Kris Clancy, Education Director, Holocaust Centre of New Zealand

You’re invited to an evening with the Kris Clancy, Education Director for the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand.

The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is a place of remembrance for those who died in the camps.  It allows school groups to learn and understand the significance of the Holocaust.

Through its programs and activities, the Centre allows educators to gain a deeper understanding of this tragedy and to enhance their skills in teaching the subject.

Since October 7, there has been a wave of antisemitism sweeping across the world, and New Zealand has not been immune.  It is a stark reminder that the work of the Centre is much needed today.

You’re invited to a farewell reception for Ambassador Ran Yaakoby.

During the evening there will also be a presentation of a Righteous Among Nations to the Brader van Beauson family, in recognition of Anna van Brader nee Beauson’s heroic efforts in WW2 as she sought to save Jews from the Holocaust.

Anna van Breda (1900-1969), known also as Lola, was born in Zaltbommel and later moved to The Hague. Divorced, and the mother of five, she ran a Montessori kindergarten in her home.

Lola personally witnessed the persecution of the Jews through her work—about half her pupils were Jewish. Her eyes were also opened to the oppression by her Jewish family doctor and dentist, Dr. Kalker. Lola took the initiative in encouraging Jews she knew to go into hiding.

She also joined a Resistance group founded by Ru (Zus) Paré*. She put her home at the disposal of the underground and it served as a halfway house for fugitives. From there, she would accompany them to permanent addresses.

One of Lola’s charges, Bertie Levin (born 1931, later Bertie Koreen), a school friend of Lola’s youngest daughter, Carla, remained hidden with her for seven and a half months, from early October 1942.

Although she was treated like a member of the family, Bertie could not attend school and so a teacher at the Voorburg Montessori School, gave her private lessons once a week. In addition to hiding Bertie, Lola also hid her three eldest sons, who would otherwise have been taken to Germany for forced labor.

One day, the Gestapo came to the house in search of the young men. Lola managed to convince them that there was no one at home and Bertie was not discovered. Lola carried on her Resistance activities even when she was later forced to go into hiding herself.

At this point, it was deemed necessary to transfer Bertie to a safer place because the situation in The Hague had become rather precarious. On July 15, 1943, Lola took Bertie, who was carrying Carla’s identity card, to Jan and Tineke (Christina) Wolsak*, the neighbors of her aunt in Bilthoven, Utrecht. Bertie stayed there until the end of the war.

For the remainder of the war, Lola worked as a courier, looking for hiding places and keeping in contact with her wards, bringing them ration cards and news from their loved ones.

On July 17, 1989, Yad Vashem recognized Anna van Breda-Beausar as Righteous Among the Nations.