Belgian teacher and resistance fighter Andrée Geulen-Herscovici was born in Brussels, Belgium, on September 6th, 1921, amid a time of social and political unrest throughout Europe. Andrée was exposed to the aftermath of World War I and the financial difficulties of the Great Depression while growing up in Belgium during the interwar period. During this period, political upheaval and economic instability plagued Belgium, as they did most of Europe. Even with the challenging conditions, Andrée's early years were somewhat typical. She was raised in a liberal family home and went to school in Brussels. Nevertheless her early years were marred by the emergence of fascism and the escalation of anti-Semitic feeling throughout Europe. Like many European nations, Belgium grew more divided as Andrée grew older. The specter of anti-Semitism intensified, and the possibility of war loomed large. As Andrée's worldview was shaped by these early events, her resolve to combat injustice in the future was strengthened. During World War II, Andrée Geulen-Herscovici gained notoriety for her valiant advocacy. She was profoundly impacted by seeing the oppression of the Jewish people during the Nazi occupation. Andrée made it her mission to prevent the deportation of Jewish children to concentration camps. She put her own safety at danger by planning covert activities, creating false identification documents, and setting up secure hiding locations in farms, convents, and monasteries. Following the war, Geulen remained in touch with the youngsters she had encountered and got involved with Belgium's Jewish community. In addition to actively participating in the relief effort Aid for Israelite Victims of the War (Aide aux Israélites Victimes de la Guerre, AIVG), which supported Jewish survivors of Nazi concentration camps in Belgium, she was involved in the effort to reunite the hidden children with surviving family members. Her valiant actions were acknowledged after the war, but she maintained her modesty. Andrée persisted in her support of interfaith understanding, social justice, and teaching the next generation of the value of speaking out against injustice. She died in 2022 at age 100.

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