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The Last Jew of Rotterdam
This book reads like a novel, but the riveting story it tells is true. Journey with Ernest and Elisabeth from the horror of the Holocaust to salvation in Jesus the Messiah. Not only is this a powerful testimony of how God sustained several Jewish families during the worst nightmare of our time, it is also a tender love story. You won't be able to put it down!
169 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 4, 2012
This book is about my grandparents, so naturally, I thought it was amazing.
November 29, 2025
I’ve read this book several times since it was first read to me and my siblings growing up. Not only is it a powerful, inspiring story of faith and love during the horrors of the holocaust, but it also has personal significance to me, because Ernie Cassuto was the pastor who introduced my grandmother (a German emigrant to the US) to Jesus before she died of cancer in 1972 at age 36. In her last Christmas letter, she spoke of the joy of knowing the Savior and the peace she had even when facing death. Rev. Cassuto was supposed to speak at her funeral (we still have a copy of what he wrote), although he sadly missed it due to a confusion of location. This story is obviously very special to me for this personal reason, but its merit as a powerful memoir and testimony to the transformative power of the love of Jesus, the Messiah, is undeniable.
August 28, 2009
I read this one in a day. It's the story of a young Dutch Jew during WWII, combined with the story of the young girl who became his wife. It's not as heavy as many other WWII stories, though there was still much hardship involved. I appreciated the personal narrative and the strong Christian witness. It's amazing how Ernie's entire family becomes Christians through the events of the war, even though they weren't all together.
May 29, 2012
I had never heard of this man, but having just finished THE HIDING PLACE by Corrie Ten Boom I was interested in this particular period and subject. Reverend Cassuto tells a compelling story, much of which takes place in and around some of the same places referenced in Ten Boom's book. Ernie Cassuto, a nominal Jew, came to faith in Christ about the time Germany invaded Holland. An interesting and uplifting read, as well as a testament to the Sovereignty of God!
October 20, 2024
Number of pages: 169
Genre: Non-fiction Missionary Biography (WW2)
Series: N/A
Age recommendation: 15+
Summary: Being Jewish was never important to Ernest Cassutto until WWII broke out. Suddenly, Holland was overtaken by the Nazis and Jewish people were no longer allowed to do anything. The Last Jew of Rotterdam is Ernest’s story of salvation through the Holocaust, and salvation of his soul through his Messiah: Jesus Christ.
My thoughts: This book is a hidden gem. I almost didn’t read it because I assumed it would be like every other WWII book I read, but it wasn’t and it’s so good! I’m so glad I picked it up.
What makes this different is that none of the main people in the book go to a concentration camp. One of them ends up in jail but is preserved from being shipped out throughout the rest of the war. The other is simply hidden in plain sight at a woman’s home, disguised as her “niece.” I’ve read about these kinds of situations in some of the fictional WWII books, but I’ve always wondered if it actually happened in real life. It was really cool to finally read a true story about that kind of situation! I found it exciting to hear about people who were able to avoid the Nazi persecution, preserved by God.
Another thing I learned from this book is how many people are heroes simply for keeping their mouths shut. They may not have housed Jewish people or other persecuted people in their homes, but many knew those who did. It’s just as important that they kept quiet and didn’t snitch on the people housing them. Sometimes it’s easy for me to think that people were selfish for not housing Jews, but maybe they were not capable. Those whose contribution was supporting people who hid Jews was also important and often not recognized.
The only part I didn’t like was
This was a very interesting book and offered another perspective on what it was like for Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of Holland.
My personal rating: 5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Non-fiction Missionary Biography (WW2)
Series: N/A
Age recommendation: 15+
Summary: Being Jewish was never important to Ernest Cassutto until WWII broke out. Suddenly, Holland was overtaken by the Nazis and Jewish people were no longer allowed to do anything. The Last Jew of Rotterdam is Ernest’s story of salvation through the Holocaust, and salvation of his soul through his Messiah: Jesus Christ.
My thoughts: This book is a hidden gem. I almost didn’t read it because I assumed it would be like every other WWII book I read, but it wasn’t and it’s so good! I’m so glad I picked it up.
What makes this different is that none of the main people in the book go to a concentration camp. One of them ends up in jail but is preserved from being shipped out throughout the rest of the war. The other is simply hidden in plain sight at a woman’s home, disguised as her “niece.” I’ve read about these kinds of situations in some of the fictional WWII books, but I’ve always wondered if it actually happened in real life. It was really cool to finally read a true story about that kind of situation! I found it exciting to hear about people who were able to avoid the Nazi persecution, preserved by God.
Another thing I learned from this book is how many people are heroes simply for keeping their mouths shut. They may not have housed Jewish people or other persecuted people in their homes, but many knew those who did. It’s just as important that they kept quiet and didn’t snitch on the people housing them. Sometimes it’s easy for me to think that people were selfish for not housing Jews, but maybe they were not capable. Those whose contribution was supporting people who hid Jews was also important and often not recognized.
The only part I didn’t like was
This was a very interesting book and offered another perspective on what it was like for Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of Holland.
My personal rating: 5/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
March 26, 2019
Some books tell history as if it were a novel, others stick to the facts more closely, and others draw the line somewhere in the middle. This is one of the latter category, and I really appreciated how it shared the story without over-emphasizing any one part.
I’ve always found stories about World War II, and especially the Holocaust, interesting. It’s always hard to read of people who did their best to stay safe—or keep others safe, as in the case of Corrie Ten Boom—who were later punished for helping their fellow mankind. Or for perhaps being on the wrong side of a line. However, hearing stories of some of those who escaped by the grace of God is both encouraging and enlightening in this day and age.
My biggest takeaway from this book was that even though we might be in a very difficult situation, where God seems far away, He’s still watching over us and taking care of us. So many people died during the Holocaust—so many innocent souls that should have never faced what they did. However, even in that God was still working to help His own. And I was encouraged to see that sometimes, though justice and goodness may be met with death and destruction, good always prevails.
That’s the story of the centuries. God is good, and His purposes are good, even if they seem to be packaged in a terrible wrapping. This story encouraged me to trust God more, and I’m thankful for that.
I’ve always found stories about World War II, and especially the Holocaust, interesting. It’s always hard to read of people who did their best to stay safe—or keep others safe, as in the case of Corrie Ten Boom—who were later punished for helping their fellow mankind. Or for perhaps being on the wrong side of a line. However, hearing stories of some of those who escaped by the grace of God is both encouraging and enlightening in this day and age.
My biggest takeaway from this book was that even though we might be in a very difficult situation, where God seems far away, He’s still watching over us and taking care of us. So many people died during the Holocaust—so many innocent souls that should have never faced what they did. However, even in that God was still working to help His own. And I was encouraged to see that sometimes, though justice and goodness may be met with death and destruction, good always prevails.
That’s the story of the centuries. God is good, and His purposes are good, even if they seem to be packaged in a terrible wrapping. This story encouraged me to trust God more, and I’m thankful for that.
April 16, 2024
This book recounts the absolutely absorbing story of a man who came to understand his Jewishness and found faith in his Messiah during a most unlikely time: the Holocaust. It's a story of love and loss, despair and hope, told with such deep emotion that readers experience it all. Some difficult scenes are described, and the tragedy of the Holocaust is made more human through the personal stories of those who lived through it. Above all else, this book shows the working of a God who relentlessly wins and woos hearts even during the hardest of times.
February 12, 2025
I borrowed this book from a friend, and though very short, it brought me to tears by the end.
This autobiography looks at the plight of the Jewish people in Holland during the Holocaust. This family comes to believe in Jesus, and their faith sustained them through everything they experienced. This book is also a love story as it follows the couple on their own path from childhood until they meet and marry.
This book was encouraging to me, both because of the strength of the people, and also because there is a clear Gospel message written into this entire book.
This autobiography looks at the plight of the Jewish people in Holland during the Holocaust. This family comes to believe in Jesus, and their faith sustained them through everything they experienced. This book is also a love story as it follows the couple on their own path from childhood until they meet and marry.
This book was encouraging to me, both because of the strength of the people, and also because there is a clear Gospel message written into this entire book.
April 28, 2024
Pretty amazing story about this Jewish family coming to faith in Jesus as Messiah in the midst of WW2. A quick read, but still powerful.
Although I’m very happy that he had a good outcome in chapter 15 (trying not to give spoilers), I can’t say I agree with his assessment of how the Holy Spirit works with a “second anointing.” However, that discussion was mostly limited to that chapter, so don’t let it dissuade you from reading this book.
Although I’m very happy that he had a good outcome in chapter 15 (trying not to give spoilers), I can’t say I agree with his assessment of how the Holy Spirit works with a “second anointing.” However, that discussion was mostly limited to that chapter, so don’t let it dissuade you from reading this book.
July 27, 2019
As you might have guessed if you read The Hiding Place about the ten Boom family hiding Jews from the Nazis, the ten Booms were not at all the only people risking their lives to save others, nor the only ones to have a 'hiding place' carefully constructed in their home or business. This book tells some of what they did, from the perspective of Jews they sheltered.
June 4, 2023
This actually a young adult religious book. It's fairly short and moves pretty quickly.
The book is a testimony to the Christian love of the non-Jews that helped Ernest and Elly, as well as to the confession of faith these two Jewish Christians made when they found the light of Christ in the darkness of the Holocaust.
The book is a testimony to the Christian love of the non-Jews that helped Ernest and Elly, as well as to the confession of faith these two Jewish Christians made when they found the light of Christ in the darkness of the Holocaust.
March 14, 2024
Two Dutch Jews survive the holocaust and find Jesus during it. It was the flip side of the Hiding Place and Things We Couldn't Say (both so good.)
In most holocaust books, the authors came out atheistic or agnostic. So sad! I've long wanted a book of a jew who came out with a stronger faith. This is one!
In most holocaust books, the authors came out atheistic or agnostic. So sad! I've long wanted a book of a jew who came out with a stronger faith. This is one!
January 23, 2025
Such a moving story that, as some have said, reads like an adventure romance novel but is 100% true. I was moved to tears more than once. Highly recommend. How people survived this terrible time in history and how loving Christians helped their Jewish brethren escape and hide is truly remarkable.
March 18, 2024
Actually, a story with lots of extras! How to forgive the unforgivable, how to find Jesus as Messiah, stories of several Holocaust families all in one book! I read this book in about 6 hours this afternoon!
May 27, 2017
Very good book. A must read.
March 4, 2018
I gave up on this one, could not get through to finish.
August 19, 2019
I could hardly put this book down. It’s not that it’s wonderfully written, it’s that the story was so compelling. Those who survived WWII have such a compelling story to tell!
February 12, 2021
Having read The Last Jew of Treblinka, I thought this would be in the same vein, but this book is much more about religion than about the Holocaust. Not my cup of tea.
Read
March 30, 2021Story of Jews who became Christian
March 31, 2025
Et spændende møde med messianske jøder og hvordan de kom til tro på Jesus. Lidt forvirrende med de meget korte kapitler og spring mellem de sideløbende historier.
November 26, 2025
Story of Jews in Netherlands during Nazi occupation and how some Christian’s help hide them. Also chronicles how some Jews converted in response to Christians helping them
January 7, 2017
Last Jew of Rotterdam by Ernest Cassutto. This is the true story of Ernest Cassutto and his wife Elizabeth during the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II.
Ernest was born into a Jewish family and raised in Indonesia with his older brother Max and younger brother George. When Ernest was eighteen, he returned with family, except Max who was married with a child, to Holland for his father’s job. Continued schooling for a while. In Indonesia, he was not raised Jewish nor circumcised. He had no idea what it meant to be Jewish. In Holland, he began to find out and began asking questions which led him to the Dutch Reformed Church for answers from the Bible. He met Hetty and they fell in love. When the Nazis were coming for him, he and Hetty went into hiding with the help of the Dutch Reformed Church. Later, they were separated and he was alone. His parents and George were also in hiding. Even as he was placed in jail later as a Jew, he read the Bible and practiced as a non-Jew.
Elizabeth Rodriques and her brother Henri and her parents were among the wealthy in Amsterdam as her father owned a textile mill. They first felt the pressures of being Jewish by having to give up some of their luxuries. Then he lost the mill and things turned for the worst for them. They were forced into hiding and Elizabeth ended up in the country home with a Catholic lady. To survive, Elizabeth learned to be Catholic and lived as a niece to this lady. She hid openly. Eventually, she was suspected of being Jewish and the lady took her off for a vacation. On the train, when it seemed they would be caught, Elizabeth prayed to Jesus for help. It was at that moment that she believed in him and wanted to become a true member of the Church. Her brother and parents refused to have anything to do with her after learning this.
After the war, Ernest and Elizabeth got together and married. He became a minister and they moved to the United States. Their son, George, told me their story when we attended the Belfer II conference at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ultimately, George put their story online so they would be remembered. His brother took their story and put it in book form. I accidentally came across this book on Amazon and finally read their entire story. Ironically, Elizabeth had gone to school with Margot and Anne Frank and a young American boy, Barry Spanjjard, whose books I had been using in teaching about the Holocaust in my classes. I added Ernest and Elizabeth’s stories to my lessons. Now I finally know the entire story of the Cassuttos. There is much more to their stories than I have told here.
Ernest was born into a Jewish family and raised in Indonesia with his older brother Max and younger brother George. When Ernest was eighteen, he returned with family, except Max who was married with a child, to Holland for his father’s job. Continued schooling for a while. In Indonesia, he was not raised Jewish nor circumcised. He had no idea what it meant to be Jewish. In Holland, he began to find out and began asking questions which led him to the Dutch Reformed Church for answers from the Bible. He met Hetty and they fell in love. When the Nazis were coming for him, he and Hetty went into hiding with the help of the Dutch Reformed Church. Later, they were separated and he was alone. His parents and George were also in hiding. Even as he was placed in jail later as a Jew, he read the Bible and practiced as a non-Jew.
Elizabeth Rodriques and her brother Henri and her parents were among the wealthy in Amsterdam as her father owned a textile mill. They first felt the pressures of being Jewish by having to give up some of their luxuries. Then he lost the mill and things turned for the worst for them. They were forced into hiding and Elizabeth ended up in the country home with a Catholic lady. To survive, Elizabeth learned to be Catholic and lived as a niece to this lady. She hid openly. Eventually, she was suspected of being Jewish and the lady took her off for a vacation. On the train, when it seemed they would be caught, Elizabeth prayed to Jesus for help. It was at that moment that she believed in him and wanted to become a true member of the Church. Her brother and parents refused to have anything to do with her after learning this.
After the war, Ernest and Elizabeth got together and married. He became a minister and they moved to the United States. Their son, George, told me their story when we attended the Belfer II conference at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ultimately, George put their story online so they would be remembered. His brother took their story and put it in book form. I accidentally came across this book on Amazon and finally read their entire story. Ironically, Elizabeth had gone to school with Margot and Anne Frank and a young American boy, Barry Spanjjard, whose books I had been using in teaching about the Holocaust in my classes. I added Ernest and Elizabeth’s stories to my lessons. Now I finally know the entire story of the Cassuttos. There is much more to their stories than I have told here.
February 6, 2009
This book by a Christian Jew tells the story of Casutto's escape from Nazi hands at the end of WWII. It was amazing to hear of the many, many brave Dutchmen working in the Underground who risked - and gave - their lives in order to preserve Jewish families. They played some gutsy and ingenuous tricks on the Nazis in that tortuous game of life or death hide and seek.
November 30, 2009
A story of World War II. Excellent. It's well worth reading. Follow the story of Ernest Casutto through World War II in the Netherlands. Understand a Jew's encounter with Jesus, and meet those whom his life touched during that time.
August 22, 2013
This is an action packed adventure of a Jewish man coming to faith in Jesus during the holocaust. I've read a ton of testimonies of Jews who have come to faith in Jesus. This is one of my favorites. Please read this.
June 7, 2014
touching story of a Holocaust survivor...trials, tribulations...his conversion to Christianity...the power of forgiveness and how he continued to serve the Lord after the liberation of Auschwitz...powerful!!!
September 13, 2012
Amazing. Great story! Highly recommended.
March 7, 2013
A biographical novel.
Story of a simple Jewish boy who helped by people survives the WWII. He survives spiritually which is equally important.
Story of a simple Jewish boy who helped by people survives the WWII. He survives spiritually which is equally important.
July 30, 2013
Heartbreaking and inspirational. It is amazing what is in the depths of a man's soul. Jews who later on accept Jesus as savior showed steadfast faith. A great read!
December 12, 2015
Young adult reading level. A view of a Jewish man who discovers Jesus is his Messiah.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews