Central Israelite Orphanage - Centraal Israëlitisch Weeshuis

https://ugtf.nl/wp/listing/nieuwegracht-92/

Address: Nieuwegracht 92, 3512 LX Utrecht, Netherlands

Lien told that the kitchen of the orphanage was kosher. The food was good. The children had to take turns helping with cleaning up and washing up. Except on Friday night, when there was help. The children were then allowed to go to the main hall. There they got candy and other tasty things. So they could stay up longer. The orphanage was considered a small orphanage compared to other orphanages. This was better because they could pay more attention to the children. In addition, education and religion were very important in the orphanage. They went to shul twice a day. They also learned to read and write Hebrew.

On May 10, 1940, the Netherlands was attacked and occupied by the Germans. In the beginning they did not notice much of this in the orphanage. As early as 1938-1939, German children had arrived who had fled after the Kristallnacht. On September 1, 1941, Jewish children were no longer allowed to attend public schools. So Bennie and Lien temporarily went to a school for Jewish children only. Before that they just went to school in Utrecht.

On May 3, 1942, all Jews aged 6 and older are required to wear a Star of David on the street. So are the children of the orphanage. Lien and Bennie also had to wear this.

Nr 17 is Lien Nr 18 is Bennie. They went to a summer house for a summer holiday with all the kids.

Meijer, Lien, Benny Van Spier

Dinning Room

Summer Holiday

17, 18 Benny and Lien