5 comments about Behind the Secret Window.

1. We were given a World War II book report in English. I chose this book over Anne Frank. The way Nelly Toll told her story, it made you feel as if you were there, hiding in a small room, waiting for the Gestapo to leave, and praying that they don't find you. Even though her family was hunted by the German army, the Nazis, she continued to read, and write, and paint. Though the story has a sweet, and happy ending, sadness does lurk behind it. I highly recommend this book!



2. The story Behind the secret window was a good book.It's about a girl named Nelly Toll who was six years old. Nelly said she could remeber every thing that had happened.She said by the time she was eight that the world war two had destroyed her live. But she said that to ease her pain she wrote in her diary. She said that was better then thinking of her parents dining in the war. My oppion is that this was a great book. Try to read it.



3. This book is about a girl. She is about 7 when the Nazis come and invade her town. Now she is 8 and her dad has left or "disappered". Her maids have been taken away, and the soldiers are takeing her stuff from her so they can give the stuff to other kids in thier country. She is so mortived! It is now her and her mom. They move to her aunt's appartment. And then something happens that you have to read the book to find out. By the end of the book the little girl is left alone with her alful thoughts of the horrible things that the soldiers do to the people that live in her town. So all she can do is paint pictures of what she thinks of all the things that are going on around her. This is a book that every one needs to read.



4. 
   
   This book is a memory of Nelly Toll's childhood experiences during World War II. She battled so many things none of us could imagine. She lost very much during the war but always had hope.
   The main characters in this book are Nelly, her mother, and pani pan Wotjek. (They are Christians willing to hide them).
   This book takes place mostly in Poland 1943-1944. She also goes to Hungary. She spends most of these two years living indoors.
   It's a very in-depth look at the war. To me it seems almost fictional. It's amazing how much she remembers about how she felt.



5. In _Behind The Secret Window_ by Nellie Toll, the message that the story has to offer is that life can knock you down sometimes, but most importantly you can't let life keep you down. Nelly is a small girl who is hiding from the Nazis during World War Two. The Nazis take her two siblings, aunt, father, and is really unhappy. Throughout the book she realizes that being unhappy won't help her during this dificult time. Instead she starts believing that one day her loved ones will return. Nelly finally benefits from this by making it through the war alive and finally seeking freedom. This book gives you the best of advice and messages you could ever find for difficult hardhsips and advice.

4 comments about The Man Who Stopped the Trains to Auschwitz: George Mantello, El Salvador, and Switzerland's Finest Hour (Religion, Theology, and the Holocaust).

1. THis is a compelling story written almost in novel form. The history is documented meticulously and represents a herculean effort by the author. This story of rescue on a grand scale is largely unknown and Schindler's efforts pale b comparison. This is a must read for anyone interested in the Holocaust. The author deserves much praise-I would love to hear him speak!



2. After Hungary left WWII, Germans felt free to round up Hungarian Jews for extermination. The book, based on meticulously researched material, reads as an adventure-mystery novel yet is non-fiction. It shows that rescue was possible to an extent when people,with proper leadership, rose up and protested. Credit here goes to the Swiss people, journalists and major Swiss Theologians and Pastors.Under leadership of outstanding Swiss theologians such as Karl Barth, the Swiss people evinced an extraordinary moral leadership in efforts to halt mass murder of Hungarian Jews. The drive for rescue was spearheaded by a Rumanian Jew named Mantello who worked for the El Salvadoran embassy in Switzerland.The facts give the Swiss people the credit they deserve for helping in the rescue of Jews and show that where there was courage and a will, many were rescued. Anyone with the slightest interest in human courage and dignity, not just the holocaust, should read this book.



3. This question always fascinated me when watching westerns and their modern analogs: can one man take on overwhelming odds and win against indifference and bare evil? A common wisdom tells us that such a win is just a wishful fantasy. It is a bright ray of inspiration to find an unlikely cross of the “High Noon”, “Dirty Harry” and “A Frisco Kid” in a story of lonely and smart orthodox Jew winning against the huge murderous system beyond the worst nightmares of the heroes of Gary Cooper, Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford. How big a “Gold Life Saving Medal” should be awarded to a person who saved 100,000 innocent lives from the gas chambers in 1944? Is there any monument that would give him his due? However, this man, George Mantello, was not only forgotten but maligned. The “delicate” reason for this lack of appreciation was that “all [organizations involved in the rescue effort] were of the opinion that any efforts they were not involved in were not valid” according to a witness testimony quoted in the book. The author provides mountains of testimony confirming Montello’s selfless dedication to the rescue work beyond a common comprehension. The book is thoroughly researched and documented but its subdued narrative reads really well. It is a rebuke to those who did little or nothing, an inspiration for lonely enthusiasts, and a glimpse of hope for the rest of us. Jews did have lonely heroes - Samson, David, before the spotlight shifted to leaders of large groups. Now, thanks to David Kranzler, we know one more such hero â€" George Mantello.



4. After read this book i must say ¡ I am proud to be a citizen from El Salvador ¡ ¿why? I didn't know that my country make such big contribution to save the live of thousand of Jews.
   GOD Bless and follow Blessing our country EL SALVADOR because that.

2 comments about Chaim Potok: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers).

1. This is a book that evokes the broad spectrum of books that Chaim Potok has written, but most especially The Chosen. Beginning with a history of the author and then a history of the Jewish-American novelist, Sternlicht gives us the advantage of his teaching in the Jewish Studies program at Syracuse University. Each novel is then adressed, with a careful description that brings back the delight of its original reading, and then followed by a discussion in its larger historic and ideational context. It is a most enjoyable and informative book, reminds one of the pleasure from earlier Potok novels, and I hope for more of the same from Sternlicht.



2. Sanford Sternlicht's CHAIM POTOK: A CRITICAL COMPANION is part of the Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers series put out by Greenwood Press. Having worked at a public library reference desk, serving high school students in very real need of in-depth sources on modern writers, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It admirably and thoroughly fills a serious scholarly gap for students needing information on Potok, one of our greatest modern Jewish American writers. In addition, the book is an interesting and informative read on its own. What I found in the book piqued my interest and I plan to read at least three of Potok's novels.

   The book leads the reader to an understanding of Chaim Potok and his works on many fronts. There is a short biography of Potok, an analysis of his literary acheivements and his sources of inspiration, and then an most helpful analysis of each of his eight novels; each novel is assigned its own chapter.

   A most intriguing feature in Sternlicht's book is his explanation of various styles of literary criticism, followed by an application of that style of criticism to a Potok novel (i.e., psychoanalytic theory is applied to The Chosen, reader-response criticism is applied to The Book of Lights, feminist criticism is applied to Davita's Harp, etc.). Far from being a dry or dull, these discussions and analyses are clearly written and shed light on aspects of the novel that the reader may have never before considered.

   Another fine aspect of the book is that Sterlicht provides the historical background of each novel as well as character and plot development and thematic and symbolic elements. Each of these aspects of the novel being discussed is laid out in a clear, concise, and logical fashion, making the book very easy to use for students doing research on Potok's novels.

   I don't think that anyone could ask for a clearer or more balanced analysis of Chaim Potok's novels than what Mr. Sternlicht has provided in CHAIM POTOK: A CRITICAL COMPANION. It belongs in all secondary school, undergraduate, and public libraries, and in the private libraries of anyone who enjoys Potok, American literature, and/or just a plain old good read.

   Sternlicht's qualifications as a prolific author and as professor of both English and Judaic studies at Syracuse University are very much in evidence in this volume. He has performed a great service both to Mr. Potok and to lovers and students of literature everywhere.

No comments about Alone in the Forest (Holocaust Diaries).

2 comments about A Race Against Death: Peter Bergson, America, and the Holocaust.

1. This is a powerful, moving, and very readable book. I saw one of the authors recently on a television talk show, "The Leon Charney Report," and was fascinated to learn that Jewish activists had campaigned --with some success-- to pressure the Roosevelt administration to rescue Jews from Hitler. In contrast with most other Holocaust-related books, "A Race Against Death" shows how some people did try to stir the world's conscience
   regarding the Nazi massacres. It's the kind of book that gives you hope and shows how a handful of people can really make a difference. I strongly recommend it.



2. Peter Bergson (pen-name of Hillel Kook, nephew of Israel's chief rabbi during WWII) was one of the heroes of the Second World War. His efforts to rescue European Jews were instrumental in changing American policies; they led to the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives--and possibly to the establishment of Israel (there were only some 700,000 Palestinian Jews in 1948, many of them camp survivors). More famous rescuers, such as Raoul Wallenberg, were able to act in Europe because Bergson had conviced the Roosevelt administration to set up the War Refugee Board in 1944. Before Bergson's work, saving Jews was simply not a priority for the US government. After Bergson succeeded in persuading FDR and Congress, it became a war aim. American agents were active in Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, among other places, making serious efforts to save lives. David Wyman deserves great praise for putting together previously unpublished documentation in a fascinating book. I only wish the cover had Bergson's photo on it. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of America and the Holocaust.

5 comments about I Chose Life: Biography of a Holocaust Survivor Saul I. Nitzberg, M.D. A Survivor's Search for Peace.

1. "I Chose Life" is a labor of love, a paean for a dear man, saved for his family now and for the family that will be in generations to come. Dr. Nitzberg's story is singled out from the six million other stories because his wife and his dear friend wanted his remarkable saga to live forever. The breadth of Dr. Nitzberg's life and accomplishments are there, as is his great love of family and his hope for the future. Despite his losses at the hands of the Nazis, despite his suffering, he lived a life free of bitterness. He was warm, funny, and as a physician, he was beloved, truly beloved. Why should anyone besides his family chose to read this book? Simple. There is much to learn about humanity, about marriage, about unconditional love. It also brings the horror of the Holocaust away from an enormous catasphrophe of history and makes it the events of one person's life. We can feel the horror more readily because we are reading about the boy whose peaceful life, one like any of us may have known, is wretched from him, how he survives hell in the face of enormous loss, and how he came to American and made his own American dream. In the interest of full disclosure, I want to say that my sister married one of his sons, and that I loved Saul and he loved me. I sobbed reading about people in the book I never knew. Just as the recent "Suite Francaise" made us think about ourselves in dire circumstances, so does this book. The only difference is that this story is true. Read it, think about it in light of today's world. Kiss your children, and read it again.



2. I started reading at 2PM, at 2AM I forced myself to close the book for the night. The history, emotions and love shines thru.. Dr Nitzberg had a lust for life that makes this book a must read for all history buffs. I only wish that I can be one half the human that he was.. an inspiration for us all.
   
   Pam Crawford
   Pahrump, NV



3. What is so compelling about the book, "I chose Life" is that it goes well beyond the story of a holocaust survivor. While the tale of endurance, devastating deprivation and suffering is exceptional, the story after Dr. Nitzberg arrives in the United States is as fascinating and inspiring. The book shows how one man rebuilt his life, without bitterness, and with a wholeheartedness that anyone would envy. His relationships--with his wonderful wife, relatives, children, long-term family friends and patients is an inspiration to anyone looking to understand how to live life fully.



4. My bookclub recently read this book. What an amazing story about an incredible man and his family. This is a well written and very emotional book. I couldnt wait to pick it up to find out more. It was a great book for bookclub discussion. All who read this will be inspired by this remarkable man who endured so much , and went on to better himself and his community and raise such a wonderful family. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.



5. This book brought true life to the....
   
   *Life the Jews went through during the Holocaust
   *Impact of Strong Parental Influence and Morals that bind a family
   *Ambition it takes to become better...to go beyond the expected
   *Importance of Education
   
   This is a story of an amazing man who survived the Holocaust and the difficulties he endured. - Pictures included! I cried hard!
   
   He found his way, through distant relatives, to the U.S. after the concentration camps and started college. Met his wife and started a family. - Pictures included. Beautiful!
   
   He melded his way into the hearts of everyone who knew him (because he was such a compassionate man), either personally or professionally.
   - Testimonies embraced him!
   
   He instilled in his children the importance of education. "They can't take that away from you". What an impact!
   
   A MUST READ for all denominations! It brings true life to a higher level!

No comments about Professions of a Lucky Jew.

No comments about Missing Pieces: My Life As a Child Survivor of the Holocaust (Legacies Shared).

5 comments about Until We Meet Again: A True Story of Love and War, Separation and Reunion.

1. I loved this book so much that during breakfest, I almost missed the school bus because I couldn't put it down! This in my opinion is one of the greatest books of all time. It touched me in amazing ways. I would definetly reccomend this book to children and adults.



2. wow is all i can say for this book. i'm not much of a reader but this book i couldn't put down. it's a very descriptive book but doesn't lose you halfway through it. i highly recommend it to anybody (teenagers especially). trust me, the books starts great and ends great!



3. I've had the opportunity to read the book, and meet Michael Korenblit! A great man, a great story. His respect diversity organization based out of Oklahoma City sells the book from a different publisher. The Respect Diversity Foundation webpage is the place to check into this or get in touch with the author.



4. OH MY GOSH...this book was soooo good. i started off reading it from language arts, cuz we had to pick a book about the holocoust, but i couldnt put it down when i started it. i was blown away by the detail and something true, like this, could hold my attention. i found my self at the end of the book wishing there was a sequel!!



5. Until We Meet Again

   I like to read very much and have read many, many books! Until We Meet Again has got to be one of my favorite books I've ever read! I must admit that at the beginning it was very confusing because there are two large families in the book and they keep switching to both of them and at first they are hard to keep track of and you forget who is in each family. But once you get into the story, you really begin to know the characters. I think that is one of the main reasons I liked this book so much, you care for the characters Meyer and Manya so much that you want to keep reading just so you can make sure that they are safe and nothing happens to them. The book was great and really made me understand the Holocaust more! The book was realistic and true without being gruesome and heart wrenching the whole way through, giving you breaks in between to wipe away the tears. Even though it was a very sad story, it's sort of neat to know that it's true and their son wrote it. Some parts made me laugh or cry while others just left me speechless. I really grew to love Manya and I hoped that she would be okay. And Meyer was one of the bravest people I know! What he did for his family and Manya was un-thinkable not to mention his 3 close calls to death! Reading this book really made me think about what these people went through. Hiding in haystacks, little ones not being able to talk or play. Always scared that you would be discovered by the Nazis. Being separated from your family not knowing if you'd ever see them again, not even being able to say good-bye. And things we take for granted like food, clothes, warm beds, and even our hair, reading this made me treasure life more! I would highly recommend this book to anyone! That's why I gave it 5 stars

No comments about The Jokes of Sigmund Freud: A Study in Humor and Jewish Identity.