us-005578-irn47059-irn48004
type: RecordSet
archival history: The infant’s sweater was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Lennie Kropveld Jade.
biographical history: Lena (Lennie) Kropveld was born on October 12, 1922, in Aalten, Netherlands, to Aaron and Bertha Maas Kropveld. Aaron was born on February 26, 1896, in Weerdingermond. He owned a non-kosher slaughterhouse and meat export business and worked closely with local farmers. Bertha was born on February 23, 1895, in Winterswijk. The couple married on April 24, 1919, in Winterswijk. Lennie was the third of five children: Isaac (Jesse), born 1919; Abraham, born 1920; Simon, born 1926; and David. The Kropveld family was observant, kept kosher, and attended weekly services. They lived a comfortable life. After the Kristallnacht pogrom in November 1938, many Jewish children were sent from Germany and Austria to stay with Jewish families in the Netherlands. There were three girls from Germany living with the Kropveld family in 1940: Carla, Ruth and Margot. Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. In January 1941, the Germans required that all Jews register with local authorities. The Germans soon began taking Jewish men for labor camps. In Aalten, the Germans would go to Jewish homes at night, so Lennie’s father and brothers spent their nights in the homes of non-Jewish friends to avoid being arrested. On April 29, 1942, all Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David badges. In summer 1942, the Germans began deporting the Jewish population. Aaron made arrangements for the family to go into hiding with three trusted non-Jewish farmers. Lennie had been engaged to the rabbi of the Aalten synagogue, Rabbi Yitzchak Jedwab, since before the invasion. Yitzchak was born in December 1912 in Germany. Aaron insisted that Lennie and Yitzchak be married before they go into hiding together. They were wed in secret in March 1942 and had a religious ceremony on July 1 in Winterswijk. Lennie’s parents and four brothers went into hiding on the day of her marriage, while she and Yitzchak remained in town because Yitzchak did not want to leave his congregants. In October 1942, Lenni…
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Thick offwhite handknit wool baby sweater with long sleeves and a low collar. The collar, cuffs, and bottom are rib stitched and the cuffs have a wide V-slit. The upper chest and shoulders and the front opening edges are done with a seed purl stitch. On the right are 2 circular white plastic buttons and thread suggesting a missing third button, with 6 buttonholes on the left.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: approximately 1943 September
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn48004
is or was included in: us-005578-irn47059
record resource extent: overall: Height: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm) | Width: 8.625 inches (21.908 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Handknit baby sweater made by Lennie Kropveld Jedwab, 20, for her infant son Aaron, born in September 1943, when Lennie was living in hiding in Aalten, Netherlands. When Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, Lennie was living with her parents, Aaron and Bertha Kropveld. In the summer of 1942, the Germans began deporting the Jewish population and Aaron decided they must go into hiding. He insisted that Lennie and her fiance, Rabbi Yitzchak Jedwab, get married that July before going into hiding together at a farm in October. Her parents and four brothers went into hiding at two other farms. When Lennie's newborn son was twelve hours old, they placed him in the custody of the Dutch underground. He was hidden in the home of Jan and Dela Wikkerink, resistance members with eight children of their own. Jan later was imprisoned for resistance activities, but the underground broke him out of jail. In retaliation, the Germans set his house on fire. Dela saved the baby and they all got out safely. Aalten was liberated by British forces in March 1945. Lennie and Yitzchak were reunited with their two and half year old son. Lennie’s parents and siblings also survived. Lennie, Yitzchak, and Aaron emigrated to the United States in 1948.
title: Infant’s wool knit sweater with white buttons made for a baby by his mother while in hiding