The Last Seder
In April 1942, just months before both families went into hiding, the Frank and van Pels families gathered to celebrate Passover. The Seder meal, held in the Frank’s apartment, was attended by a cousin of Auguste van Pels, named Hermann, whose memory provides a beautiful, heartbreaking snapshot of that evening.
Hermann recalled it as “the last Seder evening I spent with a family.” His memory of the Frank’s home is one of warmth and tradition, with the “entire household exuded old Jewish culture.” He remembered the quiet grace of Edith Frank, the “very cultured mother,” and the charm of Otto Frank, the “charming father.”
His most vivid memory, however, was of Anne. As the youngest person at the table, Anne had the honor of speaking the “Manischtano” (the Four Questions). Hermann described her face, noting that her “huge, dark, expressive eyes were the most striking thing about her.” In that moment, surrounded by family, none of them had “any idea of the genius for writing which was latent in that intelligent and charming child.”
This memory is a powerful testament to the vibrant cultural life and loving family atmosphere that the Nazis sought to destroy. It is a beautiful, final image of a family celebrating their faith and traditions, a moment of light and culture before the darkness of the war consumed them. Chag sameach ✡️.