Whose Child Are You?" The Story of Tswi Josef Herschel

Tswi Herschel was born 29 December 1942 in Zwolle, a small town in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. In January 1943, the family had to leave Zwolle and moved to Amsterdam, where Tswi's father contacted non-Jewish Dutch friends and asked for help for his newborn son. In March 1943, a Protestant Dutch family took in baby Tswi, caring for him and raising him as their own child until the end of World War II. Tswi’s parents were transported to the transit camp of Westerbork in the Netherlands in June 1943. One month later, they were deported to the extermination camp of Sobibór, where they were murdered shortly after arrival.
Tswi's grandmother, his only surviving relative, took him from his foster family after the war in order to give him a Jewish education. Tswi grew up, got married and had two daughters.
In 1986, Tswi and his family immigrated to Israel. Since 1991, Tswi Herschel has told his story to young people and adults in Israel and Europe.
With the generous support of: Adelson Family Foundation and The International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims
www.yadvashem.org/remembrance...

[@nataliebarnwell7583]

I don’t know how I got on this thread...these accounts are breaking my heart. The pictures of the children and babies...the world should be ashamed it was allowed to happen.

[@AshLoRo]

I'm so hurt for him. Why would his Bio grandmother stop him from connecting to the only family he knew??. I would not have been able to do that. I would have let him have weekends or something. They risked their lives, loved him like a son & just got him ripped away from them too, like he did from his Bio parents. Oh my god, the heartbreak of it all. I am so sorry for all of your anguish.

[@pamelaopesanmi6521]

I'm a gentile and love Israelis... I was moved to tears watching this amazing story of love, bravery and patriotism. Hashem's blessings are with Israel.

[@winbri5]

They loved their first born child so much that they gave him up so that he could live. I cant imagine what heartache his parents went through to do so. How sad we live in a world that allowed this to happen.. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@margrietpetersen2396]

Such a beautiful story about the kindness of people. I salute the de Jong family, you make humanity proud❤️👏

[@Wickerwoman-lh3vn]

The family who took him in and the other Jewish teen.....unbelievable, God bless them.

[@evelinehaanstra9069]

I'm Dutch, born after this war and ASHAMED of what people dared to do. Please accept my condolences and apologies for this inhuman behavior. And, stop the wrongdoeing!! Instead embrace humanity...

[@Babiroo321]

God give me the strength to be as brave and loving as the family who took him in

[@shelliebrowning960]

May God give ALL OF US the strength and the knowledge to NEVER allow this to happen to anyone ever again ...

[@taralclarke2269]

There’s a special place in heaven for those wonderful people.

[@shoshanakent3645]

What a powerful story! Thanks, Tswi, for sharing your story. It is full of love.

[@BGF_276HUNTERSPO8NTSF]

What a beautiful baby boy HERSCHELL was. Sitting on the rocking chair, in the beginning of video? Thanks for sharing memories, YAD VASHEM, with a fellow jewish girl whose father, was in Army, ww2 shot 2 times by Nazi soldiers, and lived thru its hell to have his family. We are from long island NY, dad passed 4 yrs ago at the young age of 93. God bless him and all our jewish families thru out the world.............

[@kristinam7928]

It broke my heart especially when he cried

[@marystar6021]

Tswi Herschel, truly a man of wisdom, a remarkable man. He certainly chose the right path by listening to his heart, instead of allowing bitterness and hatred to envelope him. 15:02 "You mustn't forget the past, you have to learn from it. And to stop discrimination if we want to live in a better world for the next generation to come."

[@AlwaysBelieve777]

Thank you Sir for sharing your story. May we never forget.

[@kellyhiggins4234]

They believed your parents that you would live! A mother & father would do anything for the safety of there children! You are truly Blessed 💜

[@molitainson3612]

Can't stop crying. It brokes my heart. Thank God at that time they were still some faithfull people who believes in Gods Grace to save life.

[@ilikeyoutube836]

God bless you and your dear parents, both the ones who gave you up to save you, and the ones who took you in

[@davidjallobaini2943]

May God bless you so much Sir🙏

[@vonny10096]

So glad he got back in contact with the family that ws rising him as theirs....he was precious to his Grandmother, but i wish he could have stayed with them, and she move to their town...Bless them all

[@patriciagoodwin378]

your poor parents the heart ache they must have gone through handing you over, but very brave and loving, and you are hear to tell there story, and I'm in my house in Ireland and I will be thinking of them

[@happycamper8892]

God bless the family that took him in... The parents love, handing over their child, so he could survive... Just amazing!

[@derekstynes9631]

Someone should do a book and film of this story!

[@carolann5338]

What a story almost incredible.....that the parents of this little boy 4 months old was given to a Christian family...... in Holland otherwise he would if be killed like his birth parents.......and God bless his adoptive parents for take such good care of him as a baby...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@urielcohn8794]

The truth should not only be heard and seen but moreover should be felt!

[@stee4592]

Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it in the future . PLEASE DON'T ALLOW THE WORLD TO FORGET .

[@nualamurphy838]

Well done. You are a survivor.

[@thehardwearestv9672]

God continue to bless the families of those who took the risk and those who fought against this evil. Let us all say never again!

[@lorenamares1427]

Very smart and handsome man. Remarkable strength and courage.

[@faniaciK]

I want to hug him 😭

[@suchithraloganathan1169]

Very emotional words Sir, my heart cries silent😢

[@janiscohen-dacosta9822]

Thank you for your beautiful story.

[@evelinehaanstra9069]

Thank you Tswi, dank je wel Tswi.

[@wailing710]

Im glad for you follow your parent dream moving to Israel. Amazing journey to continue your family hope. Thank you for sharing these amazing stories with us. May the world always in peace and no discrimination.

[@micheledimond]

Overcome with sadness, love and respect for each and everyone of your family members, Sir. God bless you and them.

[@nasreenjohnson3074]

I am so sad.Your parents must have gone thru hell for giving you up.I put myself in their shoes,it would be an unimaginable horror to give their happiness away.I have 3 children and remember them at that age ,having to give them away to strangers to anyone it would be unimaginable.What brave sacrificing parents full of love and hope for their precious child.What brave people to take you in what love for humanity they had/have as they saw the injustices around them I feel comforted to know ,there is a chance for this dark world when we see people like this existing. Your parents were looking after you from that world,and sent you to these wonderful souls to look after their precious son.God bless your parents ,both your parents!

[@evelinehaanstra9069]

My heart cries when i see tswi herschel telling his story...

[@poppyhermionerhiannonprice235]

Lots of respect for him x also the righteous among the nations too x really got emotional when he cried and felt for him x oh my goodness he is amazing x ✨ so inspirational

[@jacquikalich3873]

Wise words. Heartbreaking story. God Bless.

[@desertdog99x]

Wow - what a wonderful story. Thank you

[@shabbirbnadaf3186]

This story really inspires me very much to do something in life as im in depression now.... 😊

[@julz3tt3]

Aww beautiful ending xxx god bless those who helped and the blessed land of Israel xxx Shalom x

[@jenniferkopenga4383]

What an amazing story

[@bakingbee7874]

Thank you for sharing this. God bless you and your precious family!

[@xtreme_minecraftminexraft9759]

God bless you beautiful man.

[@princyeby2795]

What an amazing story... Love from India...

[@isabelledelaforte8921]

so heartbreaking and wonderful this testimony leaves me full of emotions and love.... what courage and greatness both his jewish and dutch parents had!! what beautiful sentence at the end of the video: « the right direction is what you heart tells you » thanks a lot for this amazing touching beautiful story!

[@robertbarrett777]

What a beautiful story.

[@caroljohnson9230]

SUCH WONDERFUL STORIES THAT ARE SO HEARTBREAKING..

[@shelliebrowning960]

Thank you for sharing your story ...

[@lonewolf6764]

Very emotional real life sad story..😞

[@JoseVasquez-ii4pz]

It remembered me the story of Moises but GOD protected both 😥 Beautiful baby may GOD THE GOD OF ISRAEL always bless all the JEWS

[@wendy6586]

😢❤️ God bless you!

[@rojashree7010]

Miracle

[@MB-zc8jd]

Beautiful story of the ultimate sacrifice

[@effcc93]

Beautiful and sad history

[@zeidybabbimontreal678]

תינוק יפה תואר . אדם מקסים .

[@DCFunBud]

A beautiful but tragic story. This is why there is an Israel.

[@kezkn]

Wow..... wow....... wow

[@paulduckworth5386]

THE WORLD IS FOR ALL JOSEF.....FREND

[@ravikanthyella9361]

He remembers bomb explosion at the age of 15 months. He says I remember. He is son of God.

[@newlight30]

Jehovah bless the people of Israel

[@terrimabrey93]

💛💛💛💚

[@wendymudkins668]

I would of taken and hid Jews to no one has the right to wipe a whole race of people out my conscience would of made me help them all these poor people were murdered because of one mans hatred that he spread over a whole world

[@kristine6996]

Peace Israel, peace 🕊

[@helenmullane3547]

😧😢🌹

[@angelinapingitore8635]

When I brought children into this world in the early 90's I did not give them a religion. Religion creates separation among people and nations. I was their teacher and guide and taught my children the power of love.

[@MrMaNnY5117]

[@joydot7620]

his grandmother was cruel, and ungrateful

[@perceblue3976]

The family that took him in, gave him life almost as much as his real parents did, because without the de Jongs, Tswi Herschel would have surely perished along with the rest of his family. But in a way he shit on the de Jongs, the grandmother took him back and more or less told the deJongs, well, thank you for saving my grandson and placing your lives and the lives of your kids at risk for sheltering him, have a good life, bye. If it had been me, I would have stayed with the de Jongs and made them my adoptive family, considering all that they done for him.

[@libertyjosh804]

Gay German men were also sent to the chambers which we can't forget them either.

[@BomChickyBowWow]

Please only answer if you are Jewish or have academic knowledge of the subject - There has been a long tradition of progressive leftist politics among the Jewish people. With this in mind, what accounts for the recent shift toward conservatism among Jewish people? Forgive me if this offends in any way, but I am sincerely curious.

[@stoneoffarel]

It is sad that their solution to all these problems was Zionism... since it means that someone else's home got taken away 💔 I wish there is a way for everyone to live in peace together

[@sirbrianbirch5026]

nowadays I watch documentary films an movies on youtube regarding jewish dram, holocoust., I feel closer to the jews as a muslim.Innocent people died and suffered pain.But I can not beleive that how they do the similar actions against Palestinians.Unfortunately the grandsons of the holocousted jews cause great disasters for the middle eastern people. I am not enemy of jewish people. If I lived in the times of world war 2, ı would like to save one jew at least so that I feel that I am a humanbeing.