Debora Keizer was a daughter of Mozes Keizer and Vrouwtje Hekster. She resided with her mother and unmarried brother Levie Keizer at Nieuwe Kerkstraat 57 IIa in Amsterdam. On 15 April 1942 she married Israël Gans, a son of Elias Gans and Mijntje Schuit. Israël Gans was divorced 15 May 1936 from Hadassa Polak. After her marriage, Debora Keizer remaind at Nieuwe Kerkstraat 57 IIa but her husband Israël Gans then came living in.
Debora Keizer was taken in the night of 27/28 January 1943 and sent to Westerbork, together with her brother Levie Keizer. Debora had to stay in barrack 64. Due to illness, her husband had been hospitalized in the Nederlands Israëlitsch Ziekenhuis (N.I.Z.) and stayed behind in Amsterdam.
On 29 January 1943, Debora Keizer was already asked to make inquiries at the N.I.Z. about the duration of the illness of her husband. On 2 February a message came in that Israël Gans should be nursed for at least another 14 days. Then on 5 March Debora made a request whether she was allowed to wait for her husband in Westerbork. (“Auf Ehemann warten”).
Debora’s registration card of the Jewish Council shows a number of annotations, among them the one of 21 February, which read: tomorrow a photocopy of statement from Messrs Rockland will be sent, stating that her husband Israël Gans, “für Wehrmachts orders” is indispensable. On 4 March another query was made for a new certificate about stay, nature and duration of the disease of Israël Gans. On 6 March the Jewish Council was ordered to inform Messrs Rockland that if a “Sperre” (exemption from deportation) should given, the call from the “Zentralstelle” should be sent to Westerbork.
All these attempts has led to nothing. Debora's husband was taken 4 March 1943 to Westerbork and locked in in the penal barrack 67. On 10 March Debora Keizer and Israël Gans werd deported to Sobibor and on arrival there 13 March 1943, both were immediately killed.
City Archive of Amsterdam, archive card of Israel Gans and Debora Keizer, family registration card of Israël Gans and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Israël Gans and Debora Keizer.