Etty Hillesum

Etty Hillesum ( born January 15, 1914 Esther Hillesum in Middelburg, † November 30, 1943 in the concentration camp Auschwitz -Birkenau ) was a Dutch- Jewish teacher. Your posthumously published diaries from the years 1941-1943 they made known internationally.

Life

Since 1924 Esther " Etty " Hillesum lived in Deventer, where he attended the urban school. Her father, Louis, who first worked in Middelburg as a teacher of Latin, Greek and other subjects, was then rector of this school. Etty's mother Rebecca née Bernstein came from Russia. Etty grew up in a secular or Christian atmosphere without Jewish education. From 1932 she studied in Amsterdam Slavic Studies; later Jura. Etty had two brothers: Mischa, who was a talented pianist, and Jaap (Jacob), the doctor was. In 1941 she met who had fled from Germany Julius Spier, a Chiropsychologen know, and there was a love affair.

On the advice of Etty Hillesum Spier began to write a diary. Its purpose is that Etty by compare earlier sections of the diary with newer entries can examine your own spiritual development. In this literary significant work she described herself analytically their feelings, everyday life experiences and ways of thinking. Her lover Julius Spier is mentioned in the diary with the letter p.

In 1942, Etty Hillesum was that for some time Jewish people, especially students who had helped a position at Joodsche Raad ( Jewish Council ), one set up by the German occupiers advisory, information and administrative center for the Jewish population of the Netherlands. Since the employees had to be Jewish yourself, this felt at first a certain security. But soon it turned out that the Germans had forced the Council a preparatory role in the process of persecution and extermination. Already after two weeks of Etty Hillesum announced this to her as " hell " perceived activity.

In August 1942, her call came for deportation to the Westerbork transit camp. Since her special pass of the Judenrat was still valid, she went from there several times back to Amsterdam. Her diary she could bring to the family friend Smelik in safety; submerge she refused, however. On September 7, 1943, she had to Westerbork on a transport to Auschwitz - Birkenau, where she saw her sacked in 1940 by the Nazis father and other relatives. On November 30, 1943 Etty Hillesum was murdered there.

In 1981, her diary verstoorde leven ( 'destroyed life, " German translation in 1983 under the title: The thinking heart of the barracks ) was published under the title Het. Later, their numerous letters, especially from the times published in Westerbork. It was the express wish of Etty Hillesum, that their writings would be published. Smelik family donated the originals in 1986 the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam.

In Deventer a Etty Hillesum - Center ( memory center ) was established in 1995 in the former synagogue furnishings.

André Bossuroy published a 2009 film in which the diaries give impetus and inspiration for a trip through Europe.

Hildegard Elisabeth Keller Etty Hillesum integrated as one of five main female characters in the Trilogy of the Timeless ( 2011). The third volume of The Ocean in the thimble contains a radio play with selected passages from Etty Hillesum's diaries and letters.