Courageously Faithful: Lessons from Henry Baum’s Testimony

By David Thacker
From the blog series titled, “The Endurance and Relevance of Survivor Testimonials in the 21^st Century” by students of Professor Sylvia Taschka’s ‘Nazi Germany’ class at Wayne State University. In partnership with the Appelbaum Family Compass Fund.

Dr. Henry Baum was born Heinz Salomon Baum in Cologne, Germany, on July 21, 1927. Henry Baum was just a child in 1939 when his life took a dramatic turn. Henry was placed by his mother on a Kindertransport, a courageous initiative aimed at saving Jewish children from the horrors of the Holocaust. Between 1938 and 1940, the Kindertransport facilitated the rescue of approximately 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi Germany to Great Britain, thanks to the efforts of Jewish organizations and British children’s welfare groups.

Growing Up in Germany

Henry grew up in a Jewish community in Cologne and attended a Jewish school. His father was a cantor with the “most beautiful” voice. Some of his fondest childhood memories are of him sitting and listening to his father’s voice fill their home with sweet music and a love of G-d. Henry recalled the early days of Nazi Germany, avoiding streets where the Hitler Youth were, being called names by people as he walked by.

He remembers a vivid conversation between his father and a neighbor where the neighbor said he would not be allowed to be friendly with the Baums anymore because his son was in the Hitler Youth.
Nazi Germany was becoming an increasingly hostile place for Jews like Henry and his family, and things only seemed to be getting worse.

Kristallnacht and the Kindertransport

That fear and danger materialized for Henry and his family on November 9, 1938, Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass. The synagogue and school that Henry attended were ransacked and then burnt to the ground—Henry’s father at some point after this was taken by the Nazis and was never seen again. When learning of an opportunity that could save her son from the growing dread and violence around them, Henry’s mother placed him on a Kindertransport train that would take him to England.

Being a child caught in a conflict that they can’t quite understand can shatter their innocence and change them forever. Many of the Kindertransport children were like this after arriving in England, losing their sense of identity and even their culture. Henry recounts the other Jewish boys after arriving in England, as totally unaware of how to read the Torah and sing hymns, as if they had forgotten or had that part of them ripped from their memory. Henry doubled down on his Jewishness, volunteering to sing at his new synagogue, just like his father did.

Returning to Life in Michigan

After moving to the United States, Henry took a job teaching, first for the Detroit Public Schools and then at his local shul, becoming the principal there. In the years since he dedicated his life to Jewish education and community. In a way, he grew up to be the same person his parents were trying to raise.

Separated from his family at such a young age, Henry not only preserved his Jewish faith but actively embraced it, allowing it to guide his life’s journey. His commitment to his faith mirrored that of his father. He also found purpose in teaching and sharing knowledge and values with the next generation.

Whether he knows it or not, Henry transformed his painful experiences into a source of inspiration for countless children and others who are forced to abandon their families and way of life, whether due to war or another hardship. His ability to maintain his faith and cultural identity amid such profound change and devastation speaks volumes about his resilience and dedication, illustrating that even in the face of profound loss, the bonds of family, faith, and tradition can endure and flourish.