Suzanne Vromen

This is a gripping account of Jewish children in Belgium who were given up by their parents to be hidden among Christians, chiefly in Catholic convents. Vromen, herself a Holocaust survivor, has interviewed surviving children, and some of their now elderly protectors. For a long time, she tells us, these children were considered lucky to have survived in relatively sheltered circumstances, and their stories were dismissed as unimportant.

For the most part, the Catholic Church hierarchy, and one supposes, other church hierarchies, cooperated with the Nazi occupiers, but individual Mother Superiors and other mid-level clergy agreed to conceal Jewish children among the students of schools and in orphanages. The identity of the children was apparently kept as secret as possible from the other nuns, and partly for the latter's own protection. Otherwise, they relied on vows of obedience. The varying reactions of the children to the nuns will surprise no-one who has attended, or heard about, Catholic schools. Or any other school, for that matter.

The great controversy regarded the issue of baptism and conversion. The children had to behave like the other children for their own protection, but the issue of whether or not they should be baptized in order that they might take communion was variously handled. Some children sought baptism on their own. After the war, controversy arose over orphans--should they remain with families that had taken them in? Should they have any say in whether they were to remain Catholic or be returned to Jewish relatives or the greater Jewish community?

The book includes an index and list of references. The notes are done in the frustrating style of having them listed under the number of the chapter, without the title, although only the title is given on the relevant pages. Explanatory notes are included along with the bibliographical information.

Vromen also briefly considers gender issues, and the lasting effects of their experiences on the children and their rescuers.

Given her own status as Holocaust survivor, Vromen, as she freely admits, cannot view many of these issue objectively, but she attempts to understand and present opposing views.

I found this a very moving and inspiring book.… (more)