2025 First Person with Holocaust Survivor Louise Lawrence-Israëls
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
11,512 views
For two and a half years of her early childhood, Louise Lawrence-Israëls never once played outside or felt the grass under her feet. Louise was born into a Jewish family in 1942 during Nazi Germany’s occupation of the Netherlands. When she was just a baby, her parents moved the family into hiding in an attic in Amsterdam. They lived under the constant threat of discovery, denunciation, and deportation, endured air raids, and often had very little to eat. Despite all this, Louise's mother and father tried to give her as normal a childhood as possible. Watch to learn more about Louise’s secret life in the attic.
Hear Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israëls’s experiences in her own words recorded on August 20, 2025. First Person is a monthly, hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor that is made possible through generous support from the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation.
18 Comments
Thank you, Mr Benson, for twenty-five-plus years of hosting this vitally-important series.
Thank you, Mrs Israëls, for your fascinating story.
Your parents, along with Selma, were extraordinary. I’d love to hear more.
Where were your grandparents whilst you were in hiding?
Thank you
2025 First Person with Holocaust Survivor Louise Lawrence-Israëls
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
11,512 views
For two and a half years of her early childhood, Louise Lawrence-Israëls never once played outside or felt the grass under her feet. Louise was born into a Jewish family in 1942 during Nazi Germany’s occupation of the Netherlands. When she was just a baby, her parents moved the family into hiding in an attic in Amsterdam. They lived under the constant threat of discovery, denunciation, and deportation, endured air raids, and often had very little to eat. Despite all this, Louise's mother and father tried to give her as normal a childhood as possible. Watch to learn more about Louise’s secret life in the attic.
Hear Holocaust survivor Louise Lawrence-Israëls’s experiences in her own words recorded on August 20, 2025. First Person is a monthly, hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor that is made possible through generous support from the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation.