Julian Gonzalez: The Knowledge Hub 360
"The 25 descendants that Khaled saved are now scattered across Israel, France, the United States, and Tunisia, numbering in the hundreds. The girl who hid under the bed grew up, moved to Paris, and had her own children. If Khaled had simply
"In 1942, a drunken German officer boasted at dinner about a Jewish woman he had chosen from a brothel the Nazis had forced upon the town. He even said her name aloud. A Tunisian Arab man sitting across the table remained expressionless, smiled, refilled the officer's wine, and finished his meal. Then he escorted the officer home, sprinted through the darkness, and knocked on the door in the middle of the night. He sheltered 25 women and kept it a secret for four months.
His name was Khaled Abdul-Wahab. He was 31 years old. A wealthy Tunisian Muslim who had studied art and architecture in New York and spoke fluent German. Nazi officers took a liking to him and invited him to dinner.
Tunisia was the only Arab country directly occupied by Nazi Germany. Jewish families were driven from their homes, and more than 5,000 Jewish men were sent to labor camps. They wore yellow stars on their chests.
That December night in the coastal town of Mahdia, Khaled overheard an officer boasting. The woman the officer mentioned was from a family Khaled had known since birth.
He left. He drove his car. He knocked on the door in the middle of the night.
You don't need to bring any luggage. Come on over.
He took 25 people, including his mother, father, cousins, and baby, and drove them overnight to his family's farm, 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) away, where he hid them in the olive oil mill, stables, and warehouses.
This wasn't just a single act of courage; it was a courageous act that spanned 120 days.
When their food supplies were running low, he gave them food. He kept the babies quiet. He kept the servants quiet. When German soldiers came to count the Jews, the families stood still, wearing yellow stars on their chests. Once the soldiers left, the stars were removed." . . .
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