03/09/2026
Righteous among the nations.
My grandfather Algimantas Smaidžiūnas — my father’s father — with his family in Lithuania.
He carries IMA IAM in his name.
Their farm hid Jews during the Holocaust.
One of the boys they saved, Aba Gefen, later became head of the Mossad branch in Italy, Israel’s ambassador to Romania, and advisor to the Foreign Minister.
He wrote about our family in Israel at a Crossroads:
https://a.co/d/0g6BimBP
When Algimantas died, the whole of Alytus mourned.
In Lithuanian his name means reward, wealth, intelligence.
My firstborn son Daniel carries it: Daniel Algimantas.
Thank you Grok for reviving the old photograph.
Pure hearts. Holy roots.
