[CLI Part 26] do_51PP5rmEYCWogDFAjfXYB

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Discussion Question

Sophia SPIJER née VORST #dutch #female #jew

Survived in hiding in St. Pancras:

https://collections.yadvashem.org/en/righteous/4059989

Verweel, Jan & Barbara & Klaas Jan Verweel, a gardener, and his younger sister and brother, Barbara and Klaas, both teachers in the local Christian school, lived in a small house in St. Pancras, North Holland. Their house consisted of two small rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor and two bedrooms separated by a windowless landing on the second floor. The property was barely big enough to house the three siblings yet they nevertheless welcomed 55-year-old Sophie Speyer-Vorst on July 3, 1943, and sheltered her from the Germans until the liberation two years later. The siblings told people that the woman was their housekeeper and since she did not have a Jewish appearance the story was believed. The Verveers always treated Sophie considerately and tried to spare her from the dirtiest household chores. The Verweels even apologized to her for paying her such a low wage. During her time in hiding with the Verweels, Sophie’s husband also found refuge there for ten weeks. However, it became impossible for him to remain and so he had to move. Mr. Speyer had to travel by train to his next hideout and, in order to reassure Sophie of her husband’s safety, Klaas traveled with him, though in a separate compartment. Mr. Speyer reached his destination safely but was later deported, never to return. For the last six months of the war, the Verweels hid Sophie’s daughter, 20-year-old Elisabeth, in their home. Jan, Barbara, and Klaas endured all the hardship of saving these Jewish fugitives without ever receiving financial remuneration. They were pious Christians and were motivated by their determination to fight evil. On December 10, 1972, Yad Vashem recognized Jan Verweel, his brother Klaas Verweel, and his sister, Barbara Verweel as Righteous Among the Nations.

Het huis was nauwelijks groot genoeg om de twee broers en zus te huisvesten, maar toch verwelkomden ze begin juli 1943 de 55-jarige Sofia Sjefarnatz (Sophie) Spijer-Vorst (1890-1986) en lieten haar bij hen wonen tot de bevrijding twee jaar later. De broers en zus vertelden hun omgeving dat de vrouw hun huishoudster was en omdat ze geen joodse uitstraling had, werd het verhaal geloofd. De Verweels behandelden Sophie altijd attent en probeerden haar te sparen voor de meest vervelende huishoudelijke taken, zij verontschuldigden zich zelfs voor het feit dat ze haar zo’n laag loon uitbetaalden. Gedurende de laatste zes maanden van de oorlog verborgen de Verweels ook de dochter van Sophie en Hartog, Elizabeth Katerina Elleke Spijer (1924-1973), in hun huis.

and

Hartog Spijer had gone into hiding in St. Pancras with his wife and one child. When he no longer felt safe there, he was transferred by an illegal organisation to a hidden camp in the Soerel woods between Nunspeet and Vierhouten, the so-called ‚Pas-Op-camp‘, where approximately 80 people were hiding out (Jews, students, allied pilots, a Russian, a German deserter and members of the resistance). Through an unfortunate coincidence, the camp was discovered by the SS. Hartog Spijer was caught together with other Jews in hiding and he was killed near Vierhouten. He was reburied after the war in the Jewish cemetery in Muiderberg. His wife and children survived the war.

Source: Hartog Spijer

https://www.joodsmonument.nl/en/page/460414/partner-of-hartog-spijer-and-his-family

https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/9853340b-9dd7-56a3-e053-b784100ade19?person=9853340b-9dd8-56a3-e053-b784100ade19

Husband: Hartog Spijer
Hartog Spijer

Brother: Meijer Vorst
https://www.joodsmonument.nl/en/page/206183/meijer-vorst