Religion Orthodox Jewish Spouse(s) Rosette Jacobsen | Name Arthur Cohen | |
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Born 19 January 1910 Hamburg, Germany Occupation Dutch Resistance Fighter, Day School Founder Children Bram, Hadassa, Hitsele Ayelet, Jitzchak, Jonathan Nissiem, Miriam Chana Tikva, Wim, Chaja Sara Died December 22, 2000, Amsterdam, Netherlands | ||
Arthur Juda (Adje Cohen, Uri Yehuda Cohen, Aart Gerardus Lekskes) Cohen (19 January 1910 – 22 December 2000) was a leading member of the Dutch Underground resistance movement, and after World War II he was instrumental in the re-establishment of the Jewish community in the Netherlands; as late as the mid-1970s, when already in his 60s, he established a school for strictly orthodox boys and girls in Amsterdam, known as the "Cheider". Arthur Juda Cohen was also responsible for the rescue of Iranian-Jewish Refugees to the Netherlands. Between 1987 and 1997 over 3000 Iranian Jews were brought through Pakistan to safer places.
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Early years
Arthur Juda Cohen was born in Hamburg, Germany on 19 January 1910. His father was Avrohom Arye Cohen, a Jewish Dutch citizen. His mother was Hitzel Kohn, a Jewish German citizen. The fact that his father was a Dutch Citizen allowed the Cohens' entry back into the Netherlands in 1933 as Hitler rose to power.
Dutch Resistance
The Dutch Resistance used various methods to incapacitate the Germans during World War II. One method would include planting bombs on the railroad tracks to disrupt transports, another was by having the good looking girls give German soldiers poisonous chocolates while on dates. Additionally the Resistance helped Jews escape often by hiding them beneath the passenger of a motorcycle sidecar. After the liberation, Arthur Judah Cohen was among a group honored by Queen Wilhelmina for their efforts during the war. He received the highest rank and pension in the Dutch Military, that of General.
Cheider
In 1964 Adje Cohen began Jewish classes with five children in his home. This grew into an Orthodox Jewish school (Yeshiva) that provides education for children from kindergarten to high school. Many Orthodox families would have left the Netherlands if not for the existence of the Cheider: In the Cheider, boys and girls learn separately, and ultra-religious families would without separate schools move to other countries. By 1993 The Cheider had grown to over 230 pupils and 60 Staff members. The Cheider moved to its current building at Zeeland Street in Amsterdam Buitenveldert. Many prominent Dutch figures attended the opening, most noteworthy was Princess Margriet who opened the new building.
Islamic Day School
A little known fact is that Arthur Juda Cohen also founded an Islamic day school. The school didn’t last for long, for various reasons, but the idea behind it was to make those children feel at home so as not to lose them on the street.
Iranian Jewish Refugees
Arthur Juda Cohen was responsible for the rescue of Iranian-Jewish refugees to the Netherlands. Between 1987 and 1997 over 3000 Iranian Jews were brought through Pakistan to safer places.