Emma Harkema

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Pieter Marinus Albertus Harkema
Moeder: Teuntje de Gooijer
Geboren: 20 Sept 1918 Poerworedjo
Overleden: 26 MRT 2010 Buitenpost
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Gort
First Name: Emma
Maiden Name: Harkema
Date of Birth: 20/09/1918
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Religion: CALVINIST
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Buitenpost, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Buitenpost, Friesland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1104)
When the war broke out, Jan Gort, a schoolteacher, his wife, Emma, and their infant child were living in Buitenpost, Friesland. Jan was a devout member of the Calvinist Church and in 1942, when it became clear that the Jews would have to go into hiding to avoid deportation, he felt it was his duty to help the "People of the Book" to avoid this fate. In October 1942, Jan, then 27 years old, and Emma invited a young man, Jozef Hes, to come and hide in their home. In May 1943, they also welcomed Jozef's sister, Rachel, into their home. Jozef and Rachel remained with the Gort family until the end of the war. Sometimes, when they anticipated a search, Jozef and Rachel were sent to Emma's parents, the Harkema family. When Emma became pregnant, the Harkemas also sheltered Jozef temporarily. While Jozef was at the Harkemas, their home was searched. Jozef managed to hide behind some water barrels and thus avoided being detected by the Germans. When, by the winter of 1944, fuel had became scarce, Jan would venture outside to find wood for heating and cooking. When food became scarce, Emma, who had not fully regained her strength since giving birth, traveled into the countryside on her bicycle on foraging expeditions. Jan and Emma were fully aware that they were endangering their own lives by performing these acts, but their religious convictions proved to be greater than their fear.
On December 27, 1976, Yad Vashem recognized Jan Gort and his wife, Emma Gort-Harkema, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Jan Gort geb. 25 Feb 1911 overl. 5 Jan 1996
Huwelijk: 31 OKT 1940 Zeist