Arthur Juda Cohen

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,[1] and after World War II he was instrumental in the re-establishment of the Jewish community in the Netherlands;[1] 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.[2]

Arthur Juda Cohen
Arthur Juda Cohen
Born19 January 1910
Hamburg, Germany
Died22 December 2000
Amsterdam, Netherlands
OccupationDutch Resistance Fighter, Day School Founder
Spouse(s)Rosette Jacobsen
ChildrenBram, Hadassa, Hitsele Ayelet, Jitzchak, Jonathan Nissiem, Miriam Chana Tikva, Wim, Chaja Sara

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 1974 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's Buitenveldert. Many prominent Dutch figures attended the opening, most noteworthy of which was Princess Margriet who opened the new building.[3][4]

Princess Margriet opening the Cheider with Arthur Juda Cohen

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.

References
  1. New York Times, 31 January 1947, School for European Youth is Established in Rotterdam to Rebuild Jewish Community (A Fire in his Soul: Irving Bunim).
  2. Obituary of Arthur Juda Cohen
  3. Cheider Wikipedia Page
  4. van Kemenade., J (4 February 1994). "Margriet opent Cheider" (PDF). Nieuw Israelietisch Weekblad. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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