'Life in the Shadow of the Swastika' Frieda Roos-van Hessen

09/24/2006

'Life in Shadow' emerges

Story recalls peril of Dutch Jews

By MARTA HEPLER DRAHOS
Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY — Frieda Roos-van Hessen can recall with startling clarity the day in 1940 when her family's life changed.

Sleeping soundly after having given a concert the night before, she awoke at 2 a.m. to her brother's screaming. German war planes were racing over her family's home in Amsterdam on their way to bomb Schipol, Holland's biggest airport.

"We flew to the basement of the house and from that moment on, we were at war," said Roos-van Hessen, now an American citizen.

A former concert and opera singer, Roos-van Hessen was 25 and at the threshold of a successful career when the Nazis invaded Holland during World War II. At 19, she sang the lead for the Dutch version of Walt Disney's "Snow White." At 24, she was the soloist in a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" for the Dutch royal family.

For the complete story, click here: http://archives.record-eagle.com/2006/sep/24holocaust.htm

Autobiography of Frieda Roos-Van Hessen: Life in the Shadow of the Swastika

Comments

Dear Frieda,
You are a true inspiration to all of us! May God continue to bless you!! You look amazing and your energy is that of a young woman. I applaud your courage and your honesty. The world must never forget the Holocaust and all that humanity lost both in lives and in human ethics.
I saw you on the 700 Club and look forward to reading your book - I sincerely hope someone will do a whole TV special on you and your life. You have no idea how much I wish I knew you - I think I could spend hours listening to your stories and enjoying your amazing energy! Keep up the great work!
Meg

[Janna]

I too just saw the segment about you on the 700Club this morning, and was very inspired to learn more about you and your story. So glad that you have a blog and book so that this is possible! I now have another mentor to look to as an example. :-)

[Christine]

I wanted to say that I heard your story on the 700 club today and found it very inspiring; you look amazing for being 92 yr. old; like Psalm 92 says~ in verses 12-16:
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him

God bless you!

[Robin]

Hello Frieda,

I also saw your segment on the 700 club this morning and was so inspired by your story! My heart broke when you spoke of seeing your parents for the last time and how strong they must have been to not look back for fear you would be caught too!

I am very much looking forward to reading your book and as Meg said I would love to see an entire story on you and your life! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us!

God Bless!

[Izzy R]

I saw you on the 700 club which I rarely watch anymore, but for some reason I did today and you were there. First let me say Im proud of you having a blog !!!! This is wonderful , never stop blogging Frieda. My grandmother is 92 and she said as long as she can see and walk , no one will keep her down.In a way my dear friend , you were right to want to keep being a Jew, you are suppossed to reamin a Jew , you are meant to become aware of Messiahs' mind and Spirit in you come to true life. Remember the term "Christian" is a Greek word meaning Annointed one. That is all it means , His real name is Yeshua and He was and is a Jew. You were simply meant to become completed .Keep smiling Frieda..

[Stephanie]

Frieda...What a very blessed women of God you are the Love and Joy of the Lord radiates from you and I was so drawn to your story,I had to watch it twice. I too am a Jew who discovered my Messiah Jesus when I was 24 years....I kept searching for answers from God and He kept pointing me to Jesus. I would love to speak with you, you have so much wisdom from the Lord. I too paint and have been given many talents from the Lord. God Bless you Frieda.....Stephanie in Flordia

[Stephanie]

Frieda...What a very blessed women of God you are the Love and Joy of the Lord radiates from you and I was so drawn to your story,I had to watch it twice. I too am a Jew who discovered my Messiah Jesus when I was 24 years....I kept searching for answers from God and He kept pointing me to Jesus. I would love to speak with you, you have so much wisdom from the Lord. I too paint and have been given many talents from the Lord. God Bless you Frieda.....Stephanie in Flordia