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The author, a first generation Jewish-American, seeks out some of the last surviving rescuers of Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Holland to produce this collective portrait of ten heroic individuals.
mep7: In this book, the people who tried to rescue children like Anne Frank tell their stories, in their own words. Klempner explains in the book that he actually interviewed Miep Gies, but in this book he focuses on 10 unsung heroes whose stories are just as unforgettable.… (more)
THE best book i've yet to read regarding the Holocaust and the Netherlands. Heart-touchingly real life folks who used their hearts and stepped up immediately to help the children in need. The 'bright sparks' during a black time in history, who gave of themselves and their own families to aid those whose lives were in jeopardy. FASCINATING. ( and i do not use that word lightly ) ( )
In 2012 this came out in an updated paperback edition with a slightly different title: The Heart Has Reasons: Dutch Rescuers of Jewish Children during the Holocaust. The ISBN for the new edition is 0988567407. The new edition is also in ebook format. ( )
This is an understated book reporting the stories of several rescuers of Jewish persons during the German occupation of the Netherlands during WW2. The author conducted intelligent and beautiful interviews with members of the resistance, rescue organizations, and those who housed and hid Jews who went underground. It is remarkable how lovely these people are in their photos then and now, and in their sensitive understanding of the nuances of the whole situation during the war and up to the present day. The light of sainthood shines from them. They each examined right and wrong and decided affirmatively for the Right. And their whole lives reflect that. I am honored to know them even just a little. ( )
"The heart has reasons that reason knows not of." —Blaise Pascal
Dedication
For James R. McConkey
First words
This book is about ten Dutch men and women who helped save the lives of thousands of Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of their country.
Quotations
Joseph Campbell's exhortation "follow your bliss" sounded good, but what could constitute bliss? It wasn't until I met Gisela and Hetty that I realized it might mean a state of contentment and self-respect that has nothing to do with outer circumstances - a sense of satisfaction at having done the right thing. at having stood up for what one believes, at enjoying a good reputation with the people who matter most, especially oneself.
William James may have described it best when he wrote about "those invisible, molecular moral forces that work from individual to individual." The love that permeated my time with the rescuers made it clear to me that the path they have taken is far superior...the rescuers are rich in 'chesed,' a Hebrew word meaning lovingkindness. That quality of 'chesed,' so tangible in their presence, convinced me that this is what life is all about.
"Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their carvings." ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Last words
My wife and I had a son in June 2005, and Kees Veenstra called to offer his benediction: "I hope he grows up to be one of those people who who bring some light into this troubled world." That, of course, is as good a description of the rescuers as any I could come up with. Although the historical context in which they made their courageous choices is increasingly distant, their witness continues to shine. /against the seemingly limitless void of the Holocaust, the rescuers have revealed to us nothing less than the ultimate power of the individual, when surrounded by hate and fear, to act with love and compassion.
The author, a first generation Jewish-American, seeks out some of the last surviving rescuers of Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of Holland to produce this collective portrait of ten heroic individuals.
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Book description
A moving oral history that profiles ten people in Holland who rescued Jewish children during the Holocaust.
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FASCINATING. ( and i do not use that word lightly ) (