Righteous Among the Nations
Corrie ten Boom: A Righteous Among the Nations
Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch Christian who risked her life to save Jews during the Holocaust, is recognized as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations." This prestigious title is awarded by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust remembrance center in Israel, to non-Jews who have shown exceptional courage and moral clarity in helping Jews during the Holocaust, often at great personal risk. Corrie’s story is one of unflinching faith, bravery, and unwavering compassion—a beacon of goodness amidst one of history’s darkest times.
The Heart of a Rescuer
Born in 1892 in Haarlem, Netherlands, Corrie was part of a deeply Christian family. The ten Booms were watchmakers, known for their integrity and care for others. But their true legacy would be cemented not in their craftsmanship, but in their commitment to the values of love and service, even when it meant defying the Nazi regime.
When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands during World War II, Corrie and her family felt a deep moral obligation to help Jews who were being persecuted. The ten Booms secretly opened their home to Jews in hiding, providing them with a safe refuge from the Gestapo. This act of resistance, grounded in their Christian beliefs, would eventually lead to the arrest of Corrie and her family.
The "Hiding Place" and the Price of Courage
Corrie’s home became known as "The Hiding Place," where dozens of Jews were sheltered. They constructed a hidden room in the ten Boom house, accessible only through a secret passage, where Jews could hide when the Nazis came looking. Corrie, along with her father and sister Betsie, took great risks to shelter these innocent lives. But on February 28, 1944, the ten Boom family was betrayed by an informant, and their home was raided. Corrie, her father, and her sister were arrested, and the Jews they had protected were forced to flee.
Her father died shortly after the arrest, and Corrie and Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück, a notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. There, in the most inhumane conditions, Corrie’s faith never wavered. It was in Ravensbrück that she and Betsie began to share the hope of Christ with fellow prisoners, even amidst the horrors they faced daily.
A Legacy of Light
After the war, Corrie was released from Ravensbrück and returned to the Netherlands. In 1947, she wrote her autobiography, The Hiding Place, which recounts her experiences during the war and in the concentration camp. The book became an international bestseller, and she spent the next decades traveling around the world, speaking about forgiveness, reconciliation, and the transformative power of God's love.
But beyond her personal fame, it was her recognition by Yad Vashem as a "Righteous Among the Nations" that immortalized her commitment to saving lives. In 1967, she was honored by the Israeli government for her role in rescuing Jews. By this act, the Jewish people acknowledged what the ten Boom family had done at the risk of their own lives—an act of love and compassion that transcended boundaries of faith and nationality.
What We Can Learn from Corrie’s Example
Corrie ten Boom’s life teaches us profound lessons about courage, faith, and the call to act in love despite fear. She did not set out to be a hero, but her commitment to doing what was right, regardless of the cost, shaped her legacy. In today’s world, her story continues to inspire us to stand for justice, speak truth, and offer compassion to those in need, just as she did.
Corrie’s recognition as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations" serves as a reminder that ordinary people, guided by faith and moral clarity, can make extraordinary differences in the world. In a time when the world was consumed by hatred, Corrie’s light shone brightly, offering hope to many, even in the darkest of times.
Her life and story remain a powerful testament to the goodness that can emerge when people choose to stand up for what is right—no matter the cost.
