February 9, 2026 – may 8, 2026 | SMATHERS LIBRARY GALLERY
Animating Hope: Izaak and Bertie Cohen’s Puppet Theater
During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Izaak (Ike) and Bertha (Bertie) Cohen hid in Rotterdam. Concealed in the upstairs apartment of Nico Dane and Gien Dane-Verkouter, the couple were often forced to hide in a narrow closet behind a staircase. In this confined space and under these dangerous conditions, the Cohens created a puppet theater. These performances transformed an environment of fear into one of hope. Curated by Rebecca J. W. Jefferson.