Jacob van Arend was a son of Nathan Manuel van Arend and Hester Drielsma. 8 May 1890 he married Betje Elsas in Dordrecht, a daughter of Jacob Elsas and Leentje Swaab. The couple had eleven children, of whom five children have died in childhood. The other six children, namely Jacob, Levie, Wolf, Leentje, Mozes and Hester have been killed in the Shoah.
After their marriage, the couple lived in Rotterdam where Jacob van Arend earned his living as a greengrocer and street vendor. They have resided at Zandstraat, Raamstraat, Petristraat and Helmersstraat. Eventually, they ended up in old age in the Israëlitisch Oudeliedengesticht (Israelitic Old Peoples Home) at Claes de Vrieslaan 70, from where they have been deported to Westerbork.
Jacob van Arend and his wife Betje Elsas arrived in Camp Westerbork 10 October 1942. After two days, 12 October, they were put on transport to Auschwitz, and upon arrival there 15 October 1942, they were immediately killed.
City Archive of Rotterdam, family registration cards of Jacob van Arend; website www.wiewaswie.nl, wedding Jacob van Arend/Betje Elsas; the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Jacob van Arend and Betje van Arend-Elsas and an addition of a visitor of the website.