Hessy Levinsons Taft

Hessy Levinsons Taft (born Hessy Lewinsohn; 17 May 1934 – 1 January 2026) was a Jewish woman whose image became a symbol of ironic defiance against Nazi racial ideology. As an infant, her photograph was selected by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in 1935 to represent the "perfect Aryan baby" — an endorsement of Aryan racial purity. The only problem? Hessy was Jewish. Taft’s life would later serve as a stunning and beautiful reversal of Nazi pseudoscience.

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Early Life and Nazi Propaganda Photo

Taft was born in Berlin, Nazi Germany on 17 May 1934 to Latvian Jewish opera singers Pauline and Jacob Lewinsohn. The family, whose surname would later be changed to Levinsons, had no idea that their daughter’s innocent portrait would be weaponized by the Nazi regime.

The photo was taken by renowned photographer Hans Ballin, who, fully aware of the family's Jewish heritage, decided to enter the image into a contest organized by Goebbels’ Propaganda Ministry, seeking the “most beautiful Aryan child.” Ballin’s goal was to expose the absurdity and danger of Nazi racial theories by using their own propaganda machine against them. The photo, a charming portrait of a six-month-old Taft, was selected as the winner and featured prominently in the Nazi magazine Sonne ins Haus in 1935, quickly spreading throughout Germany on postcards, magazines, and advertisements.

Unbeknownst to Taft’s family at the time, this image — celebrated by the Nazis as embodying the perfect Aryan child — was, in fact, a Jewish child. When Taft’s parents discovered the photo’s use, they were horrified, fearing severe consequences for their family if the regime discovered their true heritage. However, Hans Ballin, who was also of Jewish descent, explained his intent: "I wanted to make the Nazis ridiculous," he said, knowing the deadly risk he was taking.

For decades, the Levinsons family kept the story a secret, even from Hessy, out of fear for their lives. They fled Germany in 1938, first to France, then Latvia, Cuba, and ultimately, in 1949, to the United States.

Life After the War

Taft grew up in the United States, eventually studying chemistry at Barnard College, New York. There, she met her future husband, Earl Taft, and the couple later moved to New Jersey, where Hessy taught chemistry and worked in the field of education. Throughout her life, she would later reflect on her unique story as a testament to Jewish resilience in the face of Nazi hatred.

In a 1990 interview with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Taft eloquently described her feelings on the incident, saying, "I feel a sense of revenge... good revenge."

Her professional accomplishments included a long career in academia, where she contributed to research in the field of chemistry. Her work also focused on sustainability, particularly water conservation. In addition to her academic pursuits, she became an outspoken advocate for Holocaust education, donating the original magazine featuring her photo to Yad Vashem in Israel.

Taft’s later life was marked by her public appearances, lectures, and media interviews, where she shared her remarkable story and the moral victory it represented over Nazi racial theory. In a life well-lived, Taft embodied the spirit of defiance and the enduring strength of the Jewish people in the face of genocide and persecution.

Death and Legacy

Hessy Levinsons Taft passed away on 1 January 2026, at the age of 91, in San Francisco. She is survived by her husband, Earl Taft, their children, and a legacy that will forever remind the world of the dangers of racial hatred and the indomitable will to survive.

Her story has continued to inspire generations, not just for the historical context of her image, but for her remarkable life of resilience, education, and service. The photograph of her as an infant, originally used for Nazi propaganda, ultimately became a symbol of "beautiful defiance" — a perfect act of revenge against the forces of evil.

See Also

Jewish resistance during the Holocaust

Propaganda in Nazi Germany

Racial theories in Nazi Germany

Holocaust survivors

Yad Vashem