Ruth Kapp Hartz, whose courage and strength helped her endure the horrors of the Holocaust and rebuild a life after tragedy, spoke recently at Bucks.
Through her stories, we gain insight into the past and deepen our understanding of humanity and justice.
Hartz is the subject of the book “Your Name is Renée: Ruth Kapp Hartz’s Story as a Hidden Child in Nazi-Occupied France” by Stacy Cretzmeyer, and she gave a talk on Nov. 13 at the Newtown campus. The event was presented by the School of Social and Behavioral Science and the Holocaust and Genocide Studies certificate program, in collaboration with the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center.
The Holocaust was one of the darkest chapters in human history, marked by unimaginable suffering and loss. In this tragedy, stories of survival shine as powerful reminders of resilience and hope.
Hartz went into hiding in Nazi-occupied France when her parents decided not to wear the yellow star identifying them as Jewish. During this time, it was dangerous to use her real name, so Hartz’s family changed it to Renée, which in French means “reborn.” She learned at a young age to conceal her identity so she would be safe from the Nazis.
She was among the 6 percent of Europe’s pre-war Jewish child population who survived the Holocaust, and although it was difficult to say the least, she received a great deal of help and guidance along the way.
She and her family were protected by the Fédou family, who lived above them. They had two daughters who would go to school with her when it was safe to, and stay home when it wasn’t.
She was then sent to a convent where the mother superior understood her Jewish identity. The convent was regarded as an orphanage, so she lived there as one of its orphans.
Mére Nativité was the woman who hid her from the Nazis. On one harrowing occasion, she took the children to the chapel and told them to go down to the cellar under the floor for protection.
Hartz overheard the conversation clearly as the Nazi soldier confronted the Mother Superior.
“We understand you may be sheltering Jewish children,” he stated.
The Mother Superior answered, “I? Hide Jewish children? Why would I risk such a thing?”
At the event, they shared the quote, ‘Whoever saves one life saves all of humanity, reminding us that helping even a single person has immense value and is far better than doing nothing at all.”
Hartz went on to live a full and joyful life. She married, raised two wonderful children, and later welcomed six beloved grandchildren into the world. She cherishes every moment spent with her family, especially when sharing stories from her past.
Later in life, she searched for the people who had saved her. When she finally found the Fédou family, they fell into each other’s arms, weeping as the memories of all they had endured washed over them.
She ended her speech with the quote, “ I have told you this story not to weaken you but to strengthen you. Now it is up to you. Never Again! I wish I could say never again, but unfortunately, it’s ever again.”
Her story stands as a powerful reminder of human strength and the lasting impact of compassion in the darkest of times. She prevailed against overwhelming odds, emerging stronger despite every challenge faced.
She hopes with all her heart that history will not repeat itself, and hopes for a future untouched by the mistakes of the past.
Her talk was presented by the School of Social and Behavioral Science and the Holocaust and Genocide Studies certificate program, in collaboration with the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center.