Good Morning,
Earlier this week my wife Karen and I watched a documentary on a man namedVisas for Life Chiune Sugihara. He worked for the Japanese government during the early days of World War II, and was stationed in the Japanese embassy in Kaunas, Lithuania. During this time, he performed an amazing feat of human kindness.
Many Jews had fled Poland and other nations ahead of the Nazi advance into Soviet controlled Lithuania. The Jews needed a miracle to get out of Lithuania before it was too late, but the Soviets did not make it easy. For these refugees to leave they needed a destination visa, a country willing to accept them, a transit visa, a country that would allow them to travel through, and an exit visa for the country they wanted to leave.
A few ingenious Dutch Jewish refugees figured out that they could get approval to go to Curacao, a Dutch colony. This was a destination that did not require a passport (which few of the refugees had). The Jews received approval to go to Curacao from the Dutch embassy. Step one done, next they needed a transit visa. At this same time, the Soviet Union told all embassies to close their doors and leave. The only two embassies that remained open were the Dutch and Japanese.
Sugihara saw the growing atrocities against the Jews in Europe. Meanwhile, he also saw the Jew's chance for survival diminishing daily. He asked Japan to authorize giving these Jews transit visas. The Japanese government denied the request, multiple times. Against his country's orders, Sugihara granted visas to over 6,000 Jewish refuges, giving them a chance at escape.
It started with one person and grew into thousands; the refugees came to the Japanese embassy in Lithuania for a transit visa. Chiune Sugihara knew what would most likely happen to these people if he did not help them. He also knew what would happen to him and his family if he did. His decision showed he cared more about saving others than his own future. Sugihara started hand-writing hundreds of transit visa's a day. He approved all visas shown to him. He even approved those that were not complete.
He continued writing visas for several weeks as he knew time was short. When his office was to shut down, he asked for an extension to keep the embassy open a little while longer. With the extension granted, he kept filling the visas out until his office was ultimately forced closed. Sugihara did not stop there. When his family arrived at the train station to leave Lithuania, he filled out more visas while waiting for the train to arrive. He even filled out visas when he was in the train, through an open window, before it departed and one or two more for those who could keep up with the train as it left. As he left, he would not know if his work had saved anyone.
For his actions, he was later reprimanded and ultimately dismissed. Afterwards, he lived a rough life where he was forced to scrape by to provide for his family for many years. All the while, he never spoke of the event. Due to other situations, he changed his name to help improve his chances of helping his family. It was not until 25 years later that Sugihara found out if any of the Jews he helped made it. Today, there are somewhere over 40,000 people alive today directly because of this man disobeying orders.
Sugihara helped save the lives of others with no expectations. He received nothing in return. There has been some growing recognition of his work over the last 20 years, but I am certain it was not why he did it.
Forty-five years after he signed the visas, Chiune was asked why he did it. He liked to give two reasons: "They were human beings and they needed help," he said. "I'm glad I found the strength to make the decision to give it to them." Sugihara was a religious man and believed in a universal God of all people. He was fond of saying, "I may have to disobey my government, but if I don't I would be disobeying God." (http://www.rongreene.com/Sug.html)
When we think about going above and beyond to help others, we sometimes wonder how far is too far. We sometimes wonder if what we do matters. This should not hold us back from giving the help others need if we can, especially when we are someone's last chance.
When helping others, ask yourself:
Have I done enough to help others in need? Can I do more?
I think we know the answer...we can often do more, and it does make a difference!
Enjoy!
Earlier this week my wife Karen and I watched a documentary on a man named
Many Jews had fled Poland and other nations ahead of the Nazi advance into Soviet controlled Lithuania. The Jews needed a miracle to get out of Lithuania before it was too late, but the Soviets did not make it easy. For these refugees to leave they needed a destination visa, a country willing to accept them, a transit visa, a country that would allow them to travel through, and an exit visa for the country they wanted to leave.
A few ingenious Dutch Jewish refugees figured out that they could get approval to go to Curacao, a Dutch colony. This was a destination that did not require a passport (which few of the refugees had). The Jews received approval to go to Curacao from the Dutch embassy. Step one done, next they needed a transit visa. At this same time, the Soviet Union told all embassies to close their doors and leave. The only two embassies that remained open were the Dutch and Japanese.
Sugihara saw the growing atrocities against the Jews in Europe. Meanwhile, he also saw the Jew's chance for survival diminishing daily. He asked Japan to authorize giving these Jews transit visas. The Japanese government denied the request, multiple times. Against his country's orders, Sugihara granted visas to over 6,000 Jewish refuges, giving them a chance at escape.
It started with one person and grew into thousands; the refugees came to the Japanese embassy in Lithuania for a transit visa. Chiune Sugihara knew what would most likely happen to these people if he did not help them. He also knew what would happen to him and his family if he did. His decision showed he cared more about saving others than his own future. Sugihara started hand-writing hundreds of transit visa's a day. He approved all visas shown to him. He even approved those that were not complete.
He continued writing visas for several weeks as he knew time was short. When his office was to shut down, he asked for an extension to keep the embassy open a little while longer. With the extension granted, he kept filling the visas out until his office was ultimately forced closed. Sugihara did not stop there. When his family arrived at the train station to leave Lithuania, he filled out more visas while waiting for the train to arrive. He even filled out visas when he was in the train, through an open window, before it departed and one or two more for those who could keep up with the train as it left. As he left, he would not know if his work had saved anyone.
For his actions, he was later reprimanded and ultimately dismissed. Afterwards, he lived a rough life where he was forced to scrape by to provide for his family for many years. All the while, he never spoke of the event. Due to other situations, he changed his name to help improve his chances of helping his family. It was not until 25 years later that Sugihara found out if any of the Jews he helped made it. Today, there are somewhere over 40,000 people alive today directly because of this man disobeying orders.
Sugihara helped save the lives of others with no expectations. He received nothing in return. There has been some growing recognition of his work over the last 20 years, but I am certain it was not why he did it.
Forty-five years after he signed the visas, Chiune was asked why he did it. He liked to give two reasons: "They were human beings and they needed help," he said. "I'm glad I found the strength to make the decision to give it to them." Sugihara was a religious man and believed in a universal God of all people. He was fond of saying, "I may have to disobey my government, but if I don't I would be disobeying God." (http://www.rongreene.com/Sug.html)
When we think about going above and beyond to help others, we sometimes wonder how far is too far. We sometimes wonder if what we do matters. This should not hold us back from giving the help others need if we can, especially when we are someone's last chance.
When helping others, ask yourself:
Have I done enough to help others in need? Can I do more?
I think we know the answer...we can often do more, and it does make a difference!
Enjoy!
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