Holocaust
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During the Holocaust, Jewish prisoners in the Westerbork Transit Camp in the Netherlands observed Hanukkah under harrowing circumstances. Despite the dire conditions, they sought to maintain their cultural and religious traditions as an act of resistance and hope. In Westerbork, Hanukkah celebrations were modest and often conducted in secret. Prisoners used makeshift menorahs crafted from…
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I know that in the current political environment, there is a popular belief among some that the name Israel did not exist until 1948. Ironically, some of these same people will be celebrating the birth of a Jewish man, born in Bethlehem, a city in Israel, more than 2000 years ago. I can appreciate that…
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The story of Emma van Essen-Frankenstein is a story of desperation. Her maiden name is also the name of a famous horror story, but Emma’s story is more horrific than that of her fictional namesake. She was born in Salzderkilden, Germany on 18 March 1862. In May 1893 she married Dutchman, Abraham Levie van Essen,…
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If you look at the photograph above, it appears to be a photo of a marketplace. Initially, you will see nothing wrong with it. There is a man with a bike talking to another man, possibly about the weather. You can see a young boy running, and perhaps he is chasing the dog. There are…
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They say I am their enemy but yet I don’t know them and have never seen them before. Why are they taking my glasses and my shoes, they are not weapons. Why are they making this so personal, what is it that I have done? I really would like to know. They say I no…
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World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born…
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There were three groups of people in the Holocaust: The criminals who tortured and murdered; The victims murdered; and those who survived and were scarred for life—mentally and physically. The helpers were the people who helped the Jews and others to escape and survive. These are just examples of each group. The Criminal Hildegard Lachert…
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This may be my most harrowing blog post yet. It’s one I won’t be sharing on social media, as it would almost certainly be removed. While I strive to avoid graphic imagery whenever possible, there are moments when it becomes necessary to confront the stark reality of what a deeply malevolent political ideology can bring…
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Margard (Marga) Kaufmann, born in Gronau, Germany 10 November 1928. Murdered in Auschwitz on 3 September 1943, reached the age of 14 years. Marga’s parents were married in 1923 in Gronau, where her mother, Adele, had taken over her grandmother’s grocery store in 1918. Marga never knew her grandparents, Zilversmit. Her mother had four brothers,…
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They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and while this may be true, it can never tell the entire story. That’s why I believe it is crucial to listen to or read the testimonies of survivors, liberators, and even perpetrators to understand the Holocaust from multiple perspectives. Let us begin with the words…
History of Sorts