WILLEMSTAD - The Jewish Cultural Historical Museum (JCHM) in Hanchi Snoa, Punda, is honored and pleased to announce the release of the book The Scent of Lilacs and Jasmine: A Jewish Orphan Girl and Her Foster Parents, written by Liesbeth van de Kar (Amsterdam, 1939). 

The book is the autobiographical story of the author, in which she recounts her experiences as a Jewish child in the Netherlands during World War II and her life after the war. Initially, she wrote it for her grandsons, but through collaboration with the JCHM, Liesbeth's story, who has lived in Curaçao since 1962, is now accessible to a broader audience. 

The book (ISBN 978-99904-5-497-0) is a bilingual publication (Dutch and English), with 152 pages (including a photo section). The museum presented the book to invited guests on May 4th, but due to the limited number of copies available at the time, it was not widely announced. A new shipment has since arrived on the island, and the book is now available at local bookstores and the museum in Punda. 

In the Netherlands, the book can be purchased at Praamstra bookstore in Deventer and at the museum shops of the Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam. It is also possible to order and have copies delivered in the Netherlands. For questions or to place an order, please email board@jewishmuseumcuracao.org. 

Photos: 

Cover of the book

Conversation between author Liesbeth van de Kar and historian Margo Groenewoud during the presentation on May 4, 2024