Plaque celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 5.500 inches (13.97 cm) | Width: 7.380 inches (18.745 cm)
b: Height: 6.380 inches (16.205 cm) | Width: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm)
Creator(s)
- Eliazer Davids (Subject)
Biographical History
Eliazer (Elie) Davids was born on March 27, 1904, in Amsterdam, Netherlands to an observant Jewish family, which had lived in Amsterdam for over seven generations. His parents were Leman Davids (10/7/1869-11/14/1930), born in Amsterdam to Eliazer Davids and Schoontje de Klerk and Branca Groen, (12/29/1870-1/6/1940), born in Amsterdam to Mozes Nathan Groen and Esther Snoek. Eliazer had a brother, Mozes, born on December 24, 1907, and two sisters, Elly and Leah. Leman was a diamond broker and cutter. When Eliazer was in his twenties, he joined his paternal uncle, Louis (1877-1930) in his linen business which operated in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as the Netherlands. After his uncle’s death in 1930, he ran the business on his own and also supported his aunt. In 1934, Eliazer married Bronislawa (Bertha) Perlberg, the daughter of Eliasz Perlberg and Amalia Kaufmann, orthodox Jews who had emigrated from Poland when Bertha wa a young child. She had as brother born in 1930. In December 1938, Eliazer and Bronislawa were able to leave for the United States with the assistance of Eliazer’s maternal uncle, Leo Groen, who had lived in New York since the 1890s. He submitted affidavits of support for their visas, as well as many other members of the family, but only Eliazer and Bertha’s paperwork would get processed in time for them to leave before the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940. The majority of both the Davids and Perlberg families who remained in Europe perished during the Holocaust. Eliazer and Bertha had a son born on July 27, 1938, and a daughter, born in 1942. Eliazer worked for the Office of War Information, and later the State Department Office of Information and Cultural Affairs. Eliazer died in 1990, age 86; Bertha passed away in 2007, age 94.
Archival History
The plaque was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2008 by Blanch Davids Gewirtz, the daughter of Eliazer Davids.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Blanche Davids Gewirtz
Scope and Content
Commemorative plaque owned by Eliazer Davids that celebrates the 300th anniversary of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The service, attended by Eliazer, was held in the Main Synagogue which was built in 1871. Eliazer was from an observant Jewish family who had lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for several generations. Many were diamond brokers and cutters. In December 1938, Eliazer and his wife, Bronislawa (Bertha) Perlberg, left for the United States with the assistance of Eliazer’s uncle, Leo Groen, who lived in New York and submitted affidavits of support for their visas. The majority of Eliazer’s and Bronislawa’s family members were not able to get out of Europe and perished during the Holocaust.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a. Rectangular, bronze colored, embossed metal plaque with an image of buildings along a treelined street with people walking. The top border has Hebrew text, with a center medallion with Hebrew characters circling a 6-pointed Star of David, and a Torah scroll in each side border. In the lower left and right corners is the date with Hebrew text. There are holes in each corner to mount for display. b. Rectangular, wooden support for the plaque, painted black on the front and 4 sides. There are 4 puncture holes in the corners of the front surface, and 2 holes on the back in the top center.
front, top border, impressed: NED•ISR•HOOFD SYNAGOGE [Jewish community of Amsterdam MAIN SYNAGOGUE] front, bottom left and right corners, impressed : 1635 / 1935 front, lower center, impressed : TER•HERINNERING•AAN•HET / 300 JARIG BESTAAN DER GEMEENTE / OP HET NIEUWJAARSFEEST 56961.A.M.PLECHTIG HERDACHT / DEN 19 MARCHESWAN 5696A.M.-14 NOVEMBER 1935 [TO THE MEMORY OF THE / 300th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMUNITY / THE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 56961.AM SOLEMNLY COMMERORATED / FROM 19 MARCH 5696A.M.-14 NOVEMBER 1935]
Subjects
- United States--Emigration and immigration.
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
- Jewish refugees--United States.
- Jewish families--Netherlands.
- Netherlands--Emigration and immigration.
Genre
- Object
- Information Forms