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The Last Bris in the Hague under Nazi Rule
In the middle of April 1912 I attended a so called “Bris”,(circumcision) of a child of a dear friend of mine, Mr. Max Finkel. He originally came from Poland, then when Hitler got into power, moved to the Netherlands, to Arnhem. When it was feared that the Germans would also invade the Netherlands he moved behind the “waterline” (water defense) to the Hague. He played an active part in the activities of the Jewish Community, especially in connection with the teenage boys and girls. Mr. Max Finkel had many children. This is what he put on paper and presented to me: Bedomayich-chayi Springtime of the year 1942 was a sad…
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Rabbi Jona Glauber
The story of Rabbi Jona Glauber of Brooklyn, New York, originally from Hungary, whose wife and 8 children were brutally murdered by the Nazis, mirrors the Biblical story of Hanna and her sons. From the Memoirs: 1948. Rabbi J. Glauber is the head of the “Jeshieve” in Leiden, Holland and teaches about 15 boys. He originally came from Budapest, Hungary. When the Germans invaded this country in 1944, all Jews were deported. He and his family were sent to Auschwitz; his wife and 8 children (3 boys and 5 girls) from the age of 17 years down to 1 year were put to death. Rabbi J. Glauber stayed in Auschwitz…
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Rita the Angel
Rita Boijenk, was a Righteous Gentile living on the same street in the Hague, who assisted the Frankenhuis family during the war years by arranging hiding for 13 persons, and visitations between the family members offering emotional support. While the Frankenhuis family was incarcerated in the camps, she managed to elude her direct connection and was instrumental in helping save them from deportation to Auschwitz via the Jewish Council. She earned the title “Angel” because of her devotion in saving the lives of the Frankenhuis family. From the Memoirs: This is where Rita (Boijenk) lived. An upper floor apartment, in the Van Alkemadelaan. A number 33, a house nothing but…