Elsbeth Hillesum was a Dutch Jewish woman who lived during the Holocaust and kept a diary documenting her experiences during this tumultuous time. Her writings have since been published and have offered a unique perspective on the atrocities that took place during World War II.
Born on January 15, 1914, in Middelburg, Netherlands, Hillesum was a well-educated and cultured woman who worked as a legal secretary in Amsterdam. In 1941, she began keeping a diary as a way to cope with the increasingly oppressive conditions facing Jews in the Netherlands. Her diary entries are a mix of personal reflections, philosophical musings, and observations about the world around her.
As the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands intensified, Hillesum’s diary became a place where she could freely express her fears, hopes, and frustrations. She wrote about the fear of being deported, the struggle to find meaning in the midst of chaos, and the importance of finding moments of joy and beauty in the midst of suffering.
In 1943, Hillesum and her family were deported to the Westerbork transit camp before ultimately being sent to Auschwitz. Despite the horrific conditions she faced, Hillesum continued to write in her diary, offering a raw and unfiltered account of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Tragically, Hillesum did not survive the war and was killed at Auschwitz in 1943 at the age of 29. However, her diary survived and was later published as “An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943.” The diary has since been translated into multiple languages and has received widespread acclaim for its honesty, insight, and resilience.
Hillesum’s diary offers a valuable perspective on the Holocaust, capturing the humanity and spirit of a woman who refused to let hatred and violence destroy her. Her words continue to inspire readers around the world to confront injustice, find strength in the face of adversity, and seek out moments of beauty and connection in a world filled with darkness.
In a time when the world is once again facing challenges of hatred and intolerance, the words of Elsbeth Hillesum serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and resilience. Her legacy lives on through her writing, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.