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Persons recognized as a "Righteous Among the Nations" are awarded a specially minted medal bearing their name, a certificate of honor, and the privilege of their names being added to the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Read more about the commemorative sites.
The awards are presented to the rescuers or their next of kin in Israel or in their countries of residence through the good offices of Israel's diplomatic representatives. These ceremonies are attended by local government representatives and are given wide media coverage.
The Yad Vashem Law authorizes Yad Vashem "to confer honorary citizenship of the State of Israel upon the Righteous Among the Nations, and commemorative citizenship if they have passed away, in recognition of their actions." Since 2002, Yad Vashem has been publishing an Encyclopedia of the Righteous that lists the cases of rescue recognized by Yad Vashem.
The Medal
 
The medal of the Righteous bears the Jewish saying: "Whosoever saves a single life, saves an entire universe" (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:5). The full meaning of this saying is demonstrated when survivors' families – with children, grandchildren and nowadays even great-grandchildren – come together for the honoring of a rescuer. Often, they represent a sole surviving branch of an extended family that perished.
Read more about the medal
The Certificate of Honor
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