Jacobus Anton Cijfer

Geslacht: Man
Vader: Aron Cijfer
Moeder: Mathilde Ermine Adrienne van Wijngaarden
Geboren: 11 Sept 1902 Amsterdam
Overleden: 29 Dec 1986 onbekend
Beroep: koopman in tabak, uitkoper
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Cijfer
First Name: Jacobus Anton
Date of Birth: 11/09/1902
Date of death: 29/12/1986
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Male
Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/935)
On the morning of Sunday, June 20, 1943, a razzia took place in Amsterdam. When it was over, Hilde Herzberg discovered that she was the only member of her family left behind. She waited for about two hours, and when the situation remained unchanged, she knocked on the door of her neighbors, Jacobus and Elisabeth Cijfer. Fourteen-year-old Emile and his grandmother, Jeanne Bunge*, opened the door. Although Hilde did not know the family very well, Jeanne immediately offered to help her. Hilde hid in her own apartment for about two weeks and Elisabeth shopped for her. One day, members of the Gestapo, who had the key to Hilde’s front door, tried to enter the apartment. Hilde had locked the door from inside and the Germans were not able to get in, but Hilde realized that it was no longer safe for her to stay at home. Consequently, she moved next door, to the Cijfers. Jacobus emptied a room in the attic that he shared with the other residents of the building. He helped Hilde climb over the roof and into her new hiding place. At first, she slept on the floor, but after a few days Jacobus brought her his own bed. This was very risky because the other neighbors who owned rooms in the attic did not know that Jacobus was hiding a Jew there. Officially, Hilde did not exist, so she received no ration cards. However, she received a small amount of money from some friends. Moreover, Jeanne contributed her jewelry and linen and Jacobus exchanged it for food with the peasants in nearby villages. When Hilde fell ill, the Cijfers waited until nightfall and then accompanied her to a trusted doctor. Hilde spent most mornings in her little room, mending and ironing clothes for the family. In the evenings, when the attic became very cold, she went downstairs and ate a meal with the family. If anyone arrived at the door, she immediately returned to her hiding place. One Saturday morning, when the Cijfers were out, the Gestapo came to the house. They wanted to enter Hilde’s room but Mrs. Bunge stood in front of the door and said: ‘I don’t have the key to this room. If you want to have a look, come back this afternoon when my son-in-law is home.” The Germans never returned. Hilde stayed with the Cijfers and the Bunges for almost two years.
On March 30, 1975, Yad Vashem recognized Jacobus Anton Cijfer and his wife, Elisabeth Emmy Cijfer-Bunge, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Elisabeth Emmy Bunge geb. 30 Juli 1906
Huwelijk: 20 Apr 1927 Amsterdam
Kinderen:
  Emile Cijfer Male geb. 4 MEI 1928
  Anneke Cijfer Male geb. 25 Nov 1931