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On Saturday, June 1st, the Sobibor Memorial Commemoration took place for the third time at the Spiegel monument ‘Sobibor – and what are you doing?’ located at Van Eeghenlaan (entrance to Vondelpark) in Amsterdam. Despite limited publicity beforehand, around 150 people gathered on this chilly June afternoon to attend the commemoration.

Prior to the official commemoration, students from Theaterschool Utrecht, in collaboration with Stichting ‘Theater Na de Dam’, performed a shortened version of their play, Het kind is niet meer, een mens is pas vergeten, als zijn naam vergeten (The child is no more, a person is only forgotten when their name is forgotten), created by theater maker Gilles Groot. Eighteen young actors delivered a poignant performance about the Jewish orphanage in Utrecht, from which many children were tragically murdered in Sobibor.

Christine Gispen-de Wied, Chair of the Sobibor Foundation, welcomed everyone and gave a meaningful speech. She reflected on how Jules Schelvis, 25 years after founding the Foundation, might have felt if he were sitting in the front row today.

Following this, three testimonies were read aloud: one from a perpetrator, one from a bystander, and one from a victim. Natascha van Weezel then read one of her recent columns from the Parool newspaper. Recently awarded the Pim Fortuyn Prize for her courage and commitment to free speech, Natascha moved the audience with a beautiful personal story. The presence of her one-year-old son Max added an extra personal touch to her narrative.

Mirjam van Dam and Ed Boekee complemented Natascha’s words with their beautiful Yiddish music.

After a solemn minute of silence, speakers and attendees placed stones at the monument. The commemoration concluded with a gathering at ‘Het Blauwe Theehuis’ in the Vondelpark, marking the end of yet another dignified, meaningful, and substantial remembrance.

The Sobibor Foundation participated in an International Seminar Tour in Lublin and Region June 16-21, 2024: Unveiling ‘Aktion Reinhardt’: A Multiperspective Exploration. The seminar was organized by Brama Grodzka Gate-Teatr NN in Lublin.

Teatr NN is a special organization, housed in the Grodza Gate in Lublin, the gate that originally separated the Jewish and Christian parts of the city. During the war, the Jewish ghetto was built in the neighborhood outside the gate. Teatr NN organizes theatre performances and art productions that all focus on the life of the (pre)-war Jewish population in Lublin. After the war, this population group was never part of the history of the city of Lublin until very recently. Also little is known about the central position Lublin occupied in Aktion Reinhardt, the operational heart of the Holocaust.

The seminar focused on this piece of history, of which Sobibor is one of the three extermination camps. With organizations from Israel, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland and the Netherlands, the sites were visited and the different ways of commemorating and transferring knowledge to the next generations were discussed. A fascinating network that showed how much we can still learn from each other to make a ‘common’ narrative possible and this part of history of the Holocaust. For more information about the Brama Grodzka Gate and their activities, see this link.

In terms of museums, the Grodzka Gate is worth a visit. In this interesting building, 43,000 folders have been collected, 16,000 interviews have been recorded, giving a picture of pre-war life. The folders represent every inhabitant of Lublin before the war. At least half of the folders are empty; no name, no addresses, no pictures of the people who were taken away. The Grodzka Gate works every day to search for and collect new data. An impressive task, which does not leave anyone who visits the Teatr unmoved.

This past May, Laurens van Hofslot and Olivia Rice, students from University College Utrecht, participated in the commemorative trip. Their involvement was linked to their participation in the interview project of Stichting Sobibor. For this project, both have interviewed various survivors and descendants of the Holocaust. The main goal of this ongoing project is to document the wartime and life stories for families. As a culmination, Olivia and Laurens joined the commemorative trip to Sobíbor.

Laurens writes that although he is deeply involved with this topic through the interview project, he himself does not have a Jewish background. He was initially worried that this might make him feel like an outsider, but nothing was further from the truth. Olivia and he were warmly welcomed into the group, and this trip provided him with valuable new insights and knowledge. The most significant learning experience, writes Olivia, was not from the different museums or places we visited, but from being part of the group. The group was open, friendly, and always ready for a chat during bus rides and pleasant dinners. These interactions were not merely superficial; Olivia also learned a great deal about various aspects of Jewish culture.

During the trip, we visited many different places. Our journey started in Warsaw, where we arrived by plane. Our first visit was to the Jewish Historical Institute, where we received a fascinating and shocking insight into life in the Warsaw ghetto and how the Jewish resistance was organized during the war. After this visit, we traveled to Lublin, where we stayed at a hotel during the trip. On days 2 and 3, we visited Wlodawa with the group to see two synagogues. These synagogues can be visited but are no longer in use. There, we learned more about the history of the Jewish community in this region. From Wlodawa, we proceeded to Sobíbor camp, where we received a brief explanation of what the camp looked like and how it operated, complete with testimonies from survivors. There was also an opportunity to visit the museum and see the memorial path with the stones.

In accordance with Jewish tradition, we also held a memorial ceremony at the ash mound, where people could name their family members. This moment was very emotional and left a deep impression. It was very powerful to see and hear that, despite everything, these families could be here to honor their relatives, despite the immense suffering inflicted upon their families. Olivia writes how the kind and friendly group made this moment of remembrance in Sobibor camp even more poignant. “I truly realized that day what the impact of the Holocaust really was. It is easy in the academic world to distance yourself from the tragedies and human rights violations you learn about. The commemoration left an impact that ensures I will never do this again.” Laurens also writes that as a student, you can sometimes easily fall into the trap of dealing with Holocaust information in an academic manner, but this commemoration made the stories of the Holocaust tangible for him in a new way. The stark contrast between the location of Sobíbor camp—a seemingly peaceful place in the middle of the forest, where the sun shines, and birds sing—and the atrocities that took place there was jarring.

The most remarkable thing to see and experience was the strength of the group, not only in honoring their relatives but especially in their efforts to add an educational element to the trip. On the third day of the trip, a group of Polish students from Lublin joined us. It was a very valuable addition to our second visit, as we could learn a lot from each other, and the descendants and survivors in our group could share their family stories with this new generation. On the last day of our trip, we returned to Warsaw, this time visiting the Polin Museum. Here, we had the chance to immerse ourselves interactively in the history of the Jewish population in Poland.

Laurens concludes that the entire trip was an emotional but incredibly special and valuable experience. “I think I will never forget this experience, and I came home with a new perspective on both this dark part of our shared history and the world around me. I am very grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip and feel fortunate that Olivia and I could be part of such a close-knit group with different families, generations, and backgrounds where we learned a lot from each other and formed a special connection in a short time!”

This year, the Rozendaal family, with two brothers, three sisters, a granddaughter, and their partners, also joined the commemorative trip. During the memorial ceremony, the eldest brother, Walter, recited the following poem written by his son Bas:

How Can the Sun Shine in Hell?

My expectations pitch dark,
like a looming thundercloud.

What unfolded here,
impossible to imagine, nor comprehend.

A systematic murder machine
operated by flesh and blood.

How could I think that, from my balcony,
I heard the same night sounds as you did then?

Driven in at morning,
never to see the evening.

And now, here I stand with my dear Sanne,
in a bewildering contrast.

No mud, no grim shroud,
but a warm spring sun.

How can a place like this
look like a peaceful nature reserve?

Sobibor, place of doom and survival,
too heavy for me to hear about.

For years it’s echoed in my mind,
drawing personal conclusions.

I see myself a victim,
one of them.

One of the millions
who had to be exterminated.

Not worthy to exist,
not meant to live.

And that’s why I am here,
no longer trapped in those thoughts.

I wish to honor and remember,
I am not dead, I live.

Perhaps this is my tribute,
my breath each day.

My existence, my descendants,
a defiant gesture to the madness.

And that is why the sun may shine here,
why life may go on here too.

Because no budding green leaf on the trees,
no truck dumping gravel,

Can make us forget history,
as long as we are here,
that we are here.

We published the annual report 2023.

Annual Report 2023 Sobibor Foundation

Jaarverslag 2023 Stichting Sobibor (Dutch)

It always feels good to look back at the end of the year: what did we experience together in 2023?

The year started well. We announced an important year: 80 years ago, in October 1943, the uprising in Sobibor broke out. Because of the uprising, we know the history of a place that was meant to remain unknown, a place that remained obscure to those who were there after the war.

Now, after 80 years, a new museum stands on this site, honoring the victims in a way that’s appropriate (if one can say so); here, you can mourn, name the victims, and reflect on how you want to stand in the world. This is the place whose story must continue to be told. We are convinced of this; it remains our mission.

This thought was much needed when the world changed on October 7th. The horrific attack by Hamas in Israel deeply affected us. Although we as a Foundation consciously do not engage in public debate, it is clear that the events in Israel and Gaza are very close to our hearts. This overshadows our reflections, and in this context, I write this message.

In February, we held our networking event. The turnout was large and diverse, reminding us again of the importance of being able to act in a strong network. We introduced our ‘oral history’ project with students from the University College Utrecht. Beautiful conversations with first-generation survivors can be seen and heard on our website. If you are interested in participating and sharing your story, please let us know on info@sobibor.org!

Quietly, on May 14, 2023, in Herzliya, Israel, the last survivor of Sobibor, Sophia Engelsman-Huisman, passed away. She was one of the 18 Dutch survivors of the Sobibor extermination camp and the last survivor of the 34,313 Jews deported from Westerbork to Sobibor.

And then ‘Sjiwwe for Sobibor’; a theatre project about the 19 trains that went to Sobibor between March and July 1943. ‘Theater Roestvrij’ created a beautiful, moving performance about life in Westerbork before departure and on the train. This production was a collaboration with ‘Theater Na de Dam’ (‘Theatre after the Dam‘), Westerbork Memorial, and the Sobibor Foundation.

The young actors also performed before our memorial on June 1st near the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. A performance right on the street. Passersby stopped, and it was beautiful to see young people portray history in this way.

The young actors also played an adapted performance after the commemoration of the Children’s Transports in Camp Vught, enhancing this year’s memorial. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can find it on YouTube.

Rosanne Kropman’s book was presented on October 10th in Amsterdam. Thanks to Marc van Velzen, the great-grandson of Jacob’s widow, Rosanne Kropman found photos of Jozeph Jacobs, the Dutchman who planned an uprising in Sobibor in the summer of 1943. The book is now in its third edition, including the discovered photos. The book is at the moment only available in Dutch.

The podcast ‘Erased’ by Audiodroom also deserves mention. It tells the story and the search for Ilse Wagner, a forgotten classmate of Anne Frank. The podcast, partly recorded in Sobibor, is also a beautiful document about Sobibor and its history. The entire podcast is available weggegumd.nl.

Our field and remembrance trips this year were a heartwarming success. During the memorial trip in May, relatives could welcome their new stones. On the in-depth trip, the teachers’ program developed well; more and more teaching materials and methods are being exchanged.

At the beginning of the summer, Ingrid Zijlstra stepped down as secretary and board member. She managed our website, newsletters, and much more for over five years. Fortunately, we found Naomi Koster willing to join the board. We are very pleased with her extensive experience and large network.

For the first time in 3 years, the International Youth Conference was organized in October. This year also marked the 10th anniversary of the first International Youth Conference. We gathered all Dutch participants for a first lustrum celebration at the Provinciehuis in Arnhem. The youngsters, now spread across the country, still found common ground in their memories of the trip. The impact was well articulated in a survey we conducted earlier this year among the youngsters: ‘being there is so much more important than just having heard about it’. If you are interested in the survey results, you can review them here.

On October 12th and 14th, the commemoration of the Sobibor uprising took place. We traveled there with the board and former board, including the daughter of Jules Schelvis. In Sobibor, we met the Dutch delegation, including outgoing Prime Minister Rutte, who gave the opening speech at the official commemoration; it was subdued and well-considered. On October 14th, we had control over the memorial ourselves, along with Bildungswerk Stanislaw Hantz. With a large group, including the youngsters from the International Youth Conference, we walked the grounds, from the roll call area, through the Lane of Remembrance, to the ash hill. We listened to speeches by Marvin Raab, Tagan Engel, and Rena Blatt, relatives of uprising survivors, and named names. We paused at the stones. The new Lane of Remembrance/Memorial Lane is impressive.

The Dutch Television (NOS) created a special documentary. They told the story of the victims from Westerbork and Sobibor. You can also watch this documentary online.

We remain more aware than ever that we must continue to tell our stories. This was also done by Professor Dr. Marc van Berkel with his story about Holocaust education during the Sobibor lecture at the Amsterdam Resistance Museum at the end of October. The ensuing discussion was intense.

Fortunately, we were able to end the year festively with the awarding of the Jules Schelvis Youth Prize to Oscar Visser. Oscar interviewed his grandfather Joost van Hilten about the war and Sobibor. From the jury report: ‘Oscar’s work describes a process in which, by interviewing a survivor, he not only allows that person to tell their story but also becomes part of the process of passing on the story of Sobibor’. Theater Roestvrij received an honorable mention for ‘Sjiwwe for Sobibor’

This is what we experienced together in 2023. We are on the eve of 2024, the year that the Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary! I once again thank my fellow board members Petra, Menno, Bernolf, Fergal, Marijke and Naomi for all the work they do.

Let’s all hope that 2024 can be a calmer year in the world!

Happy New Year

Christine Gispen-de Wied
December 30, 2023

The Sobibor Foundation is proud to announce that the Jules Schelvis Youth Prize 2023 has been awarded to Oscar Visser. His paper, “My Family and Sobibor” (Dutch) which stands out for its clear and almost matter-of-fact writing style, deals with the past of the Sobibor extermination camp in a way that is both informative and poignant.

Oscar, a high school student, has chosen an unusual perspective for his paper. Despite personal involvement through the loss of family members, including three in Sobibor and one in Auschwitz, he chooses to step back from individual suffering and focus on the facts: the decision making surrounding the construction of the camp, the executive leadership, the gruesome procedures and the physical layout of Sobibor.

Oscar’s paper gives space to the cold facts, after which he modestly connects to the personal by describing the history of four Stolpersteine in Amsterdam. The sober account of the uprising in Sobibor and the current state of the former camp form the conclusion of his argument, which, however, does not end before he echoes the appeal of Jules Schelvis himself: the story of Sobibor must continue to be told.

Through this approach, the suffering of individuals does not become a veil that obscures the view of the systematic processes of the Holocaust. On the contrary, it strengthens awareness of the immense impact of the events in Sobibor. Oscar demonstrates that a factual approach, in the spirit of Jules Schelvis’s own testimonies, does not mitigate the horror, but the call for remembered

With this piece of work, the Jules Schelvis Youth Prize becomes a symbol of the importance of remembering in a way that encourages thought and action. Oscar Visser’s approach has reinforced the mission of the Sobibor Foundation: to constantly remember and learn from history, so that it never repeats itself.

There were four entries this year.

1. Pien Gubbels (Drawing with poem)
2. Oscar L. Visser (Workpiece: My family and Sobibor)
3. Jop van Schaik, Morris Kuijk, Ivo van Anraad, Jens Bunt (Profile paper Sobibor)
4. Performing group of 20 young people within Stainless Theater (Shiwwe for Sobibor)

The jury decided unanimously to advise the board of the Sobibor Foundation to award the Jules Schelvis Scholierenprijs 2023 to Oscar Visser:

“Our considerations here were that Oscar’s piece reports on a process in which, by interviewing a survivor, he both gives that person the opportunity to tell his story and also becomes part of that process of passing on the story of Sobibor himself. It takes courage to do such a thing within the family and then, despite the personal connections, to keep a distance from the obviously highly charged and emotional subject. Oscar succeeded. His intention to travel to Poland with his grandfather, by the way, also indicates that the process is not yet complete.

We know from other stories, furthermore, that the point of completion is often not reached either. But that’s not a bad thing. We need each other to deal with this history. The narrator of the story – Oscar’s grandfather – steps in the footsteps of Jules Schelvis and the listener, by recording the story, also follows those footsteps.

Oscar was captivated by his family’s story and knew he had to interview his grandfather. It cannot fail to have deepened his relationship with his grandfather and – we noted – he also indicates that he still wants to visit the camps in former Nazi-occupied Poland with his grandfather. We find it very special that he wants to do that as a young man. If he succeeds, it will be a life-defining experience, perhaps healing for his grandfather, but it is certain that – should Oscar be given it – he will pass on and tell this story and visit to Sobibor to his own children and grandchildren in the future, in the spirit of Jules Schelvis.”.

A special mention by the jury is awarded to the acting group of 20 young people within Roestvrij Theater for the play Shiwwe for Sobibor. The jury: “sitting a shiwwe, that is observing the seven days of mourning when you have just lost a blood relative to death. Twenty young people, associated with Roestvrij Theater, have created unique performances in a series of over twenty performances that are different and tie in with specific stories of transports from Wersterbork to Sobibor. They did so in a way that made the audience feel – as befits a shiwwe – that the loss was recent and still felt in everything. An intensive project that must have made a great impression not only on the spectator, but also on the young people.”

The Sobibor Foundation established this prize in 2020 for young people, who in a special way bring attention to the former Nazi extermination camp Sobibor and feel involved in contributing to the lasting memory of Sobibor. The Jules Schelvis Youth Prize consists of a certificate and a sum of €250.

Jury members for the Jules Schelvis Scholierenprijs 2023 were:
Jeroen van den Eijnde, director of National Monument Camp Vught, Maarten Eddes, former chairman of the Sobibor Foundation and Doede Sijtsma, from the Province of Gelderland since 2002 officially involved in developments in Sobibor.