)