Holocaust Survivor's Daughter Discovers Jewish Heritage, Becomes Orthodox
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Barbara Heins, raised Buddhist and Christian, discovered in adulthood that her Holocaust survivor parents had hidden their Jewish identity. The family secret was revealed by her son's spiritual quest, leading Heins to embrace Orthodox Judaism and move to Israel. She learned that 86 relatives were murdered in the Holocaust and resolved not to let Hitler erase her heritage. Heins, now remarried and living in Jerusalem, exhibits her art, donating proceeds to Jewish causes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Barbara Heins discovered her Jewish heritage in adulthood after her parents hid it due to Holocaust trauma.
- Her son's spiritual exploration led to the revelation of the family's hidden Jewish roots.
- Heins learned that 86 extended family members were murdered during the Holocaust.
- She embraced Orthodox Judaism, moved to Israel, and remarried Rabbi Dr. Nathan Ofir.
- Heins's art now reflects her Jewish identity, with proceeds donated to Jewish causes.
Barbara Heins, an artist and philanthropist, discovered her Jewish identity in her late adulthood after being raised as a Buddhist and previously in a Christian household in Sydney, Australia. Her parents, Holocaust survivors who fled Nazi Germany, had concealed their Jewish heritage out of fear that "it would happen again." The family secret was revealed when Heins's younger son, Trevor, began researching his Christian roots and found contradictions, leading him to explore Judaism. This prompted his grandmother, then 80, to disclose the full truth: multiple ancestors on both sides of the Heins's family were Jewish. The revelation was particularly impactful as Heins learned that 86 of her extended family members were murdered in the Holocaust. Heins decided not to let Adolf Hitler "win" by erasing her heritage. She embraced Orthodox Judaism, observing kashrut and Shabbat, and moved to Israel. Her late husband, Gerald, was supportive of her conversion, and her children are now married to Jewish partners and live Jewish lives. Heins has remarried Rabbi Dr. Nathan Ofir and currently resides in Jerusalem, where she finds strength in the resilience of Israelis. Her art has also evolved, incorporating Jewish spirituality and the land of Israel, with an upcoming exhibition in Ma'ale Adumim showcasing these themes. All proceeds from her art are donated to charity and Jewish causes, with a focus on supporting projects not funded by the state.
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