Wednesday 23 October 2024 a stumbling stone was placed for Israël Neumann in the Magdalenastraat 20 in Antwerp, in the presence of his family members.

• Presentation Marc Weyns, “Burgerinitiatief Struikelstenen Antwerpen”
• Speech Jef Vrelust, site manager Friends of Fort Breendonk

• Speech James M Deem, American author and professor

On October 23, 1900, Israël Neumann was born in Nisko, Poland. He emigrated to America with his parents, three sisters, and two brothers. Israël later decided to return to Europe. He and his wife Eleonore had a hard time making ends meet. Neumann worked various jobs, such as waiter, hotel porter, and eventually became a street vendor.

One evening in early October 1940, he was arrested by the Geheime Feldpolizei and taken to Breendonk together with 9 other Jews. Israël Neumann ended up in room 1 with Walter Obler, a Jew himself, as room captain.

Once locked up in Breendonk, Israël becomes the plaything of the SS leadership and some - Jewish - room superiors (including Walter Obler) because of his stature and appearance. The harsh camp life with forced labor, a meager ration, bullying and violence is deadly for any human being, and Israël Neumann is no exception. Day by day he becomes weaker and has less resistance, and eventually - exhausted after 9 months in Breendonk Camp - he will be murdered in July 1941.