Thursday, March 5, 7-8:30pm, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd.

Joost Oppenheim was born in Holland in 1934, just before WWII. His parents were German refugees who fled Germany because they recognized the threat that Hitler posed for them as Jews. During the war, Joost was hidden with his younger brother for two years by a large Catholic Dutch family in a small Dutch town. His parents were hiding separately in Eindhoven and were caught. His parents were taken to a camp, which his mother survived but his father was murdered in Auschwitz. Eventually, one year after the war ended, and after a lot of fear and hardship, Joost and his brother were reunited with their mother. Shortly after his mother returned, Joost recalls riding on the bike behind her and saying “Mom, I am so glad that you are back so that I can be a child again!” They emigrated to the US in 1946.

Joost Oppenheim will share his stories of WWII and hiding during the Holocaust. Join us to hear his moving story and help remind the world of the importance of tolerance, non-violence, and helping our neighbors.

We will be accepting donations in lieu of tickets for the Museum in Hooge Mierde that is working to keep the history of the area in WWII alive, so not to forget the lessons we have learned from history. This museum tells the stories of the area’s survivors, like Joost, those that protected them during the war, and the importance of speaking up for what is right.

Hosted by Kehilat Sukkat Shalom and First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus.