The Jewish monument in the village of Eenrum, in the municipality of Het Hogeland, was erected in memory of ten Jewish residents who were deported by the occupying forces in 1942. They were taken from their homes and transported to concentration camps in Poland, where they were murdered. The monument serves as a lasting reminder of a small rural community that lost ten of its members during the years of occupation.
The names of the victims are Kaatje Benninga Israels, Mozes Benninga, Martha Cohen, Simon Benninga, Sophia Benninga Zadoks, Zoetine Cohen Benninga, Hendriejette Benninga, Frouwkje Benninga, Lea Benninga, and Jacob Benninga. Each name reflects a life once rooted in Eenrum, cut short far from home.
The initiative to establish the monument came from a local committee of residents from Eenrum, who sought to preserve the memory of their Jewish neighbors and to give them a visible place in the village’s history.
The monument was unveiled on 12 May 1997 by Lena Benninga and Dr. Noach Benninga. On the occasion of the unveiling, a small publication titled Oorlogsherinneringen was released, written by Noach Benninga, in which personal memories and wartime experiences were recorded.
The text on the plaque reads:
“TAKEN FROM EENRUM AND KILLED IN POLAND
1940 – 1945
KAATJE BENNINGA ISRAELS, 89 YEARS, 20 MARCH 1943
MOZES BENNINGA, 61 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
MARTHA COHEN, 62 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
SIMON BENNINGA, 59 YEARS, 12 OCTOBER 1942
SOPHIA BENNINGA ZADOKS, 52 YEARS, 12 OCTOBER 1942
ZOETINE COHEN BENNINGA, 22 YEARS, 12 OCTOBER 1942
HENDRIEJETTE BENNINGA, 62 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
FROUWKJE BENNINGA, 54 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
LEA BENNINGA, 50 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
JACOB BENNINGA, 68 YEARS, 23 NOVEMBER 1942
[Star of David]
SO THAT WE MAY NEVER FORGET.”
