Saartje d'Ancona was born on 11 July 1882 at 7 p.m. at the Zandstraat in Rotterdam. Although the streetname can still be found today, the buildings can't. On 14 May 1940 Rotterdam was bombed after which little remained of the Zandstraat.
On 7 February 1891 Saartje d'Ancona moved to Gent, Belgium to work as a housemaid for a relative. After she married Izak Manheim, she lived in the Rotterdam neighbourhood 'Witte Dorp' in Oud-Mathenesse. The couple had two children here, of which one survived the war. Shortly after her second child was born, the family moved to Eerste Staringstraat 7, also in Rotterdam.
Saartje d'Ancona and her husband were members of the International Order of Good-Templars (Internationale Orde van Goede Tempeliers) an organisation that propagated against alcohol(-abuse).
After her son Jacob was arrested on 30 July 1942 and many other Jews were arrested on 20 September 1942 Saartje wrote "Tomorrow is Yom Kippur. We will fast for you and all affected Jews". Saartje d'Ancona and Izak Manheim were arrested on 8 October 1942. They were brought to a hangar at the Stieltjesplein in Rotterdam. From there they managed to write one last letter. On 10 October 1942 they were brought to camp Westerbork.
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