HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-11-19, Page 5Wonders if Israelis remember
11 is remembering for John KatsNovember
ters between M.P. Murray Cardiff
and Israel's ambassador in Ottawa.
In a letter dated February 19, Am-
bassador Eliashiv Ben florin told Car-
diff that "we are investigating the
matter with the appropriate
authorities in Israel... our authorities
have not yet completed studying all
the data and relevant testimony."
John Kats remembers, as he
rereads some of the details he wrote
down in the front of his big Bible.
Let's hope someone jogs the memory
of Israel officials before it's too late.
Remembrance Day is a time for
remembering for John Kats. The
BO -year-old resident of the Queensway
Nursing Home lets his memory slip
back four decades, to when German
troops began their occupation of his
native Holland.
Kats remembers making the
fateful decision to join the Dutch
underground in northern Holland,
knowing he would be risking (he lives
of himself, his wife and his two little
daughters if he were caught.
More than 500 Jews lived around
him in Hollandschevld. Young Dutch
lads were being conscripted to forc-
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ed labour. Safe hiding places were
needed. So were identity cards, ration
cards, working papers, passports -
either the genuine articles or expert
forgeries.
Kats operated a bicycle shop and a
taxi service. Perhaps his talents and
his little old DKW car could be of use.
"I volunteered because it was my
duty", Kats explains.
Kats remembers a typical exploit
(which has been recorded in a book
written after the war about Johanes
Post, the district resistance leader).
He was at the wheel of his car, stop-
ped at the side of the road. Two of his
friends were standing nearby. Their
target came into view, a group of men
on bicycles. Two of the cyclists were
transporting a large metal box.
The two members of the
underground rushed into the centre of
the road shouting "Stop in the name
of the Queen, you traitors!" They
snatched the box, threw it into the
car, jumped in themselves and sped
away. The whole operation took only
a few minutes, and yielded a treasure
trove of identity cards and working
papers.
Kats was arrested by the German
secret police in August, 1943. The
charge of stealing ration coupons
could not be proved. Another time he
hid for over six weeks while the Ger-
mans hunted for him. When he
couldn't be found, his wife and
children were picked up and inter-
rogated for 48 hours.
In January of 1945, Kats were ar-
rested again, and put on a train head-
ed for Germany with 60 others. He
was one of five who jumped off the
train and escaped, breaking his
shoulder and collarbone in the
process.
His wife was imprisoned for a
month in February.
Kats remembers the sixth of April.
On that date he saw the first soldiers
of the liberating Canadian army. A
week later he was reunited with his
wife and'children.
Kats remembers that after the war
only nine Jews remained in
Hollandschevld.
One of the Jews who Kats assisted
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became an influential businessman
later in Amsterdam. He recommend-
ed Kats for an award from the
government of Israel for his part in
aiding a great number of Jews to
escape and hide from the Nazis dur-
ing the war.
In -March 1984 Kats' niece in
Holland, acting as her uncle's proxy,
attended a ceremony com-
memorating these outstanding in-
dividuals. She was told Kats' award
was being sent to Canada. It has not
arrived, despite an exchange of let -
Granton UC course
on short order meals
sv MRS. E. SUMMERS
At the Granton United Church, the
Rev. Bruce Pierce was in.charge of
the Sunday worship and continued
with his sermon on "The Second Com-
ing of Jesus". The minister entitled
his message "The Church's
Motivation".
Jesus is teaching us this, to witness
for Him, to keep working for Him, and
tithing for Him. His gospel is the
greatest investment in the world,
spiritual investments are forever.
In the children's time. the Rev.
Pierce told them "when they help so-
meone else, they help themselves and
it gave them a good feeling".
Personals
A one day food course entitled
"Short Order Meals" was held in
Granton United Church basement on
Monday. The course was well attend-
ed and interesting.
Over 400 attended the roast beef
supper held at Granton United
Kippen news
By. MARGARET HOGGARTH
St. Andrews Church Choir accom-
panied by Mary Moffatt at the organ
sang "Miracle of Faith".
Rev. Lorne Keay's sermon was bas-
ed on the third chapter of James, in
which he stated that just as the tongue
is a test of the physical condition of
one's body, it is also a test of our
spiritual health.
We should never underestimate the
power of the tongue. It is a blessing
when it is controlled by God and a
curse when controlled by evil. The
congregation was thanked for their
help in making Kippen's
smorgasbord supper so successful.
Alec McGregor, a life-long resident
of the Kippen area, passed away on
Thursday, November 13. The sym-
pathy of the community is extended
to his wife Mattie and family.
This Winter let
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Church on Wednesday, November 12.
Sincere sympathy is extended to
Mrs. Elsie Dann on the death of her
sister, the late Lillian Pearl (Beattie)
Blake at Tarpan Springs, Florida
By MRS. J. TEMPLEMAN
Mrs. Doris Miller and Mrs. John
Templeman, represented Staffa
Women's Institute at the Perth South
District Executive dinner meeting
hosted by Motherwell Women's In-
stitute, Monday evening.
Many from this community were
guests at the Elliott-Soederwedding
held in Monkton United Church and
the reception in the community cen-
tre at Mitchell, Saturday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Keith Parsons, Strat-
ford, former resident of Staffa Com-
munity celebrated their 40th wedding
anniversary on Saturday evening at
the Legion Hall, Stratford, with many
from this community attending. The
evening was planned by their family.
Barb Templeman and a friend from
Rexdale, spent the weekend with the
J. Templeman family.
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,Times -Advocate, November 19, 1986
REMEMBRANCE RECORD — John Kats poses with the Bible in which
he has recorded some of the events which affected him and his family
during World War 2.
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