The Invitation

Evelien van Gelder, a friend of the blog, discovered this formal invitation in the Hengelo archive. An English translation is provided below:

[Top Left - Sender Information] H. A. WILMINK Teacher of Physical Education M.O. Kwakelstraat 5 Tel. 4096 Giro 431089
[Top Right - Date] HENGELO, 20 July 1956.
[Addressee] To: HANDBALL TEAM "REHOVOTH" Attn: Mr. Yovel Shkolnik Benjaminstr. 6 REHOVOTH (Israel).

[Title] INVITATION.
[Body] Dear Sports Friends,

We hereby confirm our invitation of the 8th of this month [July 8] and declare that:

1. Travel expenses Israel-Amsterdam and back are for your account.

2. Travel expenses in Holland will be covered by us. (Handwritten addition: Hengelo to Amsterdam and back).

3. The Jewish Community of Hengelo is responsible for accommodation and meals.

4. The travel program in Holland will be left to us and will be organized in cooperation with other clubs in Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Groningen. The respective Jewish communities will be involved in this.

[Sign-off] The main organizer of your trip, (Signature) H.A. Wilmink
For the Jewish Community of Hengelo,

The invitation was written in German, as it was the most viable international language for both parties. The Twente region sits right on the border with Germany, meaning German was likely the strongest, if not the only, fluent foreign language for a Dutch man of H.A. Wilmink's generation. At that time, English was not yet the default second language in Dutch schools as it is today. Mr. Wilmink, one of the organizers of Maccabi Rehovot's initial 1954 visit, could safely assume that at least a few of the Rehovot officials would comprehend it. A number of them had either immigrated from Germany (like my grandfather) or were familiar with Yiddish, which was close enough to read without issue.