Abraham, or "Braham" as he was nicknamed, was the oldest of four children. When Braham was 14, his Jewish parents moved to the town of Zwolle, where they built a kosher hotel. Braham attended Dutch public schools. Monday through Thursday afternoons he also went to religious school where he learned Hebrew, Jewish history and the Bible.

1933-39: It was a shame that I had to forfeit a scholarship to college in Groningen, but I had to stay in Zwolle to help my parents with the hotel. My brothers and sister and I enjoyed singing and dancing together. My dancing was so good that I was employed as a "dance master," a position that was sanctioned by the Dutch government for all public dancing functions. I gave lessons in all kinds of dance, including folk dance and the rhumba.