A Dairy, a Vessel, a Drawing: Disney Drawings in Yad Vashem's Collections

During the Holocaust's darkest hours, Jews clung to nostalgic memories as their last refuge of humanity. Amidst the unimaginable horror, they retreated into mental sanctuaries of pre-war life—simple moments like buying groceries or enjoying entertainment without fear. These brief escapes were often shattered by the brutal reality in which they existed.

Pre-war, cinema was a shared experience that transcended geographic and social boundaries. Disney's first animated blockbuster film, "Snow White" (1937), represented for many Jews their last carefree experience before they were flung into the abyss of chaos and despair. This whimsical memory would be, for some, an escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, and the beloved characters became bittersweet reminders of their lost innocence.

Despite the Nazis' and their collaborators' systematic extermination of millions of Jews, poignant drawings and artworks—depicting serene nature scenes, beloved family members, and unexpectedly, popular culture icons like Disney characters—stand as powerful testaments to the lives, loves, and simple joys that were brutally torn away. These creations offer a bittersweet glimpse into a world of memories and dreams that sustained hope even in humanity's darkest hour and the indomitable spirit of the victims lives on through the artifacts they left behind.

Yad Vashem's new David and Fela Shapell Family Collection Center includes a collection of Disney-inspired artwork by Holocaust victims and survivors that powerfully illustrates their humanity, hopes, and resistance against dehumanization.

A Diary

The diary of Sharika "Sara" Kaldron, spanning 1936-1940, offers a vivid snapshot of pre-war Belgrade life. Recently donated to Yad Vashem by Sara's cousin, this cherished artifact is one of the last remnants of the Majer family, who were murdered during the Holocaust. Its delicate pages contain an array of personal mementos - drawings, blessings, dedications, and poems - written by friends and family in Serbian, Croatian, French, and Hebrew.

Within this intimate collection, careful writings and drawings paint a picture of youthful exuberance. Notably, images of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck appear, testament to the reach of popular culture even in pre-war Yugoslavia. These touches make the diary both a celebration of a vibrant pre-war community and a poignant reminder of lives forever altered by the Holocaust.

The book's journey intertwines with the story of Eliyahu Baruch Baruh, born in 1939 to Eliezer (a shoe trader) and Isabella Baruch. As the Nazi threat loomed in April 1941, Eliezer strategically avoided Jewish registration, instead securing Bulgarian permits for his family. They fled first to Sofia, then eventually immigrated to Israel in 1948.

Tragically, Isabella's parents and brother - the Majer family - remained in Yugoslavia and did not survive the war. The memory book, belonging to Eli's cousin, was safeguarded throughout the conflict by the housekeeper of Sharika's parents, Moritz and Regina Calderon. In a touching epilogue, it was returned to the family upon their return to Belgrade in early 1945.

A Vessel

Among Yad Vashem's collections lies a poignant artifact: a decorated urn meticulously crafted by Lili Kasticher, a Jewish artist from Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. Before the dark clouds of war descended, Lili buried this precious vessel deep in the earth, entrusting it with cherished family mementos and vital documents. Remarkably, the urn's surface bears a beautifully rendered image of Disney's Pinocchio, a touching reminder of innocence in the face of impending tragedy.

Lili's journey took her from this precious item to the horrors of Auschwitz, and later to Oberhohenelbe camp. There, drawing on her artistic spirit, she encouraged fellow prisoners to find solace and escape through poetry and painting. Against overwhelming odds, Lili survived to reclaim her hidden urn after the war.

In a final act of resilience and remembrance, Lili managed to smuggle both the vessel and the creative works from the camp when she immigrated to Israel. Adorned with its unexpected Disney motif, this item stands as a powerful testament to Lili's survival and resilience. More than just an artifact, it serves in itself as a powerful vessel of remembrance, preserving precious fragments of memory for those who perished—a tangible link between a world lost and a legacy saved against overwhelming odds.

A Drawing

Henri Kichka, born in Brussels to Polish immigrants, endured the horrors of the Holocaust alongside his family. After fleeing to France and facing internment, they returned to Belgium only to be torn apart by Nazi persecution. Henri tragically lost his sister Bertha, mother, younger sister, and aunt to Auschwitz. He and his father survived multiple concentration camps, forced labor, and a death march, but his father ultimately was murdered in Buchenwald.

Amidst this trauma, young Henri created a painting inspired by "Snow White" in 1941, finding solace in the Disney fairytale. This artwork, miraculously preserved, became a poignant symbol of resilience and hope. After liberation and a long recovery, Henri returned to Brussels, starting a new family with his wife Lucia.

The painting's journey continued, passed down to Henri's daughter Chana and later his grandson, Yaron. The cherished artwork bore a touching dedication to his grandson. Elegantly inscribed in French, the words "To Yaron, from his Granddaddy" transformed the piece into a precious heirloom. This poignant artifact embodies both the innocence shattered by the Holocaust and the indomitable spirit of its survivor, forging an unbreakable link between generations through the power of art and memory.

These objects are part of Yad Vashem's collection of Holocaust related artifacts, documents, photographs, and artwork, all housed in Yad Vashem's new David and Fela Shapell Family Collections Center, at the heart of the Moshal Shoah Legacy Campus. This new state-of-the-art facility boasts the most advanced conservation and restoration laboratories and storage vaults to protect and ensure these archival objects can bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust for generations to come.