Average customer rating:
- Interesting right through the very end.
- A wonderfully written memoir
- Amazing Polish Perspective
- Extraordinary biography and memior
- Irena is my hero
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In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer
Irene Opdyke
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Similar Items:
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The Seamstress
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Rena's Promise
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I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust
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All But My Life: A Memoir
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The Cage
ASIN: 0553494112
Release Date: 2004-09-14 |
Amazon.com
When World War II began, Irene Gutowna was a 17-year-old Polish nursing student. Six years later, she writes in this inspiring memoir, "I felt a million years old." In the intervening time she was separated from her family, raped by Russian soldiers, and forced to work in a hotel serving German officers. Sickened by the suffering inflicted on the local Jews, Irene began leaving food under the walls of the ghetto. Soon she was scheming to protect the Jewish workers she supervised at the hotel, and then hiding them in the lavish villa where she served as housekeeper to a German major. When he discovered them in the house, Gutowna became his mistress to protect her friends--later escaping him to join the Polish partisans during the Germans' retreat. The author presents her extraordinary heroism as the inevitable result of small steps taken over time, but her readers will not agree as they consume this thrilling adventure story, which also happens to be a drama of moral choice and courage. Although adults will find Irene's tale moving, it is appropriately published as a young adult book. Her experiences while still in her teens remind adolescents everywhere that their actions count, that the power to make a difference is in their hands. --Wendy Smith
Book Description
IRENE GUT WAS just 17 in 1939, when the Germans and Russians devoured her native Poland. Just a girl, really. But a girl who saw evil and chose to defy it.
“No matter how many Holocaust stories one has read, this one is a must, for its impact is so powerful.”—School Library Journal, Starred
A Book Sense Top Ten Pick
A Publisher’s Weekly Choice of the Year’s Best Books
A Booklist Editors Choice
Customer Reviews:
Interesting right through the very end........2007-08-13
Unlike most characters featured in such books, Irene Opdyke had no vested interest in helping the Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland. She began her work in small, timid steps, gradually growing more bold and forceful as she matured. The story is told in an entirely credible and sympathetic way, without forcing young readers to wade though long narratives of graphic atrocities. I found the afterward to be the most moving and memorable part of the entire book.
A wonderfully written memoir.......2007-08-10
In my hands is a wonderfully written account of the difference "only one girl" can make. Irene Opdyke lived 7 years through the war and was subjected to many wrong doings herself, but she continued to put herself in mortal danger without thought to herself for the sake of saving the lives of a group of Jews.
A very important book in helping to teach the next generation of the horror of the second world war, but also in teaching us that one person can make a great deal of difference to the lives of others.
Amazing Polish Perspective.......2007-07-15
I've read a good number of books on World War II, but this one had tons of new information and thoughts to consider. We often look at the issues from the perspective of Germans, Jews, or Americans, but rarely do we ponder how the war must have been for the Polish. If you're interested in World War II, this is a must-read.
Extraordinary biography and memior .......2007-07-15
of what Poland went through during the occupation of the Germans and Russians. I checked this book out at the library for our WWII unit study to read to my family. It is not for the faint of heart. There are many situations in this book that I did have to leave out because Irene tells the whole truth. It is a great book and needs to be read by all. Courage always takes the hard road but thank God there are those in our midst willing to stand up for those that can't.
Irena is my hero.......2007-07-10
This is my favorite book about the Holocaust because even though it Irena is honest about the horrors of what the Nazis and the rest of the civilians did, her story ends with strong hope. The way she gambled her life over and over again and took such amazing risks is a brilliant inspiration to us all. Irena really is one of the righteous among the nations for what she did to save her Jewish friends. She stuck to her faith and her convictions in the face of death. This is greater than any work of fiction; no author could have dreamed up the adventures and horrors she endured, from her rape and incarceration to her involvement in the Polish resistance, she is a fighter and a survivor. She has led such an astounding life! If every person who saw what the Nazis were doing had stood up and made the kind of sacrifices she did, the holocaust would have been stopped. Out of all the literature I have read regarding the shoah, this is the one I hold most dear; Irena is my hero.
Book Description
Stephen O'Malley is a paramedic who has been rescuing people all his life. His friend Meghan is in trouble: Stolen jewels are turning up in interesting places, and she's in the middle of it. Stephen is about to run into a night he will never forget--a kidnapping, a tornado, and a race to rescue the woman he loves.
Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.
Customer Reviews:
More O'Malley Excitement.......2007-03-21
Stephen O'Malley is a paramedic who has had enough of being a big city EMT. In a promise to his dying sister, Jennifer, he says he will leave the big city to take care of heart attacks and sprains in the slower pace of the country. On his way out of Chicago, he receives a call from Meghan, a childhood friend, who is looking for a little comfort from the rainstorm and a ride to her parents' house.
The story of Stephen and Meghan's early relationship is told brilliantly in flashbacks. When the story catches up to present day, the plot twists and turns like a scenic mountain road, blending Stephen and Meghan's lives with a series of jewel thefts. This is by far the most tantalizing O'Malley mystery. Stephen's struggle with the concept of having a relationship with God adds spiritual depth to the novel.
The other O'Malley novels are: The Negotiator, The Guardian, The Truth Seeker, The Protector, The Healer, The Rescuer. Each is a wonderful read!
Love this series!.......2006-11-16
The books in this series are awsome. Dee Henderson has become one of my favorites. She has a way of making the reader a part of the story and looking forward to the next! Suspense, romance, friendship, it's all there and more.
Great series, not the best book.......2006-05-03
I adored this series, but was rather disappointed with this last addition to the series. What makes this series so great is the characters and their interaction with each other and I felt that we didn't see enough of past characters in this book (like Lisa and Rachel were hardly ever mentioned) and it seemed almost to be another world from the others. Ovearll this series is so phoemonal and this is definitely not the book to judge the series by. While much of the depth that Henderson is known for is here, it just needed that interaction to really make it join the others in this series in caliber.
Good Wrap-Up, Mediocre Story .......2006-01-29
The O'Malley series supposably comes to a close in this book. I got to know Stephen O'Malley in the last chapter of The Healer and knew he was running. Running from God and Jennifer's death. His old friend, Meghan Delhart, is blind and has things that are randomly missing. An earring, some money. She finds a fabulous ring in her piano metronome and realizes the old kind jewelry dealer, who is deceased, Neil, might have a lot of secrets hidden under a loved name. Stephen is trying to find out who is doing this operation of jewelry theft and conterfeit. But, a perilous ending will have you on the edge.
I enjoyed this book, but one of the hardest aspects to overcome was adapting to reading the views of a blind person. I had to focus and visualize her black world, which was fairly difficult. This book gained my respect as I learned how challenging the blind have it.
Good Wrap Up to the Series Ms. Henderson. (Though I don't believe you're finished with the series quite yet!)
Book 6 in the O'Malley series.......2005-11-18
He's running away...
Stephen O'Malley is a paramedic. He's been rescuing people all his life. But he's on the run now--from the burden of his profession, from the grief of losing his sister, from a God he doesn't want to trust.
He paused to help a friend...
Meghan may be blind, but she's not crazy. Someone is walking through her house, going through her things, so she turns to the one man she trusts to help her. Stolen jewels are turning up in unexpected places, and Meghan is caught in the middle of a criminal conspiracy. Stephen is glad to help out a friend--only she's slipping under his guard and threatening to become more than just a friend.
This time she may be the one to rescue him...
Stephen is being chased by the God she loves as Meghan is showing him what it means to love and be loved. But Stephen's about to find out just what sacrificial love really is on a night he will never forget--a kidnapping, a tonado, and a desperate search to find her alive...
Customer Reviews:
True stories of moral courage and goodness.......2000-04-06
On the front cover of "Rescuers" are 12 photographs of some very nice looking people. They are pictures of people that you might meet every day; of friends and family, or someone that you might pass by on the street. They are the faces of very ordinary people, but they are also much more than that. They are the faces of people that risked their lives to save the lives of others during the Holocaust. They are the faces of the rescuers. There are many more photographs inside the book, of rescuers from countries all over Europe. Author Malka Drucker and photographer Gay Block interviewed and photographed the rescuers, seeking the heart of compassion and moral courage. They found that heart in men and women; the young and the old; and in people from all walks of life. Every story told by the rescuers is very moving. Some rescuers saved one person from death; some saved many thousands. All of the rescuers are worthy of the greatest respect and honor. The rescuers were sometimes asked the question of why they helped others to live, when so many other people stood by and did nothing. The rescuers would answer that question by saying that they were only doing what they knew was right. By caring for other people, they were acting the way that everyone should have been acting. One of the most inspiring truths found in the book, is the thought that we all have that same spark of goodness within our hearts, that was shown so nobly by the rescuers. We all have the capacity for doing what is right, even in times of the greatest fear and terror. This is a book that will warm your heart, and it is well worth reading.
A beautiful photo-interview essay on altruism..........1999-01-19
This book is wonderfully formatted, arranged by geographic area of Europe. Each interview starts with black and white photos a person who helped Jews and other persecuted people during WWII. A personal narrative of that time in their lives follows, and each interview closes with a color photo of that person as they were in 1992 when the interviews were done. A complicated and moving picture of altruism emerges, and one gets a glimpse of how individuals chose to protect others at the risk of threat to themselves and their families.
Average customer rating:
- The Extraordinary Heroism of Polish Rescuers of Jews
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The Path of the Righteous: Gentile Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust
Mordecai Paldiel
Manufacturer: Ktav Publishing House
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Customer Reviews:
The Extraordinary Heroism of Polish Rescuers of Jews.......2007-01-17
Mordecai Paldiel provides an anthology of rescuers of Jews, each of whom is identified by name. His descriptions go nation by nation, each beginning with a brief introduction to the nation's prewar relationship with her Jews. Interestingly, the Dutch fascist party (the N. S. B., or NSB) at first had some Jewish members (p. 93).
Unfortunately, his portrayal of prewar Poland exhibits an obvious anti-Polish slant. At least part of the reason can be found in his "For further reading" section (p. 384). His sole source of information on prewar Poland is C.S. Heller's rather Polonophobic book, ON THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION. A more objective book, from a Jewish viewpoint, is Joseph Marcus' SOCIAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE JEWS in POLAND, 1919-1939. For a Polish viewpoint, see Giertych's book, IN DEFENCE OF MY COUNTRY.
Paldiel touches on the Karaites, a Jewish sect. The Karaites were generally not persecuted by the Nazis because they were not considered to be racially Jewish (p. 244). This adds further refutation to the claims of the Holocaust-uniqueness advocates, who insist that the Nazis intended to exterminate ALL Jews and to obliterate ALL traces of Jewish culture and religion.
Although Paldiel doesn't mention the fact that 2-3 million gentile Poles (including roughly half of Poland's prewar intelligentsia) were murdered by the Germans in addition to the Jews, he does state the following: "The premeditated and constant harassment of the Polish population led to an unremitting reign of terror, which stands out as exceptionally ruthless and severe by contrast to other occupied countries, and which lasted for the full duration of the occupation." (p. 177). In other contexts, he alludes to the fact that the German occupation of Poland had been more severe than that of Lithuania (p. 238), the Ukraine and Byelorussia (p. 265), and especially western Europe, including the Netherlands (p. 96).
Paldiel would have the reader believe that the eventual fate of the conquered Poles was merely relocation much further east (p. 176). But then he gives away the store when he acknowledges the fact that "relocation" was a common German code word for extermination (p. 206).
In common with many others, Paldiel believes that anti-Semitism had been less severe in western than in eastern Europe. However, according to Paldiel (p. 3), this did not generally translate into proportionally more rescue efforts on behalf of Jews in western Europe.
When one reads about the much-celebrated Danish rescue of Jews (pp. 369-370), one may be astonished to read that the Danes had the luxury of two weeks of time in which to ferry the Jews across the Baltic to neutral Sweden. Moreover, "Not a single one [boat] was intercepted by the Germans or sunk, and all told some 7,200 Jews were saved." (p. 370). Considering the intensity of wartime German security in general and the monitoring of Baltic traffic in particular, one may ask how many Germans sat silent during this time.
Paldiel provides examples of the German-imposed death penalty deterring Polish aid to Jews (p. 207, 224). This refutes the silly argument, advanced by some, that the death penalty was too commonly applied to influence Polish behavior. He also comments: "In no other occupied country was aid to Jews punished with such severity as in Poland." (p. 185). He also acknowledges the fact that the Germans could massacre an entire local community for a single person helping Jews. For this reason, neighbors were often not supportive of an individual in their midst giving aid to Jews (p. 185). However, the unfriendliness of neighbors towards a local rescuer of Jews, much emphasized by Jan Thomas Gross in his recent (2006) book FEAR, was only true of some neighbors (p. 191).
Paldiel concludes: "The threats faced by would-be rescuers, both from the Germans and blackmailers alike, make us place Polish rescuers of Jews in a special category, for they exemplified a courage, fortitude, and lofty humanitarianism unequaled in other occupied countries. When to these dangers are added the severe economic hardships experienced by the population, the uniqueness and outstanding humanity of those that decided to help, in spite of such unbearable risks, are the more praiseworthy and their deeds close to legendary." (p. 185).
Book Description
In the darkest days of World War II, the Nazi German regime reigned supreme over virtually all of Europe. Within these occupied lands, Jews were being rounded up and sent off to extermination camps for execution. Helping them escape was punishable by death.
In this dark and seemingly hopeless situation, hundreds of ordinary people risked all to shelter and smuggle Jews to safety. These were generally not organized efforts, simply moral people who reacted in horror to the fate of innocent neighbors and took action. Thousands of Jews were rescued in this way.
In 1953, the state of Israel established Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem to commemorate and perpetuate the memory of the heroes and martyrs of the Holocaust. An independent committee reviews and awards the honor of The Righteous Among the Nations to those documented cases of rescue. Over 20,000 people, from all nationalities and religious groups, have received this prestigious awards.
This work selects approximately 200 biographies from among the Righteous, and describes the circumstances of the rescue. Each entry includes description of the contact; the aid extended; dangers and risk faced by the rescuer; motivation (eg, friendship, altruism, religious belief); and evidence from the rescued. These little–known stories offer a picture of the best of humanity in the worst of times.
Product Description
Amy's life was marked by a simple, determined obedience to God, regardless of circumstances. Her story and legacy are stunning reminders of the impact of one person who will fear God and nothing else.
Driven by love and compassion, and sustained by faith and determination, Amy Carmichael defied the cruel barriers of India's caste system. The story of this young woman from Northern Ireland is a brilliant, sparkling example of God's love generously poured out to "the least of these among us.
Customer Reviews:
Easy read, inspiring for all ages.......2006-03-28
If you are looking for books that are in-depth and complex in their evaluation of events in the lives of missionaries, this would not be the one to choose. But if you are looking for an easy read, and want to be inspired reading about the life of a woman who has given her all to serve the Lord Jesus in a foreign land, this will be a great choice. I find this series to be wonderful--simple, informative, and breezy reading, perfect for a lazy afternoon and for sharing with the family. It is great storytelling for all ages. Amy Carmichael's life has been revealed simply yet with enough depth to satisfy everyone who delights in learning about the lives of missionaries in our world.
Religious devotion at its best, marred by cultural ignorance.......2002-01-30
Amy Carmichael was an admirable woman who performed great deeds in India. She was devoted to God and did her best to serve him. Although she labored under some misconceptions and ignorance about Hinduism, it is possible to forgive her because she operated from a pure heart and a sincere desire to do the Lord's work. It would not be fair to judge her by today's more knowledgeable and open-minded standards.
Without wanting to detract from Amy Carmichael's achievements, I wish the authors had taken the trouble to understand the reality behind some of her misguided beliefs. For example, the following statement (from pp. 77-78) is patently untrue: "Buddhism is a religion of many gods and many statues of gods. Buddhists often believe the statue itself is a god and not just an image of a god." A cursory look at just about any middle school social studies book should prove otherwise.
The authors also depict the British contributions to India in a wholly positive light, although most scholars would agree that their legacy is mixed. Furthermore, their contention that "English rule ... brought roads, railways, industry, and education to India" (p. 96) completely ignores the richness of a great and sophisticated civilization that was the birthplace of some of the world's greatest religions, that gave the world the mathematical concept zero, that had a sophisticated infrastructure already in place (such as the Grand Trunk Road), traded extensively around the world, had a flourishing industry of handicrafts (which were part of the reason the British were originally attracted to India), and so on long before the arrival of the British. The arrogance of such a statement takes my breath away.
Finally, the author's blanket condemnation of the "devadasi" or temple dancer tradition in South India is ignorant and misguided. From the Columbia University website:
"The tradition of the ... devadasi in the temples of India, was one of dancer and sexual initiator. It is a tradition found in relatively recent times throughout the East, traditions as old as those in Ancient Greece and Egypt. The Devadasi was often trained in the art of dance from childhood and she would be officially married to the Temple God at the onset of puberty. The dance form was equally erotic and spiritual which is difficult for the western mind to comprehend. .... The Devadasis were not slaves as they are often portrayed but women of high social status, with accomplishment in all of the arts. However because the Western mind could only comprehend the woman as being married or celibate, the devadasi was seen as a prostitute by the British authorities."
Except that they were not celibate, this is not so different from the position of Christians nuns who are also "married" to the God they serve. Historically, parents in Europe who could not afford to marry off or maintain their daughters also brought them to the church to dedicate their lives to God -- often against their daughter's wishes. I applaud Amy Carmichael for assisting those girls who did not want to become devadasis. But undoubtedly they were many who enjoyed their work and were honored to serve God. Carmichael, who was very much a product of her times and culture could not be expected to understand that. The authors however have a responsibility to be more evenhanded.
Amy Carmichael.......2001-01-30
Amy Carmichael had a huge heart for God, and a huge heart for God's calling for her. She cared for many children and rescued them from a horrible life of being destined to temple prostitution. She made a huge impact on all of the children she raised, and showed them the wonderful love of Jesus. She's also a great example of a woman that wasn't bothered to serve God as a single woman. This book tells about the many ways God used her to reach people who desperately needed to know the freedom of Christ.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome Resource.......2005-12-21
This booklet was great. I taught a small refresher course in CPR/PR and used it. The information is presented in a very easy to understand format and the review questions at the end of the chapters are wonderful.
CPR for Professional Rescuers.......2000-04-27
I belong to Company 15, New Market Firefighters. This book is used in training for all of our members. I am an EMT in training and this book is very handy for myself and anyone interested in the well being of people around them.
Amazon.com
In the world of competitive off-shore sailing, Christmas Day is thought of as Boxing Day Eve--that is, the eve of the annual Sydney-to-Hobart Race. One of the world's three major offshore races (along with the Fastnet out of England and America's Newport Race to Bermuda), the 630-mile course from Sydney, Australia, to Hobart, Tasmania, is a test of skills, guts, and endurance in notoriously unpredictable, fickle waters--and in any weather.
On Boxing Day, 1998, the 115 boats jockeying at the starting line off Sydney's Nielsen Park Beach had been warned that low-pressure weather systems were conspiring to guarantee a wild and chancy race. Yet few sailors anticipated the ferocity of the storm that descended around two o'clock the next morning, whipping up gale-force winds and waves tall enough to send 25-ton yachts "spearing into midair," then "plunging down into the trough ... like repeatedly launching a truck off a 30-foot ramp and awaiting the crash." The race quickly devolved into the worst sailing disaster in recent memory. Seven crews abandoned their boats. Over 50 sailors were rescued under near-impossible circumstances. Seven died, and five boats sank. Journalist Rob Mundle follows the dramatic struggles in Fatal Storm, skillfully re-creating from firsthand accounts the stories of bravery, luck, and folly that left a handful of sailors convinced they'd never go near the Hobart again. Yet as one veteran yachtsman lived to point out, "It's something you just have to do.... You can't be under the illusion at any time that it is safe." --Svenja Soldovieri
Book Description
"Harrowing shoreside reading."Booklist
"Should be required reading for all ocean sailors."Library Journal
The first book to recount the disastrous events of the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, Fatal Storm is sure to be a popular paperback selection. Rob Mundle takes readers through every white-knuckling hour of the gale that descended in the predawn hours of December 27, stretching over 900 miles from Australia to New Zealand, bringing with it hurricane strength winds and five-story waves. In all, 57 sailors were rescued, plucked from the decks of broken boats or from the sea itself under impossible conditions. Six sailors died.
A Sydney-Hobart Race veteran himself, Rob Mundle had total and unequaled access to the people behind the story. The result is a tale of extreme adventure, extraordinary will, and the overwhelming emotional tales of survivors, rescuers, and the bereaved.
Customer Reviews:
The Imperfect Storm.......2006-07-25
The Southern Ocean---that landless sweep of sea that girds the lower third of our planet and isolates Antarctica---is notorious for its evil weather. Huge rollers, unchecked by any landmass, roil around the circumference of the Earth, making this area one of the most daunting, hazardous and challenging for any mariner.
Once yearly on Boxing Day, the 630-mile Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race crosses a small portion of the Southern Ocean. One of the three great sport sailing events (along with the Fastnet and the Newport-to-Bermuda) the Sydney-to-Hobart has always had its fickle aspect, but never more so than 1998 when the entire regatta found itself trapped in an unforecasted cyclonic "bomb"---a small and unseasonable but virulent hurricane that produced 80 knot winds and steep hundred foot waves in the relatively narrow Bass Strait.
Although only six sailors died, most of the fleet was battered into kindling by the waves, tall as buildings, heavier, and with much more velocity. Author Rob Mundle, an experienced distance ocean sailor, does a fine job of reportage as he tracks and traces the fates of the various participants, including the Sea-Rescue parajumpers who leapt into the darkness of the angry ocean to save the hapless crews of the shattered boats.
FATAL STORM is well written and avoids becoming bogged down in too much nautical technospeak making it a good adventure story for the armchair enthusiast. The one drawback of FATAL STORM is that Mundle assumes the reader's relative familiarity with the meteorology, landforms, and idiosyncrasies of Australia's natural environment. For those of us not "Down Under" this makes FATAL STORM slightly more difficult to decode than it needs to be.
Worth a read.......2006-07-05
This is such a riveting story that it would be hard to write a bad book about it. Mundle is a fine writer, and the book is easy to read and a real page turner.
As a story teller though, he could use some improvement. For example, one of the yachts is capsized by a giant wave and a man thrown overboard. What happens to him? Will he drown in the stormy waters of Bass Straight? Or is he rescued? We turn the page to find... a quote from the man in question describing what was going through his head as he fell from the yacht. So he lives! Full marks for thorough research, zero for sustaining the tension of the story.
Another caveat for non boating readers. Mundle makes no attempt to explain any of the yachting jargon used throughout the book, so if you are a non boating person like myself, I would recommend reading with a copy of Wikipedia or the full Oxford dictionary by your side so you can understand terms like storm sail, jib, cockpit and many others that are used throughout the book. This will enhance your enjoyment of the book no end.
All in all a great read.
Inspiring and frightning.......2005-09-29
Rob Mundle is journalist and it shows. But behind the bonhomie and parochialism of the yachting scene insider there's an immediacy to this narrative, a rawness to the action and a fire in these heroics that combine to make Fatal Storm an inspiring read. There's something wild about this story, something that makes it different to Fastnet Force 10. There are moments in Fatal Storm when the sailors reading it will be afraid.
Great Read for a long airline flight.......2002-04-05
I finished this book on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles...with one disaster after another occurring in this massive storm, the writer keeps the reader actively turning pages throughout the book. You would not believe the bravery of everyone involved, from the actual racing teams to the rescue teams, not one person was left unphased by this experience.
I am not an active sailor now, but with some experience in racing with a crew on sailboats, I found the account of this true story gripping.
Certainly, a fun book to read, even if you are not into sailing. It may even convince you to never go open ocean sailing!
Interesting.......2001-06-09
A pretty good read. The story jumped around a bit, but you can keep up with it. The map toward the start was a big help in locating where the accidents happened. The pictures could have used a little more explaining.
Book Description
"You can't let people be treated in an inhuman way around you. . . . Otherwise you start to become inhuman."
So speaks rescuer Hetty Voûte in The Heart Has Reasons, a remarkable book that provides both a fresh look at the "righteous gentiles," and a meditation on what they might have to teach us more than half a century after they defied Hitler.
In 1996, Mark Klempner sought out some of the last surviving Dutch rescuers of Jewish children to better understand how and why they made their courageous choices. Inspired by their willingness to risk everything to help others during the war, the author became deeply interested in what the rescuers have done with their lives since, and where their moral compasses point today.
What emerges is both a window to the past and a vision for the future. If the rescuers could remain committed to making a difference while under the boot of the Nazi regime, we surely have something to learn from them about taking a stand against injustices, about maintaining an open heart, and about not giving in or giving up. Framed by Klempner's quest for meaning, their words resonate across generations, providing insightful guidance as to how people of conscience can navigate ethically in an increasingly complex world.
From the Foreward:
"I have spent much of my professional career trying to put a human face on the ordinary men who committed asks of unspeakable evil. Like no other work I have read, The Heart Has Reasons puts a human face on those who committed acts of inestimable goodness."—Christopher R. Browning.
Customer Reviews:
The heart of the matter.......2007-04-29
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.
Hope and Lessons for Living.......2007-03-30
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.
inspiring.......2006-12-06
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.
Vividly recounts deeply terrifying efforts of ten gallantly individual experiences.......2006-07-10
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.
Acting from Your Heart.......2006-06-20
WOW! After reading the last word of, "The Heart has Reasons," I slowly closed the book, gazed searchingly at the cover, and clutched it to my chest. In that moment, I was hoping to burn into my being the founts of wisdom, courage, sacrifice, compassion, and tenacity that were exhibited by the Holocaust Dutch rescuers.
It was refreshing to read about everyday unselfish people who "chose" to act from their heart. It brings hope to mankind to realize that such depths of sacrifice existed in that dark time of history and even today, with God's help, may we also "act from the heart" as the need arises.
Mark Klempner does a great job of refocusing what is truly important in our fast-paced everyday living. I think anybody who reads this book will come away grateful for life and grateful to be shown what true living is really about.
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