As many of you reading this already know, the book Jew Face is the story of my parents journeys and survival during the Nazi occupation of Holland between 1940-1945. There are many reasons this story is important. Some are general for a large group of people, while others are more pertinent to the individuals in the story. The most significant being the impact it has on all the family members involved and the generations that have followed. My parents, Nardus and Sipora Groen, started a new world with the birth of their first son, and my oldest brother Marcel. He would be followed by Leo, Ruben, my one sister Debby, and then me. Between the children my parents would get 12 grandchildren, and as it stands now, 8 great grandchildren. It should be noted that the 8 great grandchildren come from only 3 of the grandchildren, the 3 oldest children of Marcel and his wife Bernice, so there is still plenty of opportunity for the remaining grandchildren to add to that number. It is a story of survival in the greatest sense. A world almost destroyed now stands at over 30 people and growing, and that is without counting extended family. The reason for this post today is because some events and family members represent the glory and greatness that is the survival of a family. This weekend my nephew Justin and his fiance Kim will be married. Justin, who is the youngest of Marcel and Bernice's children is one of those people who is loved and respected by those who know him, and has the great ability to show that love and respect in return on a regular basis. Nothing symbolizes it more than the relationship he had with his "Opa" and still has with his "Oma". Opa and Oma are the Dutch words for grandfather and grandmother and in this case represent my parents, Nardus and Sipora Groen. I still remember when my father had his heart attack about 15 years ago on the 7th day of Passover, and walking up and finding Justin holding him in his arms in the back of a police car right outside Beth Shalom synagogue in Elkins Park, Pa. until the ambulance arrived. Their relationship would always be close and even though my father passed away close to 6 years ago, Justin still wears the pin he gave him on the lapel of his suit in synagogue and intends to use his Opa's Talit (prayer shawl) at his upcoming wedding. His relationship with his Oma may be even more special. This is a relationship of mutual affection and respect rarely seen between 2 people separated by 58 years, be it relatives or not. They not only love and respect each other but they enjoy each other's company in a very special way, and as a son and a uncle it always warms my heart to see. As I write this piece, a few days prior to the wedding, the best news of all may be that Justin is marrying a woman with the same wonderful qualities he possesses and someone with the same values of goodness and love for family and friends we wish everyone possessed. As Kim joins the family this weekend the family grows and the significance of what was saved so many years ago becomes even more significant and beautiful. It is said that when you save one person you save an entire world. As I write this I have joy in my heart for the world of my parents that was saved, and the world that it has become with the generations to follow.
Tag Archives: Bernice Groen
Generations of Love and Family
Complete List of Names in “Jew Face”
This page is a listing of every name mentioned in the book “Jew Face:A story of love and heroism in Nazi-occupied Holland.”
The book is the story of Nardus and Sipora Groen. They are the first 2 names mentioned in the book. The following is a listing of every other name mentioned in the book.
1-Leendert Groen – father of Nardus
2-Maryan Groen -Zeelander-mother of Nardus
3-Meyer Groen -brother of Nardus
4-David Groen -brother of Nardus
5-Sofia Groen -sister of Nardus
6-Elizabeth Groen -sister of Nardus
7-Meyer Roos -librarian in Jewish ghetto(unconfirmed first name)
8-Becca Roos -librarian in Jewish ghetto(unconfirmed first name)
9-Marcel Rodrigues -Lopes-father of Sipora
10-Deborah Rodrigues-Lopes -mother of Sipora
11-Abraham(Bram) Rodrigues-Lopes -brother of Sipora
12-Emmy -housekeeper in Sipora’s house
13-Hans de Jong -fiance of Sipora
14-Hetty de Jong -sister of Hans
15-Neville Chamberlain -British Prime Minister
16-Jacques Baruch -Brother in law of Nardus (married to Sofia) and Active member of Dutch and later French resistance
17-Dirk Jan de Geer -Dutch Prime Minister
18-Queen Wilhelmina -Queen of the Netherlands
19-Pieter Gerbrandy -Dutch Prime Minister
20- Arthur Seyss-Inquart -Austrian born Nazi leader. Top official in the Netherlands
21-Adolph Hitler -Head of Nazi party
22-Benito Mussolini -fascist ruler of Italy
23- Francisco Franco -fascist leader of Spain
24- Anton Mussert Head of Dutch fascist party (NSB)
25- David Van Hasselt -cousin of Sipora
26-Aaron Mozes -brother in law of Nardus. (Married to Elizabeth)
27-Ferdinand aus der Funten -Nazi administrator in Amsterdam
28-Sam Abram -friend of Nardus
29- Nettie Abram -sister of Sam Abram
30-Block -Dutch Nazi informant (first name unconfirmed)
31-Cornelius Gugjes -Alias of Nardus
32-Jan Coopman -Underground contact (unconfirmed name)
33- Roe Groen -sister in law of Nardus (married to Meyer)
34- Martha Groen -sister in law of Nardus (married to David)
35- Thea -niece of Nardus (daughter of David & Martha)
36- Lilly -friend of Sipora
37- Jan Van de Berg -best friend of Marcel Rodrigues-Lopes
38- Reina Van Creveld -friend of Nardus and Directress of NIZ (Hospital)
39- Schapman -Black marketeer in Zwolle
40- Jan Henraat -Alias of Nardus
41- Joop Van de Berg -farmer near Zwolle (unconfirmed first name)
42- Jan Boekman -owner of boat where Sipora worked and found shelter (unconfirmed name)
43- Spegt -alias of high level operative in Dutch resistance (real name believed to be Stoker)
44-Minister Vogelaar – Religious leader from Lemerlerveld
45-Kruithof -Resistance operative who provided shelter to Sipora
46- Den Olde -Young couple that provided shelter to Sipora
47-Tinie -Alias of Sipora
48-Albert Jan Immink -high level Resistance operative
49-Jansje Immink -wife of Albert Jan
50-Lubertus te Kiefte -high level resistance operative. Provided shelter to Sipora
51-Geeske te Kiefte -wife of Lubertus. Provided shelter to Sipora
52-Gerrit te Kiefte -Son of Lubertus and Geeske
53-Jan te Kiefte -brother of Lubertus
54-Tina te Kiefte -wife of Jan te Kiefte
55-Gerrit Jan te Kiefte -son of Jan and Tina
56-Lies te Kiefte -daughter of Jan and Tina
57-Aaltje te Kiefte -daughter of Jan and Tina
58-Carly -Jewish boy in hiding at home of Jan and Tina
59-Kryn Hoogeboom -mobile supermarket owner in Lemerlerveld
60-Minister Keres -religious leader in Lemerlerveld
61-Schapman -NSB (Dutch fascist party) member in Lemerlerveld (unconfirmed first name)
62-Oosterwegel -high level resistance operative in Lemerlerveld (unconfirmed first name)
63- Aunt Anna- relative of Lubertus and Geeske and mobile nurse in Lemerlerveld
64-Aantje te Kiefte -daughter of Lubertus and Geeske
65-Johann Baptist Albin Rauter -top Nazi SS leader in the Netherlands
66-Joop -nephew of Lubertus and Geeske (unconfirmed last name)
67-Marcel Lubertus Groen -son of Nardus and Sipora
68-Rabbi Tal -Chief Rabbi of Holland after the war
69-Leo Groen -son of Nardus and Sipora
70-Bernice Groen -wife of Marcel Groen
71-Ruben Groen -son of Nardus and Sipora
72-Professor Jacob Marcus -high level Director at Hebrew Union College and religious leader in Cincinnati
73-Rabbi Eleizer Silver -Head of Agudah North America, Orthodox Rabbi and religious leader in Cincinnati
74-Rabbi Goldfeder -religious leader and Conservative Rabbi in Cincinnati
75-Deborah Miriam Groen -daughter of Nardus and Sipora
76- David Groen -son of Nardus and Sipora
Holland's Heroes 