Small Miracles Of The Holocaust

The Holocaust--perhaps the darkest period in human history--conjures up horrific images: death camps, torture, starvation, genocide on a grand scale. For survivors, the end of World War II and liberation all too often meant being alone, bereft of every last family member, frail in body and spirit. The thought of rebuilding life was daunting. Yet there were some rays of light during this nightmarish time: inexplicable events in which human lives were spared, families were brought back together, and the human spirit and faith somehow endured--because of a chance occurrence at just the right moment. These uplifting twists of fate or "extraordinary coincidences," as they are known, have become the hallmark of the best-selling Small Miracles series, which has sold more than two million copies. In "Small Miracles of the Holocaust"--a magnificent work that appears on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht ("night of the broken glass")--authors Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal have collected over fifty remarkable Holocaust and post-Holocaust coincidences that defy the imagination and challenge credulity. From remarkable reunions and timeless love stories to amazing survival tales and new twists on heroic acts--ranging from Oskar Schindler to Chiune Sugihara--this book will become a staple in Holocaust literature and a cherished keepsake. A beautiful tapestry of stories both magical and revelatory, no matter what one's persuasion or beliefs, Small Miracles of the Holocaust opens our eyes to the gifts and blessings that surround us all the time--even in the worst of times.

Charles Middleberg and his family are Polish Jews, living in France during World War II. After the German invasion in May 1940, Charles's father is taken away. Soon after, his mother is taken as well, and for the next five years, Charles and his brother will have their lives saved - again and again - by a series of small miracles.

NOW IN PAPERBACK—FROM THE SERIES THAT HAS SOLD MORE THAN 2 MILLION COPIES * AWE-INSPIRING, TRUE STORIES FROM THE WORST OF TIMES From the authors of the best-selling Small Miracles series comes this collection of more than fifty true, inspirational stories that are unique in the pantheon of Holocaust literature. Heartfelt, touching, and rich with bittersweet irony,Small Miracles of the Holocaustrecounts love stories, remarkable reunions, and narrow escapes—each ending with the uplifting twist that has become the trademark of the beloved series. And they reaffirm that nothing truly happens by accident . . . * “Love Among the Ruins”—a love story about a girl who saved a dying man during the Holocaust * “An Oscar for Oskar”—the coincidence that brought Oskar Schindler’s story to the attention of Thomas Keneally and Steven Spielberg * And more A beautiful tapestry of stories both magical and revelatory, no matter what one’s persuasion or beliefs,Small Miracles of the Holocaustopens our eyes to the gifts and blessings that surround us all the time—even in the worst of times. “Out of the darkest period of Jewish history comes an uplifting and inspiring book that shows that hope is always warranted.”—Jewish Women Magazine “[This] book remains an uplifting reminder that even in the bleakest times, we are never alone in the dark.”—Star-Ledger

From the New York Times bestselling authors of Small Miracles, a collection of true stories evidencing the miraculous in the everyday lives of ordinary women. Each and every woman is special and unique, yet as women we all share a common bond through our collective experiences of loving and learning. And sometimes fate steps in to miraculously change the lives of women in unforgettable ways, affecting them as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, lovers, and friends. Could they be messages from a higher power? Whether these miracles come during times of difficulty or celebration, they represent extraordinary opportunities to explore the wonders life has to offer. One of the most popular books in the Small Miracles series, this beautifully repackaged and expanded volume collects 50 inspirational, unforgettable, and even divine stories of coincidence experienced by women from all walks of life.

From the New York Times–bestselling authors of Small Miracles, a collection of real stories evidencing our connection to loved ones who have passed on. This uplifting addition to a bestselling series will provide insight and solace to readers through inspiring true stories that demonstrate the soul's immortality. In their eighth compilation, Halberstam and Leventhal move beyond their earlier focus on our mortal world to examine the other side: death and the afterlife. Rich in miracles and extraordinary events, these incredible tales show how the connections forged with our loved ones exist through eternity—and how their intercession with us on earth continues long after they have passed on.

New edition with foreword by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu: “How extraordinary that this humble suitcase has enabled children all over the world to learn through Hana’s story the terrible history of what happened and that it continues to urge them to heed the warnings of history.” In the spring of 2000, Fumiko Ishioka, the curator of a small Holocaust education centre for children in Tokyo, received a very special shipment for an exhibit she was planning. She had asked the curators at the Auschwitz museum if she could borrow some artifacts connected to the experience of children at the camp. Among the items she received was an empty suitcase. From the moment she saw it, Fumiko was captivated by the writing on the outside that identified its owner – Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Waisenkind (the German word for orphan). Children visiting the centre were full of questions. Who was Hana Brady? Where did she come from? What was she like? How did Hana become an orphan? What happened to her? Fueled by the children’s curiosity and her own need to know, Fumiko began a year of detective work, scouring the world for clues to the story of Hana Brady. Writer Karen Levine follows Fumiko in her search through history, from present-day Japan, Europe and North America back to 1938 Czechoslovakia and the young Hana Brady, a fun-loving child with a passion for ice skating. Together with Fumiko, we learn of Hana’s loving parents and older brother, George, and discover how the family’s happy life in a small town was turned upside down by the invasion of the Nazis. Based on an award-winning CBC documentary, Hana’s Suitcase takes the reader on an incredible journey full of mystery and memories, which come to life through the perspectives of Fumiko, Hana and later Hana’s brother, who now lives in Canada. Photographs and original wartime documents enhance this extraordinary story that bridges cultures, generations and time. Ideal for young readers aged 9 and up. Hana’s Suitcase is part of the award-winning Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers.

Collects miraculous stories of the Jewish faith, past and present, that recount reunions with lost family, escapes from death, and other true accounts of destiny.

A New York Times bestseller “Both moving and memorable, combining the emotional resolve of a memoir with the rhythm of a novel.” —New York Times Book Review In 1945, in a now-famous piece of World War II archival footage, four-year-old Michael Bornstein was filmed by Soviet soldiers as he was carried out of Auschwitz in his grandmother’s arms. Survivors Club tells the unforgettable story of how a father’s courageous wit, a mother’s fierce love, and one perfectly timed illness saved his life, and how others in his family from Zarki, Poland, dodged death at the hands of the Nazis time and again with incredible deftness. Working from his own recollections as well as extensive interviews with relatives and survivors who knew the family, Michael relates his inspirational Holocaust survival story with the help of his daughter, Debbie Bornstein Holinstat. Shocking, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting, this narrative nonfiction offers an indelible depiction of what happened to one Polish village in the wake of the German invasion in 1939. This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum. A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for Teens