History of Sorts

Repost from March 8 2024

By an unfinished life, I refer to the 1.5 million children whose lives were cruelly cut short by the horrors of the Holocaust

For several years I have been trying to finish a song to remember all those children, but for some reason, I cannot finish it. Every time, I sit down to visualize the children and the horrors they went through, the emotions get the better of me. Maybe it is because I am a father, or maybe because I just can’t fathom the evilness.

The photograph above is of two children, both were murdered on March 6, 1944—80 years ago in Auschwitz. Eva Beem and her baby brother Abraham aka Bram.

Below is the translation of a letter that Eva wrote when she was imprisoned in Westerbork. Eva was born on May 21, 1932.

“Dear Aunt Janke, Uncle Han, and Aunt Mar, how are you? I’m doing fine! I have received your letter. I’m very happy with it! I don’t know if Bram has already written that we have family here, but we have a nephew and a niece here. I just met that cousin. Her name is Nannie! A nice name, huh? You said you would send the shoes, would you also send my dust comb and my clothes that I left hanging and my bows? I forgot to ask for my glasses, if possible, would you please send them to me?

My violin probably won’t work, right? But you should absolutely not add any sweets or any kind of food to it, because then it won’t get through. I cannot get a parcel stamp for you. I’m glad you got out of prison. I hope I can write again in 14 days. Would you like to say hello to Mr Polen? Furthermore, warm regards from your niece Eva Beem. Dear Uncle H, Aunt Mar and Marijke. Are you all doing well? Aunt Mar, are you completely better again? How old is Joke now? Give Marijke a big kiss from me. Uncle Han, have you gained some weight yet? Has Joke grown a bit bigger yet? Now, warm regards from your niece, Eva Beem.”

Bram did get the opportunity to write a letter. He was born on June 13, 1934. Below is the translation of his letter.

Dear Uncle and Aunt,

How are you? I’m doing well. The food is good here. We get 4 sandwiches and coffee in the morning, vegetables and potatoes in the afternoon and 4 sandwiches and porridge in the evening. And it’s cozy here. And sometimes we get cottage cheese and that is very tasty. We go to school here. I’m already in fourth grade and just got a 7 in math. Eva is also doing well. When your aunt is there, would you also show the letter to your aunt? And when you write back to me, you have to sign on the dotted line. And on the leaves where I have not written, you may write on them. I hope you are doing well too. I also have a cousin Sjonnie here who used to work on the radio.

Furthermore, greetings from,

Bram and Eva Beem”

On March 3, 1944, on a frosty morning, they were both put on a train and deported from Westerbork to Auschwitz, where they were murdered upon arrival.

These are the lyrics of my unfinished song. Like their lives, my song will remain unfinished.

On a frosty morning
You put me on a train

Not because I am different
But because I’m the same

On a frosty morning
You did send me away

I hate that drove you
I wasn’t allowed to stay

I‘m only human
Very much like you too

Why do you hate me
It‘s a puzzle to me

This is the unfinished song, “Human Like You.”

Sources

https://westerborkportretten.nl/westerborkportretten/eva-beem

https://westerborkportretten.nl/westerborkportretten/abraham-bram-beem