Baroukh Bentitou

Baroukh Bentitou was born in Palikao, Algeria, on May 27, 1931. At the time of Baroukh’s birth, Algeria was part of France, and was home to nearly 120,000 Jews. Because Algeria was a very poor land, Baroukh’s father, seeking a better life for his eight children, moved the family to the port city of Marseilles in southern France. When the Germans conquered France in 1940, the 350,000 Jewish residents found themselves the targets of ever-growing persecution.

The Germans divided France, occupying all of the north, and allowing French collaborators to rule most of the southern zone, where Baroukh lived. The government in the south was directly responsible to the Germans and usually cooperated with them in persecuting the Jews.

On January 23, 1943, Baroukh’s father and two older brothers were arrested in Marseilles. They were later deported to Sobibor Death Camp in Poland, where they were murdered in the gas chamber. Baroukh, 11 years old, was sent to live at the children’s home in Izieu. The children’s home in Izieu was run by staff who did everything they could to brighten up the lives of the children with picnics and other pleasurable activities.

In November 1942, the Germans occupied all of France. Now, no Jew was safe. On April 6, 1944, the Nazis came for the children of Izieu. Baroukh and the other children at the home were deported to Auschwitz Death Camp in Poland one month later, where he was murdered in the gas chambers.

Baroukh was 13 years old.

Jews first came to what is now known as Algeria over 1500 years ago. Algeria’s Jewish community numbered approximately 30,000 when the area was taken over by France in 1830. Forty years later, Algerian Jews were awarded French citizenship. As a result of the new opportunities afforded them, large numbers of Algerian Jewry rapidly assimilated into the prevailing culture around them. These new opportunities also angered local antisemites, and hundreds of Jews were murdered by Arab rioters. This ongoing situation was in part responsible for the decision of many Algerian Jews to move the France. On the eve of World War II, Algeria’s Jewish population still numbered over 115,000.