dirkdeklein
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Petrus Antonius Aalders was just a young man who wanted to determine his future. Petrus was born on April 2, 1924, in Gennep, Limburg, the Netherlands and by trade, was a professional hairdresser. After being called up for the Arbeitseinsatz, forced labour in Germany, he went into hiding in Eindhoven. Now and then, he returned…
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As we bid farewell to 2023, and 2024 is upon us it may be a good time to reflect on the last 12 months, but at some of the stories which may have been forgotten. January 1 Avenger’s actor Jeremy Renner is accidentally run over by a snowplow, breaking more than 30 bones in his…
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Before I start the main story, I must tell you about the wider context. About 75% of all Jews in the Netherlands were murdered during the Holocaust. The Netherlands as a country, received understandably a lot of criticism for this and to a great extent, it was justified. However, it is not as a black-and-white…
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On December 17, I received an invitation and the privilege to attend a presentation organized by The Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum. The presentation was titled—Under Beslenei’s Sky: A Tale of Courage. This story is about good people doing what was right despite their differences. It was the rescue of the Leningrad Jewish children in Beslenei…
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Henriëtte Delia (Jetje) Hamburger was part of the so-called Gruppe Unbekannte Kinde, unknown children, a group of more than fifty children whom the Nazis had failed to identify. She and her brother—were betrayed at their hiding place in Amsterdam. Jetje Hamburger was born on December 24, 1943 in Eindhoven. Her parents were no longer together. Her…
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A few weeks ago, I watched a beautiful short film, What’s Your Number? It’s a story about a Holocaust survivor who comes full circle sharing his life story with an African American child he meets at the park. The survivor and his sister’s lives were saved by the heroic action of an African American soldier during World…
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“Where Is Christmas Now” is a sweet, nostalgic, unashamedly sentimental carol to Christmas in all its colours, joys, and magic. Evoking the memory of classic Christmas songs of old, and pared back to just straight-from-the-heart vocals, and featuring the wonder of legendary UK jazz pianist Rob Barron, “Where Is Christmas Now” is the perfect musical…
History of Sorts 