My name is Rev Rudy Fidel. I pastor a Pentecostal church in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. My wife Gina and I own a condo in Boca Raton Florida and are both involved in Holocaust education. We met David Groen in a “Holocaust Awareness” presentation at one of the high schools in Palm Beach County Florida put on by Insight an organization focused on Holocaust education.

We found David’s presentation fascinating. As a second generation he is motivated to keep his parents’ story of bravery, resistance and survival alive. We then went to hear David at a synagogue. This time he had his uncle’s violin played by a professional violinist and it was magical.

By BaShert David was invited to a Bar Mitzvah of his friend’s son in Winnipeg, so together with B’nai Brith we organized a few events one in our church and one at our local JCC. Both presentations were extremely inspiring. His book “Jew Face” is one of the best books on the subject that my wife and I have read, and we’ve read many. We strongly recommend David as a speaker in a school, synagogue, church or any event. Make sure he brings his uncle’s violin. You won’t be disappointed.

Rev. Rudy Fidel

Faith Temple

---

Last Monday evening, 140 people listened to David Groen tell the wartime story of his parents. David Groen was born in the US to Dutch Jewish parents who survived the Holocaust and moved to North America after the liberation. He has written a book about their pre-war life in Holland and how life changed drastically for Dutch Jews after the German occupation in 1940. It tells the fascinating story of how his father joined the Dutch resistance and managed to protect and safe his mother from German soldiers and Dutch Nazi collaborators. For the last sixteen months of the war, his mother was hidden by a Dutch family who took her in despite the danger. If they would have been found out, the Germans would probably have killed everyone, including the children.

David’s mother has a younger brother, Bram, who had been picked up during a raid and sent to his death in Auschwitz. Bram loved to play the violin and had joined a band. Unbeknownst to David’s mother, Bram had given his violin to his non-Jewish friend to keep it safe for him. This man kept the violin until his death and then his son inherited it. This man tried to find any living relatives of Bram and, through David Groen’s book, discovered that Bram’s sister has survived and had built a family. During an emotional ceremony in the Netherlands in 2019, the violin returned to the Groen family.

In addition to listening to this captivating story, the talented Carolina Nagy enlivened the presentation with playing on Bram’s violin. It was a remarkable evening – the heroism of David’s father and of the Dutch family who put their lives in danger to save the life of a Jewish woman, and to listen to beautiful music played on a violin that belonged to a boy who was murdered at 18 and who loved making music so much.

A standing ovation was a fitting conclusion to this story of bravery and compassion of doing the right thing, even under life-threatening circumstances.

Dr. Ruth Ashrafi

Regional Director Manitoba

B’nai Brith Canada

---

An Unforgettable Evening in Winnipeg

June 8 was an absolutely breathtaking event. Listening to David Groen share his parents’ Holocaust survival story was deeply moving and inspiring.

The story of David’s late uncle, Bram, particularly broke my heart. Bram was a talented young musician who was tragically sent to Auschwitz at just 18. Before his capture, he secretly left his violin with a trusted non-Jewish friend. Decades later, that friend’s son could track down David through his book.

The highlight of the night was hearing Carolina Nagy play Bram’s recovered violin. Knowing that this instrument belonged to a young boy lost to Auschwitz made the music incredibly powerful.

The final standing ovation was so well-deserved. It was a remarkable reminder of compassion, courage, and doing what is right.

Adriana Glikman

B’nai Brith Canada