Photo : YKellerman
Guided tour of the exhibition Simone Veil. My sisters and me
Step away from the political icon and enter the private, fragile world of the Jacob sisters through a profoundly moving lens. Featuring never-before-seen family archives and personal snapshots, this exhibition captures the strength and heartbreak of a sisterhood shaped by the shadows of the war. It is a raw and intimate portrait of a family that defines the intersection of the personal and the historical.
Mémorial de la Shoah (Paris 4th)
About
Join us on Thursday, November 5, 2026, for a guided tour of the exhibition Simone Veil. Mes sœurs et moi at the Mémorial de la Shoah. Curated by filmmaker and photographer David Teboul, this exhibition shifts the focus from Simone Veil’s political career to the intimate history of the Jacob family. Through personal correspondence and family archives, you will discover the bond between the three sisters and the tragic fate of their brother, Jean. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and the tour is open to visitors aged 12 and up. Participation is free subject to conditions and requires prior booking.
How can we approach Simone Veil through a path other than the now-familiar one of the stateswoman? How can we restore the innocence of a childhood in Nice brutally interrupted by the Occupation and deportation?
The exhibition Simone Veil. My sisters and me, conceived by director and photographer David Teboul, focuses on revealing the intimate history of the Jacob family. Through a collection of documents—correspondence, photographs, interviews—the visitor discovers the deep bond that united Madeleine (Milou), Denise, and Simone before, during, and after the war.
An intimate dimension rarely highlighted. The archives presented allow us to read and hear the words and voices of the Jacob sisters as they tell us about their childhood in Nice, Denise's involvement in the Resistance, the arrest of Simone, Milou, and their mother Yvonne in the spring of 1944, the deportation, the separations, the losses, and then the post-war period, until Madeleine's death in 1952.
Particular attention is paid to their younger brother Jean, a budding photographer, with the exhibition of several of his images, which remained within the family circle for a long time. Jean Jacob was deported with his father in 1944 on convoy 73. A family story both tender and tragic, which joins the greater History and bears witness to the fate of the Jews of France.
Our take on this event
Taking place from 19:00 to 21:00 on November 5, 2026, this guided visit offers an emotional look at the lives of the Jacob family. Moving beyond the public persona of Simone Veil, the exhibition highlights the childhood, resistance, and deportation experiences of Simone, Madeleine, and Denise. It also showcases the previously private photography of their brother, Jean, who was deported in 1944. The exhibition weaves together their personal voices and losses, documenting a trajectory that mirrors the broader history of French Jews.
The tour is designed for attendees aged 12 and older. Located in the 4th arrondissement, the Mémorial de la Shoah is fully equipped to welcome visitors in wheelchairs. To participate in this unique historical exploration, please note that entry is free subject to conditions, and booking is required in advance.
