Spirituality

Hands-on Learning
from page 35

A Post-Holocaust Love Story

Sleutelbergs celebrate wedding of rescuers' granddaughter.

W

ith these words, Rabbi
Arnie Sleutelberg began
the non-sectarian wedding:
"Who could have imagined 70 years
ago, when the Nazis threw the de Kock
family and Edith Hes together, that
not only would young Edith survive
the war with her righteous host fam-
ily, but they also would become and
remain two families intertwined as
one.
"And nearly 70 years later, as the
sole survivor of the war generation,
Edith Hes Sleutelberg would be asked
by Krijna to sign her name as wit-
ness to her marriage to Bas Hagoort
on this day.
"Were it not for the selflessness
and generosity of the de Kock fam-
ily, not only would Edith have been
murdered, but her children also
would have never come to be, both of
whom, Ester and I, are here also this
day to bear witness and to celebrate
the deep and abiding love of Krijna
and Bas. For the rabbi son of the
rescued to help officiate the wedding
of the granddaughter of the rescuers
is a moment that has probably never
happened anywhere in history. Bas,
Krijna: I will be forever humbled by
the great honor you give to me; to
be able to share some thoughts and
prayers on this most important day:"
Rabbi Arnie co-officiated the wed-
ding with de Kock family friend and
Magistrate Margot Vercuil and Rev.
Hans Jansen, the family's pastor.
In 1982, the de Kock family was hon-
ored by Israel's Yad Vashem for inclusion
in the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles.
A ceremony was held in Holland as well
as at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem with
then student rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg
and his Hebrew Union College class-
mates in attendance. In most cases,
those who were hidden children did not
stay in contact with their rescuers. For
many who did, the years took their toll
and the relationship was lost.
In the case of the Sleutelberg/
de Kock families, the relationship
now continues into the third, fourth
and fifth generations. Many of those
present at the wedding did not know
the history of the de Kock family.
Attendees wondered why a rabbi
from America was an officiant. After
the emotional ceremony, everyone
in attendance felt that they had wit-

36

Septembei• 16 • 2010

JN

able to write their names on parch-
ment paper in Hebrew.
A highlight for some was the
Shofar factory demonstration.
"The crowd was able to see how
a ram's horn is cured, measured,
sawed, drilled and polished to create
a shofar, a semi-musical horn used
on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New
Year, and at the end of Yom Kippur,"
Silberberg said.
The kids also had a lesson in
sounding the shofar's traditional
notes.
"The hands-on approach is the
best way to teach:' Rabbi Silberberg
said. "With the High Holidays
around the corner, and everyone
mentally lining up their wish list to
God, now is the time to ready the
shofar, the honey dish and Torah
parchments, to call out to God to
bless us with a year of peace, happi-
ness and good health." T1

(SCRIBE)

Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg and fellow wedding officiants Magistrate Margot Vercuil

and Pastor Hans Jansen stand over the newlyweds, Krijna and Bas Hagoort.

4fialatf
tap x

Elana Hochbaum, 7, of West

Bloomfield writes her name in

Hebrew on parchment paper.

The bride Krijna is the granddaughter of the family who hid Edith Sleutelberg

from the Nazis, saving her life.

nessed something quite remarkable.
"I still can't quite get my head
around it," said Rabbi Arnie. "It was
a mountaintop moment for me and
I'm so glad I was able to share it with
my mother, sister and my partner,
Robert, as well. It felt like I was able
to give a bit to the family that made
it possible for me to be born. But in
reality, they gave me a gift — the
privilege of sanctifying their union.
"May both families go from
strength to strength for genera-
tions to come." F-1

Sara Phillips, 9, of West

Bloomfield, and her brother

Adam, 12, stop by a table

displaying animal horns.

The newlyweds embrace Edith Sleutelberg.