Lied van verzet

Lecture on the book 'Song of Resistance' by Sander Stotijn, with the participation of Jalda Rebling and Diete Oudesluijs. 'Lied van verzet' is the autobiography of Lin Jaldati and Eberhard Rebling. They are known as characters in the novel ''t Hooge Nest'' by Roxane van Iperen. Sander Stotijn is one of the translators of “Song of Resistance".

Dancer and singer of Yiddish songs Lin Jaldati, the stage name of Rebekka (Lien) Brilleslijper (1912-1988), grew up in Amsterdam's bustling prewar Jewish neighborhood, as the daughter and granddaughter of market vendors. Jaldati participated in solidarity actions for Jewish refugees as early as the 1930s.

Berlin-based pianist and musicologist Eberhard Rebling (1911-2008) was the son of a Prussian officer. Horrified by what was happening in Germany, he left immediately after graduation for Holland, where he already had some contacts.

Lin and Eberhard Met in The Hague, fell for each other and went to live together. Lin danced with the revue but was convinced by Eberhard to quit that and instead devote herself seriously to the Yiddish songs she sang. He helped her put together and rehearse her own program of songs and dances. Eberhard took on the piano accompaniment. This made them famous in the Netherlands and they were about to break through internationally when the war broke out.

During the occupation they both did resistance work and had to go into hiding. This is how they ended up in 't Hooge Nest in Huizen. When that hiding place was betrayed, Eberhard managed to escape, Lin ended up in Westerbork, Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. She and her sister Janny barely survived.

After the war they built an international career, but in the Netherlands it became increasingly difficult to perform or work. During the cold war they were boycotted because of their communist beliefs. So in 1952 they left with their two daughters for East Germany, where Eberhard was offered work. For Lin, of course, it was very sour to leave for the country of the perpetrators but they would not return.

Song of Resistance is the translation of the German published 'Sag nie, du gehst den letzten Weg' (1986/1995). Sander Stotijn is guitarist, as well as uncle and aunt of the authors. He feels it is important that in these times of resurgent anti-Semitism and cynical wars, the book has been made accessible to a younger generation. In his lecture, he will try to highlight how political activism can shape artists' lives.