Jaap Meijer

Jaap Meijer (18 November 1912 – 9 July 1993) was a Dutch Jewish historian, and poet. He wrote his poetry under the pseudonym Saul van Messel.

Biography Meijer was born Jakob Meijer on 18 November 1912 in Winschoten, Netherlands, and was raised in the Orthodox Jewish tradition. At the age of 10, his father died, and it was decided to send him to the in Amsterdam to become a rabbi. During this period, he was involved in the zionist movement. Meijer was also working on his thesis about Isaac da Costa's conversion to Christianity. On 2 October 1941, he received his doctorate. From 1941 until 1943, he taught history at the .

In June 1943, Meijer and his family were sent to Westerbork transit camp. on 23 April 1945. Meijer and family managed to survive the war. As an author, he started to focus on the pre-war Jewish history in the Netherlands, and was known for his sharp criticisms. In 1951, Meijer taught history at the University of Amsterdam. In 1984, he was awarded the for his Gronings-language volume of poetry Vrouger of loater (1969).

Meijer died on 9 July 1993 in Heemstede, at the age of 80.