Unveiling 38 Stolpersteine near Jewish Old People's Home in Groningen

(Board Beth Zekenim 1934 | Photo: P. Kramer, Groninger Archives)

On May 2, 38 Stolpersteine will be unveiled at the former Jewish retirement home Beth Zekenim in the center of Groningen in the presence of Mayor Koen Schuiling. At 15.00 hours, in the presence of many relatives and representatives of the Jewish community, these monuments will be unveiled on the specially renovated forecourt of Schoolholm 26. Mayor Koen Schuiling will be present to explain the importance of these Stolpersteine. The presentation is offered by Woldring Verhuur Groningen in collaboration with Stichting Folkingestraat Synagoge.

In the former retirement home Beth Zekenim, elderly people from the Jewish community were able to spend their old age in their own environment. Although many of them had difficulty walking or were seriously ill, all the residents and staff of the home were deported to the Westerbork transit camp in 1943 and then to the concentration camps.

Volunteer researchers
The building came into the hands of Woldring Verhuur Groningen in 2016. After the building came into the possession of the residential landlord, it only became clear to the new owner what past the building carried with it. Therefore, the company has resolved to do everything possible to keep the historical value intact. In collaboration with Synagoge Groningen and with the inspiring cooperation of the volunteers of the Stichting Stolpersteine Schilderswijk Groningen, extensive research was done into the harrowing stories and the identity of all the residents of Beth Zekenim. This eventually yielded 38 names that will be pronounced on May 2. The volunteers of the Stichting Stolpersteine Schilderswijk Groningen have now contacted the next of kin of the murdered Jewish elderly. Many of them have already expressed their desire to be present at this presentation.

Memorials
Stolpersteine, or stumbling stones, are memorial stones that are placed on the sidewalks and in front of the houses of the people who were expelled, deported, murdered or driven to suicide by the Nazis during World War II. These concrete stones of 10 x 10 cm have a brass plate on the head in which the name, date of birth, deportation date, place and date of death are punched. Throughout Europe there are now more than 70,000 stones and there are 38 more on Schoolholm in Groningen.