A humble Holocaust hero
RIGHTEOUS Among the Nations Adrianus “Adrian” van As, who saved more than 1000 Jews during the Holocaust, died last Thursday at Montefiore’s Randwick campus, aged 94.
Dutch-born van As, who immigrated to Australia in the 1960s, rescued 1182 Jews from deportation during World War II when working at the Westerbork transit camp as the head of food distribution services.
“Adrian and his wife, Bertha, were both members of the Underground and were extraordinarily brave,” van As’ long-time friend and Courage to Care chairman Andrew Havas told The AJN.
“Adrian had two doors to his office at the camp, and used to smuggle at least one Jew through each door every day, and then hide them inside.
“Bertha used to smuggle falsified documents into the camp inside her corset. Under the cover of darkness, she’d spirit them away on her bicycle.”
Van As, Bertha and their children lived at the camp between 1942 and 1945 and, under constant Nazi surveillance, removed names from deportation lists, supplied false documents and found safe houses for those they rescued.
Van As and Bertha, who passed away in 1999, were declared Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1991.
“He was such a humble man,” Havas said.
“Never once did he consider what he did was special or out of the ordinary.
“He couldn’t stand any injustice. He was a devout Presbyterian and stood up for everyone.”
Van As travelled around the country with Courage to Care since 2000, travelling to regional towns and cities, speaking to tens of thousands of adults and school students.
Van As’ long-time friend and Montefiore spiritual dean Rabbi David Rogut was due to speak alongside Havas at a memorial for van As last night (Wednesday) at Montefiore’s Randwick campus.
On van As’ request, Havas will say Kaddish at the graveside.
“Adrian was a very beautiful human being,” Rogut told The AJN.
“He was with me at Montefiore for six years and he always came to my weekly talks.
“He was deeply respectful and a great friend of the Jewish people. He always had a kippah on.”
“Adrian was the most remarkable man that anybody could ever meet,” Havas said.
“He was my hero.”
ALEXANDRA ROACH
Righteous Among the Nations Adrianus “Adrian” van As passed away last week.
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