Mala Zimetbaum (mural)

On the side wall of this block of care flats you will see a colorful mural in honor of the Jewish woman Mala Zimetbaum

This work of art reminds us of the greatest tragedy that happened to Antwerp in recent history: the arrest and murder of thousands of Jews. They were 'taken' to the Dossin barracks in Mechelen, from where they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where they were usually immediately gassed.

The Zimetbaum family, originally from Poland, fled to Belgium in the 1920s and settled in Borgerhout. During the first major raid on July 22, 1942, the young Mala was arrested near Central Station. Her language skills saved her life: she was employed in the administration of the extermination camp. From that position she managed to help and even save several fellow prisoners from the gas chambers.

Together with the Polish political prisoner Edek Galinski, Mala attempted to escape in the summer of 1944. The couple was caught, severely tortured and executed in front of the entire camp.

This fresco is the work of Joachim Lambrechts, a Flemish man with Jewish roots. It was established in 1919 with the support of the Borgerhout district.

Erik