us-005578-irn639653
type: RecordSet
archival history: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
biographical history: Regine Canetti was born on May 16, 1921 in Sofia, Bulgaria to Albert Canetti (b. Kazanlak, Bulgaria) and Rachelle Levi (b. Constantinople or Andnopolus, Turkey, d. 1940). The family had Sephardic roots, and spoke Ladino at home. Rachelle’s grandfather was a Rabbi, and her father was a tailor for the Sultan. Albert worked for Louis Dreyfus, a large French company that dealt in grains and shipping, and was responsible for the Balkan region. Before Regine’s birth, he and Rachelle had lived in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Their first daughter, Denise was born in Turkey in 1917, and their youngest son, Maurice (1924-1940), was born in Sofia. At that time, identity papers were not required, so Albert did not update their nationalities as they moved about. When Regine was 7, the family settled in Ruse, Bulgaria. She and her sister attended the Notre Dame de Sion school, a Catholic school located in the convent of Rousse. Although her parents adhered to Jewish tradition, they were largely secular, and chose the best school available. About half of the students in the school were Jewish. Regine and Denise were initially day students, but later became boarding students due to their father’s travels. Regine completed her studies there in 1940, and returned to her parents, who were then living in Burgas. She was largely unaware of the events in other parts of Europe, and hoped to pursue studies in medicine. Denise married and settled in Sophia with her husband and baby. In July 1940, Bulgaria began to initiate antisemitic policies. Regine’s family had believed that they would be protected due to Albert’s profession, but he was soon served with orders to report to the police. The family had no Bulgarian documents and were given 24 hours to leave the country. They decided that their only option was to try to reach Palestine illegally. In December, 1940, Albert, Regine, Rachelle, and Maurice left the port of Varna on the SS Salvador, a rickety ship with no engine or safety equipm…
date: circa 1924-1968
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had subject: 701
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn639653
record resource extent: folder 1
record resource structure: The collection is arranged in a single folder.
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: The collection primarily consists of photographs depicting Regine Canetti, her parents Albert and Rachelle Canetti, and siblings Denise, and Maurice before the war in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Also included are depictions of Albert in Israel, 1956, Regine at her graduation ceremony of Notre Dame de Sion school in 1940, and Regine wearing her nun's religious habit after joining the Sisters of Zion in Israel.
title: Canetti family photographs