Infant’s wool knit sweater with white buttons made for a baby by his mother while in hiding 2012.242.3 front

Handknit baby sweater made by 20 year old Lennie Kropveld Jedwab for her infant son Aaron, who was 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.

Handknit baby sweater made by 20 year old Lennie Kropveld Jedwab for her infant son Aaron, who was 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.