Exhibition- Righteous Among the Nations- Ten Berge Family
The Wiener Library for the Study of The Nazi era and the Holocaust had the honor to host an event for the Holocaust survivor, Gideon Lotan, and to hear his survival story by the Ten-Berge Family during the war.
Joseph (Sjef) and Mary ten Berge were devout Catholics who lived in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, with their six children. Joseph ten Berge was a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Mary, a schoolteacher. In 1943, the Ten-Berge family, which was in contact with the Resistance, took under their wings the 6-year-old Gideon. Since his looks stood out among the other children, he had to wear a hat to hide his dark hair whenever he was outside. Unlike the other Ten Berge children, Gideon couldn’t attend school, and Mary took it upon herself to teach him fundamental reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. After taking Gideon into their home, the Ten Berge family rescued another Jewish girl, Lida Lissauer. Gideon and Lida observed the Jewish holidays and costumes. After the war, Gideon who lost his parents, made an ‘Aliya’ to Israel.
In June 1989, Joseph and Mary ten Berge were recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.
