Jeltje Postma

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Oeds Geerts Postma
Moeder: Sjoerdtje Jans Zuidema
Geboren: 30 MRT 1884 Bergum, Tietjerksteradeel
Overleden: 4 Jan 1948
Religie: Ger. Kerk
Aantekeningen: Baron Jeltje (1884 - 1948 )
Personal Information
Last Name: Baron
First Name: Jeltje
Maiden Name: Postma
Date of Birth: 30/03/1884
Date of death: 04/01/1948
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Suawoude, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Suawoude, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/11947)
Commemoration
Date of Recognition: 31/10/2010
Ceremony organized by Israeli diplomatic delegation in: The Hague, Netherlands
Rescued Persons
Beer de, Helena, Leni
Rescue Story
Baron, Jurjen
Baron-Postma, Jeltje
Leni de Beer, born in 1894 in Zwolle, was a German-language teacher at a public high school in Rotterdam. As a result of one of the early anti-Jewish measures in 1941, Leni was fired and went to teach at the Jewish high school that had been specially created for all Jewish children who no longer were allowed to study in the public school system. When, the deportations of the Jews for “work in the East” started in the summer of 1942, Leni received a Sperre, a temporary exemption from deportation, as a teacher. In the spring of 1943, when most of the Jews had already been rounded up and deported, and this Sperre was no longer valid, Leni decided to find a place to hide.
During her years in Rotterdam, she had become acquainted with a Mister Baron, who had early on mentioned that she could count on his family in case of need. She now did so and was sent to the home of Jurjen and Jeltje Baron, who lived in the tiny village of Suawoude in the northern province of Friesland. The Barons were in their late fifties, whose children no longer lived at home. Leni found the first weeks at the Barons extremely difficult: she did not understand the Friesian language and living conditions in this rural area were strange to her. Leni missed books. The Barons lived a very basic life, where surviving on the little they had kept them busy every day. Leni, nonetheless, adapted quickly -- she helped out with the household chores and played with the grandchildren when they came to visit. Leni stayed in and around the house at all times. When visitors came, she was out of sight. The Barons’ home was searched three times, once while Leni was peeling potatoes in the kitchen. The Germans, thinking she was the lady of the house, left her alone. Once she was in the cellar when a German soldier saw her, but he was focused on finding men for compulsory work in Germany (Arbeiteinsatz) and left her alone. A third time, she managed to be out of sight.
Leni stayed with the Barons until the liberation of the area in April 1945. They stayed in close touch even after Leni returned to Rotterdam. After Jeltje died in 1948, Leni went to take care of Jurjen until his death in 1969.
On October 31, 2010, Yad Vashem recognized Jurjen Baron and Jeltje Baron-Postma as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Jurjen Baron geb. 26 MRT 1883 overl. 29 Juli 1969
Huwelijk: 21 MEI 1904 Tietjerksteradeel
Kinderen:
  Wytske Baron Female geb. 14 OKT 1908
  Dieuwke Baron Female geb. 5 MEI 1907
  Sjoerdtje Baron Female geb. 18 Apr 1905
  Wiebe Baron Female geb. 17 Apr 1906
  Jacoba Baron Female geb. 4 Nov 1910