On November 1, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 — the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau — as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Every year on this date, the UN urges everyone to honor the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism. They also encourage states to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, we’re sharing one mom’s viral TikTok about a jelly company’s shocking connection to a Holocaust survivor.
Melinda Strauss is a mom and popular TikToker who documents her Orthodox Jewish family and way of life.
In February 2021, Strauss went viral when she shared the fascinating story of Bonne Maman’s possible involvement in the Holocaust, according to a Twitter thread she came across.
The Twitter thread, posted by professor Michael Perino, detailed his emotional encounter with a Holocaust survivor in the jelly aisle of a New Jersey supermarket.
“At the supermarket today, I found a small, elderly woman standing in front of a high shelf holding @BonneMamanUS preserves. She was having trouble finding the flavor she wanted because the jars were set back on the shelf,” the Twitter thread read.
“She couldn’t read the labels. She could barely reach them. I offered to help. After I handed her the raspberry preserves, she thanked me, paused, and then asked, ‘Do you know why I buy this brand?’ I laughed and replied, ‘Because it tastes good?'” the thread continued.
“‘Yes, it tastes good.’ She paused again. ‘I am a Holocaust survivor… During the war, the family that owns the company hid my family in Paris. So now I always buy it. And whenever I go to the store, my grandkids remind me, ‘Bubbe, don’t forget to buy the jelly,'” the Twitter thread went on to say.
Incident in a NJ Supermarket
— Michael Perino (@ProfessorPerino) February 14, 2021
At the supermarket today, I found a small, elderly woman standing in front of a high shelf holding @BonneMamanUS preserves. She was having trouble finding the flavor she wanted because the jars were set back on the shelf.
While Bonne Maman didn’t exist in an official capacity until after World War II, according to Snopes.com, the founders of the company can trace the history of their business back to the French village of Biars-sur-Cère.
According to Holocaust survivor Eric Mayer, it was the village of
Biars-sur-Cère that sheltered his family in 1941.“As Biars-sur-Cère had a population of fewer than 800 people during World War II, and, as this family-owned and operated its business during this time, the claim seems at least possible,” states Snopes.com.
When asked to comment on the story, a spokesperson from Bonne Maman told Snopes, “Bonne Maman is privately owned by Andros, a family-owned French company located in Biars-sur-Cère, France. The family prefers to maintain privacy and does not comment on inquiries about personal matters.”
Since the identity of the older woman in Perino’s story is unknown, and Bonne Maman has declined to corroborate any details, it’s impossible to verify the report.
All the same, people all across the internet have been touched by Perino’s Tweets and Strauss’ TikTok videos — and might never look at their favorite jelly brand the same again.
“Now
I know it’s made with love…”TikTokers were shocked that the seemingly ordinary jam company could have such a fascinating history.
“My daughters make me buy it because it’s good, now I will buy it because it melts my heart,” one TikToker wrote.
“That’s the only jam my husband and I buy. It’s the best quality, tastes great, and now I know it’s made with love,” another TikToker commented.
“This is the jam I always buy. This is what makes it taste so good, there’s justice in every jar,” wrote another TikToker.
For those wishing to commemorate this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum offers many helpful resources and ideas for how to respectfully honor Holocaust survivors and victims and their suffering.
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If you found this story insightful, read about why it’s important to teach your kids about racism.
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