FA IT H
A
Faith D ANGER
Corrie ten Boom, known for her efforts to shelter Jews during the German occupation, left behind a legacy that we can be part of today. BY BRIANNA WATSON 18
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MARCH 2023
BRUEV—GETTY IMAGES, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
IN THE FACE OF
s Corrie ten Boom watched a secret room getting carved out of her bedroom wall, she was well aware of the consequences of what she planned to hide inside, as well as what would happen if the Nazi secret police ever found out. But she did it anyway. She was going to do what she knew to be right. She was going to do what she believed God wanted her to do, no matter the consequence. On April 15, 1892, Cornelia Arnnolda Johanna ten Boom, otherwise known as Corrie, was born in Haarlem in the Netherlands. She was the youngest of four and grew up in a crowded home above her father’s watch shop with her parents, siblings and three maternal aunts. Her father, Casper, was so consumed with his craft as a watchmaker that sometimes he forgot to charge customers for his work. As the youngest of four, Corrie was required to assist with the housework from a young age, while her older sister Betsie was privileged to work with their father in the store. However, this all changed when Betsie came down with a cold one day and Corrie was enlisted to cover her shifts. It was an instant success. Corrie found herself so fascinated with the business side of the operation that even upon Betsie’s return to full health, they never swapped back to their original roles. Corrie remained in the shop with her father and Betsie cared for the housework. Corrie was so committed to the business and her
father’s craft that she formally trained to become a watchmaker. In 1922, at 30 years of age, she officially became the first woman to become a licensed watchmaker in the Netherlands. This alone was quite the feat. Had her story ended here, she still would have had a footnote in history as a trailblazing woman who successfully entered an occupation which until this point men had exclusively dominated. But Corrie’s story doesn’t end here. It has only just begun. The ten Boom family weren’t just watchmakers, they were Christians who attended the Dutch Reformed Church. As a dedicated Christian, Corrie’s faith drove her to establish a youth club for teenage girls. In this club, she taught the girls skills such as sewing, handicrafts and performing arts. Still living at home and being led by her parents’ example, the ten Booms opened their home to those in need, offering shelter, food and money. They practised what they preached and didn’t discriminate against those who needed their help. In May 1940, Corrie’s life changed forever, as did the lives of her fellow countrymen. The Dutch defences were overrun and within four days of fighting, Nazi occupation of the Netherlands began. An initial consequence of the German invasion was the cessation of the youth club that Corrie had facilitated for more than a decade. Such gatherings were now outlawed. The family continued to operate their watch shop as the world around MARCH 2023 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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