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Philosophy of life, Peter van Pels

Peter van Pels attended a Jewish primary school and took Jewish classes, but according to Anne, he had no connection with the faith.

Subject

Peter van Pels was registered with the Synagogen-Gemeinde Osnabrück together with his parents. On 26 June 1937, all three of them were deregistered there in the context of their departure to Amsterdam.[1]

Peter attended the Israelitische Elementairschule in Osnabrück, attached to the Synagoge-Gemeinde of Osnabrück. There he was taught by Abraham Trepp who, in addition to being a teacher, also held the position of preacher, cantor and teacher of religion in the synagogue.[2]

During his time at school, students were regularly scolded and besieged by members of the Hitler Youth.[3];[4]

On Peter van Pels' archive card in the Amsterdam population register, the section on religion reads: NI (New Israelite).[5]

According to Hilde Goldberg-Jacobsthal, Peter van Pels took Jewish lessons in Rabbi Mehler's class at the Liberal Jewish Congregation. Here he taught mainly Jewish history.[6]

In the directions Otto Frank gave to the writers of the play, Goodrich and Hackett, he wrote that the Van Pels family participated in Hanukkah celebrations during the period in hiding.[7]

In her diary, Anne Frank writes that Peter has little connection with his Jewish identity and also that to her regret he has no religion, mocks Jesus Christ and curses the name of God.[8]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Niedersächsiches Landesarchiv - Standort Osnabrück, Dep.3bIV inv. nr. 2166: Kartotheek Synagogengemeinde Osnabrück.
  2. ^ Peter Junk & Martina Sellmeyer, Stationen auf dem Weg nach Auschwitz. Entrechtung, Vertreibung, Vernichtung Juden in Osnabrück 1900-1945. Ein Gedenkbuch, Osnabrück: Rasch Verlag Bramsche, 1988, p. 174-178.
  3. ^ Junk & Sellemeyer, Stationen auf dem Weg nach Auschwitz, p. 177
  4. ^ Anne Frank Stichting (AFS), Getuigenarchief, Jacobson, Rudolph, interview, 14 maart 1996; Getuigenverhalen-II: Interview Fritz Loewenstein, 28 augustus 2012.
  5. ^ Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Dienst Bevolkingsregister, Archiefkaarten (toegangsnummer 30238): Archiefkaart Peter van Pels.
  6. ^ AFS, Getuigenverhalen-I: Interview Hilde Goldberg-Jacobsthal 03b, 12-13 december 2008.
  7. ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI: Goodrich/Hackett papers: box 2 correspondence 1953-1956, brief Otto Frank aan Frances Goodrich en Albert Hackett, 6 februari 1954.
  8. ^ Anne Frank, Dagboek A, 16 februari 1944, 6 juli 1944, in: Verzameld werk, Amsterdam: Prometheus, 2013.