Etty hillesum cause of death

Hillesum was born in Middleburg, Netherlands, the eldest of three children of Louis Hillesum, a teacher of classical languages, and Rebecca Bernstein Hillesum. Her Russian-born mother suffered from psychological disorders, as did her two gifted brothers, and Hillesum also struggled with depression and mood swings. No one in her middle-class, assimilated family survived the war.

Hillesum studied law, Slavic languages, and psychology at the University of Amsterdam, earning a law degree in The German invasion of the Netherlands in terminated her studies. She was strongly influenced by Julius Spier b. At his urging, Hillesum began keeping a journal, beginning March 9, and continuing until her deportation to Auschwitz in September Here Hillesum worked for the Jewish Council, the organization charged with implementing Nazi orders in the Jewish community; for a time, her position accorded her some measure of privilege and freedom of movement between Westerbork and Amsterdam.

She also worked in Westerbork's hospital, refusing offers of a safe haven outside the camp. Hillesum helped many passengers as they made their deportation journey while working for the Jewish Council. Deported to Auschwitz with her family in September , Hillesum was murdered on November Writing was the emotional center of Hillesum's life.

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Initially, the journal was less a memoir of the time and more an exploration of her inner life, focusing on philosophical, psychological, and spiritual issues. Eventually, the Nazi genocide cast a shadow over the writing and both the journals and her massive correspondence contain detailed descriptions of the Jews imprisoned at Westerbork, the atrocious conditions in which they were kept, and the brutality of the guards.

The writing also speaks of her commitment to give succor to the interned Jews; accepting that she could not alter what awaited Westerbork's inhabitants, Hillesum was determined to be the "thinking heart" of the camp.