Raphael Andries Ensel, a warehouse clerk, was a son of Andries Ensel, a docker, and Betje Waterman. At age 28, he married on 10 July 1913 in Zaandam Judith Vischschraper (Jet), 28 years of age too, a daughter of Meijer Vischschraper, a shoemaker and Betje Moscoviter. The couple had five children, namely Andries (André) in 1913, Meyer (Meijer) in 1916, Marcus in 1918, Elisabeth (Liesje) in 1923 and Philip in 1926. Only Andries and Elisabeth have survived the Shoah. The other three children and their parents were killed in the Holocaust.
The Ensel family came from Amsterdam in Den Haag in May 1924 where they lived at Maystraat 37; afterwards they moved in September 1927 to Pahudstraat 24 and per September was their residence Joan Maetsuyckerstraat 90 from where they eventually were sent to Camp Westerbork in 1943.
Raphael Andries Ensel, his wife Judith Vischschraper and his sons Marcus and Philip were registered in Camp Westerbork on 15 January 1943. Philip stayed in barack 67 with his mother and Raphael Andries in barack 82. The were deported to Auschwitz on 23 February where they have been killed immediately upon arrival there on 26 February 1943.
Marcus was since he was registered at the Jewish Council on 8 August 1942, safeguarded (“gesperrt”) for deportation because of his function as teacher and deputy head. Despite of that he was brought in Camp Westerbork on 15 January 1943 and already one week later on 23 January deported to Auschwitz and upon arrival there immediately killed on 26 January 1943.
Their son Meyer (Meijer) was compositor by trade and unmarried. On 1 May 1943 he was brought in Camp Westerbork but already after three days, on 4 May deported to Sobibor, where he was killed immediately upon arrival there on 7 May 1943.
The youngest son Philip, born in Den Haag, was registered too on 8 August 1942 at the Jewish Council. On 15 january 1943 he was brought in Camp Westerbork and since 30 January he stayed in barack 67, with his mother. On 23 February he too was deported to Auschwitz, together with his parents and brother Marcus. Immediately upon arrival there he was killed on 26 February 1943.
City Archive of Rotterdam, index birthregister of Raphael Andries Ensel; website www.wiewaswie.nl, wedding of Raphael Andries Ensel to Judith Vischschraper; Municipal Archive of Den Haag, family registration card of Raphael Andries Ensel and the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of the members of the Ensel family.