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Modern Spiritual Masters
Essential Writings
"I know that a new and kinder day will come . . . . And there is only one way of preparing the new age, by living it even now in our hearts."
Like Anne Frank, Etty Hillesum (1914-1943) was a young Dutch Jewish woman who would perish as so many did in the Auschwitz death camp. Forty years after her death at the age of 29 the publication of her diaries, An Interrupted life, revealed to the world her remarkable voice.
In the last two years of her life, Etty expressed a deeply ecumenical mysticism, drawing on scripture, literature, and Christian sources. As the noose of repression grew tighter, she faced up to her fate with extraordinary grace and courage, determined to affirm the goodness and beauty of life, and to make of her soul a haven for God. As she surrendered herself to the Westerbork Transit Camp she expressed her desire to serve as the "thinking heart of the barracks."
This volume, drawn from her letters and diaries, lays out the themes of her distinctive and inspiring spiritual vision, startling in its relevance and moving in its openness to the possibilities for hope in a world of brutal violence.
Like Anne Frank, Etty Hillesum (1914-1943) was a young Dutch Jewish woman who would perish as so many did in the Auschwitz death camp. Forty years after her death at the age of 29 the publication of her diaries, An Interrupted life, revealed to the world her remarkable voice.
In the last two years of her life, Etty expressed a deeply ecumenical mysticism, drawing on scripture, literature, and Christian sources. As the noose of repression grew tighter, she faced up to her fate with extraordinary grace and courage, determined to affirm the goodness and beauty of life, and to make of her soul a haven for God. As she surrendered herself to the Westerbork Transit Camp she expressed her desire to serve as the "thinking heart of the barracks."
This volume, drawn from her letters and diaries, lays out the themes of her distinctive and inspiring spiritual vision, startling in its relevance and moving in its openness to the possibilities for hope in a world of brutal violence.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Etty Hillesum
46 books134 followersEsther 'Etty' Hillesum was a young Jewish woman whose letters and diaries, kept between 1941 and 1943 describe life in Amsterdam during the German occupation. They were published posthumously in 1981, before being translated into English in 1983.
Etty spent her childhood years in Middelburg, Hilversum (1914–16), Tiel (1916–18), Winschoten (1918–24) and Deventer, from July 1924 on, where she entered the fifth form of the Graaf van Burenschool. The family lived at number 51 on the A. J. Duymaer van Twiststraat (at present time number 2). Later (in 1933) they moved to the Geert Grootestraat 9, but by then Etty was no longer living at home. After primary school, Etty attended the gymnasium (grammar school) in Deventer, where her father was deputy headmaster. Unlike her younger brother Jaap, who was an extremely gifted pupil, Etty's marks were not particularly worthy of note. At school she also studied Hebrew, and for a time attended the meetings of a Zionist young people's group in Deventer. After completing her school years, she went to Amsterdam to study law. She took lodgings with the Horowitz family, at the Ruysdaelstraat 321, where her brother Mischa had been staying since July 1931. Six months later she moved to the Apollolaan 29, in where her brother Jaap also lived from September 1933 while he was studying medicine. In November, Jaap moved to the Jan Willem Brouwerstraat 22hs; Etty followed one month later. As from September 1934, Etty's name once again appeared in the registry at Deventer.On 6 June 1935 she took her bachelor's exams in Amsterdam. At that time she was living with her brother Jaap at Keizersgracht 612c. In March 1937 she took a room in the house of the accountant Hendrik (Hans) J. Wegerif, at Gabriel Metsustraat 61, an address also officially registered as the residence of her brother Jaap from October 1936 to September 1937. Wegerif, a widower, hired Etty as his housekeeper, but also began an affair with her. It was in this house that she lived until her definitive departure for Westerbork in 1943.
Before her final departure for Westerbork, Etty gave her Amsterdam diaries to Maria Tuinzing, who had meanwhile come to live in the house on the Gabriel Metsustraat as well. Etty asked her to pass them along to the writer Klaas Smelik, with the request that they be published if she did not return. In 1946 or 1947, Maria Tuinzig turned over the exercise books and a bundle of letters to Klaas Smelik. His daughter Johanna (Jopie) Smelik then typed out sections of the diaries, but Klaas Smelik's attempts to have the diaries published in the 1950s proved fruitless. Two letters Etty had written, in December 1942 and on 24 August 1943, concerning conditions in Westerbork, did get published. They appeared in the autumn of 1943 in an illegal edition by David Koning, at the recommendation of Etty's friend Petra (Pim) Eldering. This edition, with a run of one hundred copies, was printed by B. H. Nooy of Purmerend under the title Drie brieven van den kunstschilder Johannes Baptiste van der Pluym (1843–1912) [Three Letters from the Painter Johannes Baptiste van der Pluym (1843–1912)]. The two letters were preceded by a foreword with a biography of the artist, and followed by a third letter, both written by David Koning to camouflage the true contents. The revenues from the publication were used to provide assistance to Jews in hiding. These letters have since been republished on several occasions.
Etty's father and mother either died during transport to Auschwitz or were gassed immediately upon arrival. The date of death given was 10 September 1943. According to the Red Cross, Etty died at Auschwitz on 30 November 1943. Her brother Mischa died on 31 March 1944, also at Auschwitz.
Etty spent her childhood years in Middelburg, Hilversum (1914–16), Tiel (1916–18), Winschoten (1918–24) and Deventer, from July 1924 on, where she entered the fifth form of the Graaf van Burenschool. The family lived at number 51 on the A. J. Duymaer van Twiststraat (at present time number 2). Later (in 1933) they moved to the Geert Grootestraat 9, but by then Etty was no longer living at home. After primary school, Etty attended the gymnasium (grammar school) in Deventer, where her father was deputy headmaster. Unlike her younger brother Jaap, who was an extremely gifted pupil, Etty's marks were not particularly worthy of note. At school she also studied Hebrew, and for a time attended the meetings of a Zionist young people's group in Deventer. After completing her school years, she went to Amsterdam to study law. She took lodgings with the Horowitz family, at the Ruysdaelstraat 321, where her brother Mischa had been staying since July 1931. Six months later she moved to the Apollolaan 29, in where her brother Jaap also lived from September 1933 while he was studying medicine. In November, Jaap moved to the Jan Willem Brouwerstraat 22hs; Etty followed one month later. As from September 1934, Etty's name once again appeared in the registry at Deventer.On 6 June 1935 she took her bachelor's exams in Amsterdam. At that time she was living with her brother Jaap at Keizersgracht 612c. In March 1937 she took a room in the house of the accountant Hendrik (Hans) J. Wegerif, at Gabriel Metsustraat 61, an address also officially registered as the residence of her brother Jaap from October 1936 to September 1937. Wegerif, a widower, hired Etty as his housekeeper, but also began an affair with her. It was in this house that she lived until her definitive departure for Westerbork in 1943.
Before her final departure for Westerbork, Etty gave her Amsterdam diaries to Maria Tuinzing, who had meanwhile come to live in the house on the Gabriel Metsustraat as well. Etty asked her to pass them along to the writer Klaas Smelik, with the request that they be published if she did not return. In 1946 or 1947, Maria Tuinzig turned over the exercise books and a bundle of letters to Klaas Smelik. His daughter Johanna (Jopie) Smelik then typed out sections of the diaries, but Klaas Smelik's attempts to have the diaries published in the 1950s proved fruitless. Two letters Etty had written, in December 1942 and on 24 August 1943, concerning conditions in Westerbork, did get published. They appeared in the autumn of 1943 in an illegal edition by David Koning, at the recommendation of Etty's friend Petra (Pim) Eldering. This edition, with a run of one hundred copies, was printed by B. H. Nooy of Purmerend under the title Drie brieven van den kunstschilder Johannes Baptiste van der Pluym (1843–1912) [Three Letters from the Painter Johannes Baptiste van der Pluym (1843–1912)]. The two letters were preceded by a foreword with a biography of the artist, and followed by a third letter, both written by David Koning to camouflage the true contents. The revenues from the publication were used to provide assistance to Jews in hiding. These letters have since been republished on several occasions.
Etty's father and mother either died during transport to Auschwitz or were gassed immediately upon arrival. The date of death given was 10 September 1943. According to the Red Cross, Etty died at Auschwitz on 30 November 1943. Her brother Mischa died on 31 March 1944, also at Auschwitz.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 24, 2019
"There is a really deep well inside me, and in it dwells God."
These diary and letter entries tell of a development of a mystic, from inner confusion, to soul full of love and hope. She was a Jewish woman in Holland, who died in Auschwitz in 1943, at 29 years of age, a disciple of Julius Spier, a Jungian psychologist and chirologist, and she chronicled her inner development in diaries, of which 10 survived her. Hers was a deeply ecumenical mysticism, brought from reading the Bible, literature, and some Christian books. She was particularly a Rilke fan, quoting his poems and letters often in the entries here. Her last entry is from a postcard thrown from the train taking her and most of her family (one of her brothers, Jaap, was sent on a later train) to concentration camps.
Here one can follow easily her steps from inner confusion to calm clearness that even the increasing oppression and possibility of death can't shake. The turmoil of the earlier texts is partly due to her attraction towards Spier (who was married), partly due to mental issues that many in her family suffered from (though some more seriously than her).
I love how the development is arranged here; it follows the path clearly to the beautiful-sad conclusion. She addresses herself frequently in her text, encouraging or criticising, directly.
- "Stop fussing about with your troubles and fears"
Each entry has a date, weekday, and time of day, with sometimes some extra detail. She is a true bookworm, sometimes thinking she reads too much. She prays a lot. She works on her Russian translation skills (with difficulties of understanding some Old Slavonic mentioned). She reads the Bible though doesn't seem to mention Jesus (much), only addressing God. She does want to take this book with her to the camps (and I'm sure she did, among other things).
It's pretty amazing to follow her path: first comes chaos, then realising she can develop her inner self, the beginning of prayer and feeling God's presence, appreciating solitude and growth through work, simplifying her life and work and words, recognising her faults and studying her moods, finding love of self then spreading it to love of others (working on getting rid of hate and adding love into the world), facing her fears and death, then finding God and hope and love even among the increasing distresses of her last months... That's really impressing and inspiring to read! And this is why this is a five-star experience.
"Life is glorious and magnificent."
These diary and letter entries tell of a development of a mystic, from inner confusion, to soul full of love and hope. She was a Jewish woman in Holland, who died in Auschwitz in 1943, at 29 years of age, a disciple of Julius Spier, a Jungian psychologist and chirologist, and she chronicled her inner development in diaries, of which 10 survived her. Hers was a deeply ecumenical mysticism, brought from reading the Bible, literature, and some Christian books. She was particularly a Rilke fan, quoting his poems and letters often in the entries here. Her last entry is from a postcard thrown from the train taking her and most of her family (one of her brothers, Jaap, was sent on a later train) to concentration camps.
Here one can follow easily her steps from inner confusion to calm clearness that even the increasing oppression and possibility of death can't shake. The turmoil of the earlier texts is partly due to her attraction towards Spier (who was married), partly due to mental issues that many in her family suffered from (though some more seriously than her).
I love how the development is arranged here; it follows the path clearly to the beautiful-sad conclusion. She addresses herself frequently in her text, encouraging or criticising, directly.
- "Stop fussing about with your troubles and fears"
Each entry has a date, weekday, and time of day, with sometimes some extra detail. She is a true bookworm, sometimes thinking she reads too much. She prays a lot. She works on her Russian translation skills (with difficulties of understanding some Old Slavonic mentioned). She reads the Bible though doesn't seem to mention Jesus (much), only addressing God. She does want to take this book with her to the camps (and I'm sure she did, among other things).
It's pretty amazing to follow her path: first comes chaos, then realising she can develop her inner self, the beginning of prayer and feeling God's presence, appreciating solitude and growth through work, simplifying her life and work and words, recognising her faults and studying her moods, finding love of self then spreading it to love of others (working on getting rid of hate and adding love into the world), facing her fears and death, then finding God and hope and love even among the increasing distresses of her last months... That's really impressing and inspiring to read! And this is why this is a five-star experience.
"Life is glorious and magnificent."
Read
December 10, 2023No rating… how can I rate the diary pages of a Jewish young woman who ended up in a concentration camp, and then was transferred to Auschwitz, where she died?
Her personality shines through, her intense interior life, her cerebral approach to her faith and to God.
But there’s nothing much else to say.
Except, perhaps, for this: I am left somewhat skeptical about her claim to have achieved an ineffable inner peace at 27. Especially since, when her diary starts, only 2 or 3 years before her death, she is still very confused about herself and about God, talking about “God” in inverted commas and being more interested in the “science” of psychology and poetry, rather than the world of religion and faith.
In short, towards the end she writes all the “right words”… but I read her words and I don’t feel like I’m reading a spiritual master or a mystic. It’s much more likely and realistic that her extreme mental restlessness found in the horrors of her last years of life its own very ideal dimension. A “living inside her own head” and a desire to “be special” that, while during regular daily life was difficult to manage, during extremely trying times turned out to be a sort of saving grace.
Rest in peace.
Her personality shines through, her intense interior life, her cerebral approach to her faith and to God.
But there’s nothing much else to say.
Except, perhaps, for this: I am left somewhat skeptical about her claim to have achieved an ineffable inner peace at 27. Especially since, when her diary starts, only 2 or 3 years before her death, she is still very confused about herself and about God, talking about “God” in inverted commas and being more interested in the “science” of psychology and poetry, rather than the world of religion and faith.
In short, towards the end she writes all the “right words”… but I read her words and I don’t feel like I’m reading a spiritual master or a mystic. It’s much more likely and realistic that her extreme mental restlessness found in the horrors of her last years of life its own very ideal dimension. A “living inside her own head” and a desire to “be special” that, while during regular daily life was difficult to manage, during extremely trying times turned out to be a sort of saving grace.
Rest in peace.
September 17, 2020
It's not fair to the author or the subject or the raw power of these writings to dash off a glib little review like "really inspiring...grown-up Anne Frank." You gotta read it.
August 23, 2021
Al principio ella me pareció un poco histérica, pero los últimos escritos me han llegado al corazón.
September 17, 2022
I loved this book. I had heard of Etty and only read one quote from her (in one of Peter Vardy's books) when I serendipitously stumbled upon this book in a charity shop. Etty died in Auschwitz at 29 years of age and this book is a compilation of her diaries and letters. I am astounded at the depth of wisdom and the faith she had during difficult times. I have underlined so many passages to return to. It was refreshing to read a young woman, sometimes self assured, sometimes self-critical and reflective, with so much to share and pass on. This is part of the Modern Spiritual Masters series, and having read works by Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Ramana Maharishi and Shunryu Suzuki, which I also cherish and enjoy, there's always that feeling that these are aged men and how am I supposed to relate to that? So I found Etty's words and depth of spirit incredibly nourishing and inspirational in a different way. Highly recommended timeless guidance for life, from someone who never expected to be widely read and known.
June 14, 2016
What an interesting woman and mystic. I admit, I still have no idea what to do with her or how to respond to this book. It's full of little gems, and she really was a remarkable human for her age. I just can't say that her spiritual journey resonated with mine.
January 24, 2025
4.5 wish we got more of her writing in regards to her experience rather than supplementary descriptions, but she is truly a visonary
March 2, 2020
An engaging book which basically is part of her diaries during Nazi occupation which are in some parts is given explanations by the author. This helps to give the reader a better understanding. A remarkable woman who somehow is able to have a simultaneous relationship with God, an engaged man who is her mentor and basically her landlord. That gave the book a real touch of reality and her words become more powerful as a result. She never blames God or in that case the Nazis, but is still able to see good in most things. As I said, remarkable. There are some really good quotes throughout the book, eg "I believe that for far too many people life consists of rather disconnected, accidental moments".
August 16, 2020
Etty Hillesum had a remarkable voice. In some of the harshest times she spoke with a voice of gentleness, humility and peace. Her self awareness is humbling and her mysticism inspiring. This book suffers the problems of an edited collection, but it leaves me wanting more - which is what a collection should do.
July 27, 2020
I like to think this is the best book in existence.
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February 24, 2025Just a wonderful, wonderful book. Filled with love. Love for neighbour, love for G-d, love for self. A beautiful and stirring read which follows in the tradition of Hillesum’s contemporary and younger sister Anne Frank (whose birthday I am privileged to share).
Check these words out: “I know that a new and kinder day will come… And there is only one way of preparing the new age, by living it even now in our hearts.”
Beautiful. Thank you, Etty.
Wishing you well,
Benedict
Check these words out: “I know that a new and kinder day will come… And there is only one way of preparing the new age, by living it even now in our hearts.”
Beautiful. Thank you, Etty.
Wishing you well,
Benedict
January 13, 2022
A must read in your life time
June 1, 2024
Lo recomiendo mucho.
Para todo aquel interesado en la oración, el paisaje interior, Dios en el silencio... lo recomiendo mucho mucho.
Al principio el personaje desconcierta. Desde luego no es una biografía de nadie tocado por Dios desde la cuna ni nada de eso.
Etty es judia, Holandesa y vive en medio de las restricciones nazis anti judías.
Conocerá en su consulta de psico-quiromancia, ni más ni menos, un hombre con el que tiene una relación cuando menos "curiosa" y que será de gran influencia para ella y el desarrollo de su vida espiritual.
Todo es distinto a un tratado de oración al uso o algo de ese tipo.
Pero diría que (y en esto uno se puede sentir muy identificado) entre ida y venida de olla, va descubriendo una voz interior a la que cada vez va haciendo más caso, y su vida se va transformando de forma asombrosa.
Repito: muy recomendable.
Para todo aquel interesado en la oración, el paisaje interior, Dios en el silencio... lo recomiendo mucho mucho.
Al principio el personaje desconcierta. Desde luego no es una biografía de nadie tocado por Dios desde la cuna ni nada de eso.
Etty es judia, Holandesa y vive en medio de las restricciones nazis anti judías.
Conocerá en su consulta de psico-quiromancia, ni más ni menos, un hombre con el que tiene una relación cuando menos "curiosa" y que será de gran influencia para ella y el desarrollo de su vida espiritual.
Todo es distinto a un tratado de oración al uso o algo de ese tipo.
Pero diría que (y en esto uno se puede sentir muy identificado) entre ida y venida de olla, va descubriendo una voz interior a la que cada vez va haciendo más caso, y su vida se va transformando de forma asombrosa.
Repito: muy recomendable.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews