Louis van Praag, born in Zaandam in 1887 as son of Zacharias van Praag and Schoontje Geleerd, was born into a family with six children, namely he himself, Evaline, Betje, Henri, Louis and David. In the Shoah, all were killed, their parents as well.
Levie and his brother Louis had decided to marry both on the same day: on 13 May 1914 in Amsterdam Levie married Sabiena Cohen, a daughter of Philip Cohen and Betje Brook and his brother Louis married Rachel Polak.
Levie and Sabiena had two children: Jacques and Betsy Helena. The latter has survived the Holocaust.
Levie van Praag had his own butchery at Lange Niezel 9 in Amsterdam, which was also his and his family’s residence. When it was Jews forbidden to have their own bussines or discharged from jobs because they were Jewish, Levie worked in 1942 for the “meat supply” of butchery Jacobs at Nieuwmarkt 13. Because of this employment, he himself and his family were exempted from deportation unitl further notice. ("gesperrt bis auf weiteres").
Levie’s daughter Betsy Helena was married 28 July 1942 to Louis Marcus Peereboom; both have survived the war. Levie’s son Jacques was married 7 January 1942 to Anna Lisa Barasch; both have reported themselves voluntary for the “provision of additional work in Germany” and have lost their lives 30 September 1942 in Auschwitz.
On 26 May 1943, Levie and his wife Sabiena Cohen were registered in Westerbork and had to stay in barrack 55. Both were deported to Sobibor 1 June and on arrival there 4 June 1943, they were immediately killed.
City Archive of Amsterdam, archive card of Levie van Praag and website wiewaswie.nl; the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Levie van Praag, Sabiena van Praag-Cohen, Betsy Helena van Praag, Louis Marcus Peereboom, Jaqcques van Praag and Anna Lisa Barasch..