The Life and Legacy of Hessy Levinsons Taft: An Aryan Exemplar Turned Symbol of Irony

Hessy Levinsons Taft, a Jewish woman whose infant photograph was used by the Nazi regime as an exemplar of an Aryan baby, passed away at the age of 91 in San Francisco. Her story, which began in 1934, highlights the absurdities of Nazi racial ideology and the complexities of identity during a perilous time for Jewish people in Europe.

Times of Israel

In 1934, when Taft was just six months old, her parents, Latvian Jewish opera singers residing in Berlin, commissioned photographer Hans Ballin to take her portrait. Ballin submitted this photograph to a Nazi contest aimed at finding the perfect Aryan baby. The image was selected by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi chief of propaganda, and subsequently featured on the cover of the pro-Nazi magazine *Sonne ins Haus*. The photograph proliferated throughout Germany, appearing in various forms including advertisements and postcards, unbeknownst to Taft's family.

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• Hessy Levinsons Taft: The subject of the photograph, whose identity as a Jewish baby was hidden from the Nazi regime.

Times of Israel

• Hans Ballin: The photographer who submitted Taft's image as a prank, aware of her Jewish heritage.

Times of Israel

• Joseph Goebbels: The Nazi official who endorsed the photograph, representing the regime's racial ideologies.

Times of Israel

Taft's story serves as a poignant reminder of the absurdity of Nazi racial theories. Her parents, fearing for their lives if her true identity were revealed, kept her indoors and rarely took her out. This experience, initially terrifying, later became a source of pride for Taft, who viewed it as a form of "good revenge" against the oppressive regime. She articulated this sentiment in a 2022 interview, stating, “I can laugh about it now, but if the Nazis had known who I really was, I wouldn’t be alive.”

Times of Israel

Taft's family confirmed her death on January 1, 2023, noting her remarkable life journey from a child exploited by Nazi propaganda to a respected educator. She pursued higher education, earning degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University, and later worked at the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, overseeing Advanced Placement chemistry exams.

Times of Israel

While Taft's story is often celebrated for its irony, it also raises questions about the exploitation of identity and the dangers of propaganda. Critics may argue that her narrative, while empowering, also underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Jewish individuals during the Holocaust, highlighting the need for continued awareness and education about this dark chapter in history.

Times of Israel

• “I feel a sense of revenge,” — Hessy Levinsons Taft

New York Times

• “It was an irony that needed to be exposed.” — Hessy Levinsons Taft

Times of Israel

Hessy Levinsons Taft's life encapsulates a unique intersection of identity, irony, and resilience, serving as a powerful testament to the complexities of the human experience during one of history's most challenging periods.

New York Times