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Nazis, Zegota, and me

By David Vermeesch | Comments (5) | Posted on July 9, 2007

A few days ago I asked our FFOZ teachers, staff and regular contributors to update their testimonies so we can post them all online. A lot of personal introspection must have resulted, because our blog chatter has been prolific this last week.

As I’ve been updating my own testimony along with everyone else, I've waded thru my history, too. In the process, the Zegota returned. I hadn’t thought about them in several years. If Zegota sounds mysterious on the surface, you can only imagine how mysterious it is underneath. Let me explain.

Very little is actually known about the Zegota. Most agree they were a clandestine group of Jewish sympathizers that operated from a base in Poland during 1940-1945 at the height of Hitler's rampage. Zegota was a cryptonym, a secret code-name, said to represent what they called themselves in private: "Council for Aid to the Jews." Their mission, however, was a very specialized form of "aid."

From what I could dig up 12 years ago, the Zegota seems to have been an underground network of mostly Christian/Catholic professionals — specifically including artists, photographers, designers, typographers and printers. They quietly and brilliantly crafted, one-by-one, thousands of fake passports and personal documentation that enabled Jews to pass to freedom undetected thru Nazi-held European borders. No one knows how many lives were saved, but I’ve read that some speculate their numbers could dwarf Schindler's list.

In 1995 when I discovered this group's existence they instantly became the inspiration I had been looking for. These Zegota people were living out their faith big time. They were the real deal.

Like me, they were communication professionals. Like me, they shared a passion for oppressed and distressed people, and they obviously possessed the kind of Detrich Bonhoeffer-style faith to which I aspired. Most interestingly, like me, something inside of them must have been speaking with the same voice I'd heard from somewhere between my own head and heart, "Someday you're going to stand with my Chosen People."

Twelve years ago I was so smitten with the mysterious Zegota name that I bestowed it upon my first design/marketing firm. We merged with another agency a year later and changed the name to something more marketable, but my now-distant brush with Zegota feels both eerily prophetic and warmly comforting.

Who would have thought my journey would allow me to join with this band of brothers in such a great effort as the work of First Fruits of Zion? I'm glad to be here.

There are some other new faces around FFOZ, too. Keep an eye on the Web site over the next few weeks for the new section with staff profiles and testimonies.

About the Author: David Vermeesch serves as the Director of Communications. He helps manage FFOZ publications, media, development and strategic initiatives. He is also an occasional writer and contributor.

Visitor Comments

I'm so glad to hear that everyone will be writing profiles and testimonies! I was just looking for those last week! Your comments on Zegota are really intriguing to me. I would love to know more! Has anything been written to document the efforts these brave believers did?

Thanks!
Mary Ellen

**David: Nothing published that I know of. Let me know if you uncover something!

Posted by: Mary Ellen | July 10, 2007 3:46 PM

Hi David,
Just had the opportunity to read your well-written article "Nazis,Zegota,and me." Knowing you and your parents in the past, I always thought the name of your design/marketing company, Zegota, was a bit mysterious. Now I understand better why you chose that name and really find it interesting, but not surprising that your spiritual and professional journey would lead you to FFOZ at this time in your life. Thx for sharing. Keep up the Good Work! We're so glad you are here too.
Thx Concetta & Jack, IL

Posted by: Concetta Hedrick | July 10, 2007 4:14 PM

B"H

There is a book on the Zegota written by Irene Tomaszewski (published by Price-Patterson, 1994). It is available at Amazon.com. There is also a documentary; information on this can be found at: http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/zegota.htm
More info on the Zegota can be found at: http://www.projectinposterum.com/docs/zegota.htm

Blessings

Posted by: Brian Reed | July 11, 2007 12:41 PM

Another reason to keep on studying. I've never heard the word before and it'll be interesting to Google it for more. Thanks for your commitment to searching out your faith. There are no Googles to the matters within our hearts. May HaShem bless you in your righteous mission.
Dave Kimble

Posted by: David Kimble | July 13, 2007 8:25 PM

When I first met Dave, we were two geeky Freshmen siting at the lunch table, eating lunches made by our Moms. Little did we know what God had in store for these two geeks. Years after graduating we merged our graphics businesses and became 50-50 partners, a dangerous relationship. Our first goal in business was to remain best friends. We laugh and praise God, that we accomplished that goal, because our business didn't set many other records or make huge accomplishments. But having Dave as my best friend is one of the most precious things I could have in life. If you have a chance to become a friend of Dave's you too will be blessed. FFOZ and all of us certainly will be blessed by your life and work Dave.
Much Love,
Randal

Posted by: Randal Weidenaar | August 20, 2007 2:35 AM

In Breaking Bread we present a clear exposition on the traditional blessings before and after meals. Includes halachah, detailed explanations and an introduction to the table blessings of the early believers.

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