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Almost ninety children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors from sixteen countries explore how their parents' and grandparents' experiences of the Shoah helped shape their identity and their attitudes toward God, faith, Judaism, the Jewish people and the world. Their reflections will inform and inspire people of all faiths and backgrounds.
The continuing effect of the Holocaust has been the subject of much study. This volume gives voice to a broad range of children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who describe the ways this legacy continues to impact their worldview and their work in the world. These are heart-felt and moving testimonies.
The editor imposes order but not an orthodoxy to these responses. The four themes under which these responses are collected are guideposts that help the reader understand the variety of responses. If there is one common theme, it is that these are individuals who have used their legacy to move positively into the world.
This is not the first such anthology, nor will it be the last. It is a reminder that the horrors of 70-plus years ago continue to reverberate in our world. It should also be a reminder that the other atrocities that have shaken the world in the last century continue to shape the lives of millions, and would that we had a way to hear their testimony as well.
These reflections are enlightening and engaging. I would recommend them more as the stuff for occasional contemplation than for a straight read through the book. -- Rabbi Louis A. Rieser