Destins croisés / Crossed destinies: Etty Hillesum, Charlotte Salomon and Hélène Berr

On 27 January, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, we remember three young European women who were murdered in the Shoah: Etty Hillesum (Netherlands), Charlotte Salomon (Germany) and Hélène Berr (France). Etty Hillesum's writings, Charlotte Salomon's paintings and Hélène Berr's diary reflect the persecution of the Jews from different perspectives. Their artworks also shed light on different ways of experiencing life under Nazi rule. We can learn from their works how individual forms of self-assertion developed into impressive manifestations of Jewish resistance.

Three academics present the life and work of the three artists and discuss their legacy. Judith Koelemejer (founder of the Etty Hillesum Research Centre, Amsterdam) will talk about Etty Hillesum, Mariette Job (niece and editor of Hélène Berr, France) will introduce Hélène Berr and Inka Bertz (Jewish Museum Berlin) will talk about the artist Charlotte Salomon. Karine Baranès-Bénichou (founder of Association Memory - Women in Art and Jewish Memory, initiator of the event, Tel-Aviv) will moderate.

Following the event, H.E. Ambassador François Delattre will host a reception with a musical program at the French Embassy (Pariser Platz 5, 10117 Berlin, starting at 8.45 pm):

Program: 

“La musique qui est en Elles”

Véronique Briel, piano

Patricia Reibaud, violin

Your registration confirmation for the event at the JMB is also valid for admission to the reception, please bring a valid ID with you.

In cooperation with the Commission pour la restitution des biens et l’indemnisation des victimes de spoliations antisémites (CIVS) and the French embassy in Berlin. 

With the kind support of the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the World Jewish Congress and the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah.