No comments about Anne Frank: Internet Referenced (Famous Lives Gift Books).

5 comments about Lovesong: Becoming a Jew.

1. I read this after I lost my father. This book was oddly comforting and beautifully written.



2. Lester explores writes a revealing and deeply personal memoir of his spiritual searching and arrival at the Jewish faith. I west extremely moved by his candor as he describes his efforts to harmonize the various facets of his identity, as well as his honesty about the pitfalls he faced on the way.

   Jews believe that those who choose judaism are not converting, but comming home. Lester's work is wonderful in that it lets the reader join him on this home coming. He willingly reveals the pain and the joy of this personal awakening.

   A wonderful read for anyone who struggles with faith and a great message that there can be light at the end of that tunnel.




3. I thought this book was excellent. When I saw this book in the library, I didn't even realize that he is the author of one of my favorite books-To be a slave. I picked up the book because I'm a comparative religion major and I learn best from autobiographies and memoirs-they make me feels like I'm experiancing the religion first hand. Though I was able to reinforce what I knew about Judaism with a visual picture from his words, I was even more impressed with his writing style. I usually read books that will help towards my educational goal only. But this book is a good read, just for its writing style alone. The way he describes his experiances, you get a clear understanding of what he's saying and feel like you know him and converted to Judaism yourself. After reading, I had an urge to visit a synagogue and a trappist monastery ( 2 places he beautifully describes in the book) and I will. I just finished the book today (Wed). I started the book on Friday night and with 2 kids and alot of work managed to finish it so quickly. I don't have spare time to write reviews but I felt compelled to write this one. I have respect for people who reveal themselves so candidly: those who use the pen to strip themselves of a false image. I recommend this to anyone interested in religion especially writers.



4. Mr. Lester is a great writer, and has the gift of objectivity about himself and his family, which is rare. His search for the way to connect to G'd is painfully slow, but joyful in its culmination.



5. I am a multiracial woman who discovered her Jewish roots when her mother explained that she was Jewish and that I was named for my Jewish family from Eastern Europe as a teenager. I am now finding my way back to Judaism and my heritage and I've encountered the same hostility with African-Americans to the point I no longer associate with the local community.
   
   Its very hard to be multiracial, black, and Jewish. But like Lester, in the end, I just had to find the courage to be myself.

5 comments about Castles Burning: A Childs Life in War.

1. This is one of the most moving accounts of that time that I have ever read. I admire the courage of the writer to recount it, I admire the fierceness of that little girl, so many years ago. Its haunting beauty stays with me.



2. Her memory and recall of detail, conversations, and feelings make her an excellent writer of a compelling story. I wonder if she wrote of her life after reaching Cuba.



3. Magda Denes was five years old, in 1939, when her editor father abruptly abandoned his family, transferring all his assets to the United States.
   The family was left with nothing.
   Persecuted and then hunted, Magda was determined not to give way to despair (as she was taken around to different places of hiding and had to hide under floorboards, in an oven, and in a cellar) . She lost her brother Ivan, who was a rescuer for the Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair. The Zionists rescued many Jews from the Nazis, and were the backbone of Jewish resistance to Nazism.
   What results is a colourful classic of the sruggle for life in dangerous and frightening days of death, written with wry humour and biting wit.
   You will grow to understand, sympathize with and love Magda as you follow her story.
   Today influential voices are calling for an end to the State of Israel (which was in many cases built by holocaust survivors), which would certainly lead to a second holocaust aginst the Jews living there.
   It is up to us to prevent a second holocaust from occuring.
   To prevent a situation where Jewish children will be murdered and hunted, by fully supporting Israel in her struggle to survive and fighting anti-Israel prejudice.



4. This book is a Hungarian version of Ann Frank's Diary. It shows the world of a persecuted young Jewish girl through her own eyes. But it's also much more of an adventure story - and less introspective - than Ann Frank's Diary - and the heroine survived. It artfully portrays the family tensions - which, aside the extraordinary circumstances, were in a sense ordinary: yet they are beautifully and vividly portrayed. The author was obviously a character of great steel inside. Having myself lived many years in Hungary, the places, names etc. were all familiar which made it doubly interesting. A must for anyone seriously interested in Hungary.



5. This book shall remain in my library permanently. Do not mistake this as simply an "Anne Frank" copycat; it is not! Nor is this just another Nazi story. What make this book so incredible is her comments about life and loneliness. Interestingly, there is also laugh-aloud humor sprinkled throughout. The end of the book, unlike Wiesel et al., leaves one feeling upbeat. It is a remarkable, true account, written by a successful NYC psychiatrist on her deathbed due to breast cancer and published posthumously. THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!

5 comments about The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage.

1. Enhanced with an informative foreword by Christopher R. Browning, The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers And Their Stories Of Courage by folklorist and oral historian Mark Klempner is the account of how many valiant people worked at great personal peril through the Holocaust and Hitler's Reign to save Jewish children and others from being murdered in the Nazi death camps. Guiding readers through the epic and heroic tales of these Dutch rescuers, The Heart Has Reasons vividly recounts deeply terrifying efforts of ten gallantly individual experiences. Superbly presented and an important addition to the growing library of holocaust literature, The Heart Has Reasons is very highly recommended reading, especially for all historians and students of the Dutch involvement in World War II.



2. Mark Klempner is a masterful storyteller. Although 'storyteller' may make you think of fiction, this story is not fiction. Mark has poignantly shared interviews with Dutch resisters and rescuers in a way that won't let you stop thinking about them. He asks big questions and gives important answers about learning from the righteous and from history.



3. The dark cloud of disaster can't hide the brilliant light of joy and altruism in the human spirit. Somedays I don't turn on the news; it's too depressing to bear. But in this book, author Mark Klempner gazes unflinchingly at one of the blackest episodes in human history . . . and finds there hope and lessons for living.
   
   Klempner interviewed ten of the "Righteous Gentiles": people who risked all to save Jewish children from the Nazis. A folklorist and oral historian, Klempner lets his subjects take center stage and tell their stories in their own words. This is precious documentation of the experiences of a generation that is passing on.
   
   As counterpoint, Klempner relates the autobiographical saga of his own search for an ethical compass. This journey led him from the amoral canyons of the Los Angeles music scene to explore his Jewish immigrant roots in Europe. Klempner also includes historical and political essays that place the individual stories in the context of world events. The narratives are not homogenized into a smooth package. Think of these gems as displayed in their natural state, not cut and mounted so as to preserve the authenticity of the historical record.
   
   To sum up, this book contains:
   
   * Fascinating true stories, very accessible to the casual reader.
   
   * Primary source historical material, lovingly preserved.
   
   * Troubling questions about ethics, psychology and the meaning of life; pat answers not included.
   
   * Inspiration, and proof that in the face of the most horrifying threats imaginable, some people will step forth and risk all to do the right thing.



4. As those who celebrated the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. worked hard to make clear, we are reaching an important point in the history of the world - there will soon be no survivors of the World War II period left alive. The commentary on the presidential elections in France mentioned that this is the first set of candidates for the high office with no experience of the war. This same situation is true for those who experienced the Holocaust, in its various dimensions - there will soon be no one left alive to tell the story directly. In a world where Holocaust denial ebbs and flows, this becomes a problem. Projects such as Mark Klempner's `The Heart Has Reasons' are truly important, in helping to keep alive the memory of those who had direct experience.
   
   Most people in the Western world are familiar with the Diary of Anne Frank, but fewer are aware that there were many stories of heroism among the Dutch during the war. However, the overall survival rate of Jews in Holland was among the lowest in occupied Western Europe. There were people who helped hide and shelter Jewish people, at tremendous risk to their own lives. `Those who decided to help Jews in Holland had to be willing to disobey the Nazi measures and resist the Nazi machinations to relegate Jews to subhuman status. They had to cross the line from being law-abiding citizens to enemies of the state. They had to act from the heart, come what may.' This book is about ten different people who took it upon themselves to come between the Nazi efforts and those who would be victims.
   
   Mark Klempner is listed in the credits as a folklorist and oral historian. Given that narrative theology is a particular interest of mine, his background and method of development fits with my own ideas of how to develop history into a memorable and lasting element of culture. It was also an important development for Klempner. The final paragraph of his introductory piece speaks to this: `Spending time with the rescuers was, for me, a transforming experience. They welcomed me into their homes as though I were someone special - a characteristic inversion - and showered me with hospitality and kindness. I soon was looking at them not only as people who had made history, but also as people who could teach me a different way to live. I've come to think of them as radiant specks around the black hole of the Holocaust, and they've become a radiant presence in my own life as well.'
   
   Klempner presents, after his personal introduction, a chapter on the background of the history, which includes both general history of the development of the Holocaust as well as specifically Dutch history - the NSB (Dutch Fascists), the piece-by-piece encroachment on Dutch rights and Jewish rights during the occupation, and overall development of a resistance to the oppression. The heart of the book, however, is in the ten stories of those who put security, family and life on the line to help those in need.
   
   The names are important, for the Holocaust gets lost in the abstraction of numbers. But all stories are personal. Heiltje Kooistra found inspiration for her actions in her own religious faith - `If you love Jesus, how can you not love the people and tradition out of which Jesus came forth?' Rut Matthijsen was a behind-the-scenes operator in the resistance, who looked past the discrimination: `Years later, when I went to Israel to receive the Yad Vashem award, I was asked, "Why did you help the Jewish people?" The emphasis being on the word Jewish. But that was Adolf Hitler's emphasis. I helped them because they were people.' Hetty Voute spent years in prison for her efforts, as did her friend Gisela Sohnlein. Clara Dijkstra ended up being the second mother to a girl she rescued, a relationship that continues to this day. Some, like Kees Veenstra, are very private about their actions, preferring to consider himself an ordinary person. Janet Kalff tapped into her Quaker background for strength, whereas Mieke Vermeer drew from a Calvinist background. Pieter Meerburg's actions came out of a humanism not borne of religious conviction, but out of respect for life. Theo Leender's relationship with God can sometimes be stormy, but his faith in doing what is right did not falter.
   
   These are not people who looked for personal reward - in fact, just the opposite is the case for several of them. Many remained generous beyond their wartime efforts; Klempner mentions one man who had a stack of fund-raising letters from charities, who always found time to help even the smaller causes with a little bit, saying, `Even a small donation can give a lot of encouragement to people doing good work.'
   
   This book was a gift to me, both spiritually and literally. I was offered the chance to read it months ago, and it took a long time. The stories could not be rushed through as if it were one more text to read; I found myself with tears of anger, frustration, and occasional joy throughout many of the stories (and it is hard to read through tears). Klempner has given rare insight into a side of the Holocaust little known but very important, and very powerful witnesses who give hope to the future.



5. I just read the following about this book in the Journal of Ecumenical Studies: "Well-written and highly accessible to average readers, it is a book for sharing and giving that would make an excellent choice for book clubs, as well as synagogues and churches interested in interreligious dialogue." As someone who is waiting for it to come out in paperback for use in my book club, I heartily agree.

1 comments about People of the Bible: Life and Customs.

1. This book is excellent from children through adult. It really helps to understand the beginnings of a faith community in a way that children can understand and adults can as well. It is an easy read without the long details. I woudl strongly recommend it for anyone who works with students of all ages

4 comments about Bronx Primitive: Portraits in a Childhood.

1. Good fortune was with me when I happened upon this book last year. It is now one of my all-time favorites and I went on to read the two books that chronologically follow this one. My only complaint is that Ms. Simon died before she had the chance to tell us every minute detail about her unextraordinary, extraordinary life. A Jewish immigrant household in the Bronx shaped Kate's wonderful and unique personality. She shares her childhood - engrossing tales of urban fairy tale embedded in the real world of poverty -with the aplomb of a grand story-teller. If only I could have met her. She is the baudy humorous glamorous grandmother we all wish was our own.



2. The frank portrayal of Simon's relationship with her father in this book is refreshing, as are many of the stories about daily life as a girl growing up Jewish in the Bronx after WWI. However, the parts dealing with sexual advances of older man and, in general, older people's sexual opportunism with younger people were things I found really disturbing. Simon tells these anecdotes well and evenly, but as a reader, I felt frustrated and helpless reading so much about the way the taboos of sexuality trapped kids into silence about their victimization.



3. Kate Simon's little book will doubtless become a classic of the genre: memoir, coming of age, the immigrant experience, sexual awakening, life on the stoops in the Bronx...
   Told unsentimentally and with a refreshingly straightforward style, Simon manages to convey both the sense and the essence of her unusual childhood to her readers.



4. This book is a warm, witty and intricate look at the author's childhood and teenage years in the Bronx. The prose sucks you in, and you are given enough detail so that you feel that you are right there with the author.
   
   However, if you want to give it as a gift to a young bookworm, be forewarned that it contains graphic sexual content, including a blow-by-blow description of the male and female anatomy, and several descriptions of sexual (and physical) abuse.

4 comments about Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum 1941-1943.

1. Etty began life with the same silly angst and shallow aspirations that we endure each day. Then came the war and her experience as a Jew in Holland. The transformation of this young intellectual to a woman of great depth takes the reader on a soul journey of such transcendence that one's paradigms are forever changed.

   Add to the story a great and musical quality of writing and a brilliant mind . You have Etty, my heroine, my mentor.




2. A young woman who is running out of time writes about her experiences as a prisoner of the Nazis in a concentration camp in World War II in 1940s Europe. She responds to the demands of society and of life as she finds it in both its pedestrian and hopeful forms, while also musing about what a distracted God might be doing up in heaven as so many innocent people perish at the hands of so many cowardly and sadistic oppressors. Ultimately she converts to Catholism and she dies in a concentration camp at the age of 29. Even with the crushing and depressing burden of a predatory society of captors constantly hovering over her, captors to whom she would soon sucuumb by her physical death, she wrote about life, social roles, her relationships with others and God prodigiously before her life was stolen from her in a dark place and a dark time by the human forces of evil. The strength she must have called upon to do this work while living in day to day oppresssion and unrelenting misery is stunning to imagine.



3. I read this book over twenty years ago and it remains one of the most inspirational books I've ever read. I leant it to a client who lost it so I must buy another. Thankfully it's still available.



4. This book is one of the most touching and inspiring books I ever read. This book will touch the heart of anyone - whether Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. and even an atheist!
   
   The battle of a soul in those dark days (the German Occupation in the Second War World) trying to keep sane, asking herself how not to loose hope and remain human, avoiding hate, in spite of all what is going around her. This is a journey of a Soul from focusing in herself changing to focus in the world around her.
   
   I bought the book also for 3 friends of mine as a New Year present!
   
   P.S.: Since my English is NOT my mother tong (I'm an Israeli), I'm apologizing in advance for spelling (and other mistakes). Thank you for understanding.

No comments about Bittersweet Berries : Growing Up Jewish in Minnesota.

3 comments about Until Our Last Breath: A Holocaust Story of Love and Partisan Resistance.

1. This book is absolutely incredible, weaving in a historical sense and perspective alongside the true story of a family's struggle in the ghettos of the holocaust. I read through this so quickly and could easily go back to re-read and focus on references to the larger history of Jews during WWII.
   
   Very inspiring, uplifting and emotional.



2. Holocaust histories are notoriously difficult to read- the subject matter is after all one of the darkest chapters in human history. Thus, Authors are challenged to not only present this history accurately, but also do so in a manner that encourages the reader to continue on. Michael Bart and Laurel Corona have really done a splendid job in bringing us this important book- which follows the story of Michael's parents during their time in the Vilna Ghetto and then as Jewish Partisans in the Rudnicki forest. Meticulously researched and footnoted, the book gives us a historically accurate, yet vivid account of what the Holocaust looked like to a young couple, married in the midst of horror and their subsequent road of survival, liberation and rebirth.



3. As someone who has spent years in Vilna, I know of the places which Michael Bart studied and Laurel Corona then wrote about. Mr. Bart did lengthy and in-depth work and Ms. Corona took that research in combination with her own visit to Vilna and research to turn Until Our Last Breath into a must-read. I have been fortunate enough to meet former Jewish partisans, Righteous Gentiles, and those rescued. After reading this book, I realize how much I missed by never having met Michael Bart's parents. They were real people cast into a surreal situation. No matter how inhumane conditions became, both of them managed to hold onto their humanity. They were heroes who never realized how extraordinary they were. The world is a far better place thanks to what they did. What they did was never surrender in the face of insanity and cruelty. If only all of us could be so strong. Thanks to Michael Bart for all of his efforts. Thanks also to Laurel Corona for putting the story down on paper so it can be shared with the world.

5 comments about Burnt Bread and Chutney: Growing Up Between Cultures-A Memoir of an Indian Jewish Girl.

1. Carmit Delman has truly outdone herself in this wonderful account of her life. The juxtaposition of her life with that of her grandmother, led by quotes from "Nana-bai's" diary was unique and kept me so intrigued that I finished the book in 2 days. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to hear more from Carmit!



2. Every author wishes to touch the emotions of their readers, Ms Delman does just that in "Burnt Bread and Chutney." At first, I felt embarrassed that a man is reading something meant for WOMEN! But pages later, I found myself amused and at times angered, wishing I could help some of the players within. I found I actually "could not put this book down" until I found out what happened!
   As ROOTS and GHANDI touched me, so did this book - it too, would make a great movie! (Hey Mr. Spielberg, if you liked The Color Purple, you'll love this!) This book will turn your vision onto a side of life that many are unaware - it will touch your soul....and it will touch your heart.



3. I found Carmit Delman's memoir fascinating. Her story was remarkable, how she grew up in the modern world with her family's culture and background several centuries behind. It is very appropriate for mothers of teens, gives you an eye to the struggles they face as they try to reconcile their life with yours.



4. This book was definitely a quick read and very interesting as the other reviewers have stated. The only "issue" I had with this book is that there were a bit too many sensual allusions that seemed were meant to appeal to a trash novel reader. I expected this book to speak of much more "Bene-Israel" traditions but instead it addressed mostly the rebellion of the writer against tradition and not much specifics on the traditions.
   I do give this book 4 stars though since it encaptured me immensely but not 5 stars since I expected it to be more wholesome.



5. I would not recommend this book - it is trite and uninteresting. I did not learning anything new about the jewish indian experience