APRIL 2018ByJ. Goldmanon April 17, 2018This was an amazing book. I read it non-stop from start to finish. This was last year, but I find myself still thinking about it, and that's rare for me, so I figured it was worth my writing this review.
It's a very personal story, but it's also as universal as could be. To me, the book is about how a horrible history, which seems so long-ago, not only permanently warped a young man but continued to cause acute pain to the man's descendants, 60 and 70 years later. Reading about how the author figured everything out was absolutely fascinating. It was also inspiring. This is a story about history, family, being a detective in your own life, and the necessity and challenges of forgiveness.
March 15, 2016 Rev. David J. Wood Senior Minister at the Glencoe Union Church Karen is an outstanding speaker. She communicates her story clearly and with great compassion. She doesn’t just talk about forgiveness—she shows us what it means in real life.Her story reminds us of why forgiveness is not just an ideal why it is essential to the reality of our lives and to knowing the fullness of life as God intended it to be.She reminds us that forgiveness is costly—and why choosing not to forgive is even more costly. Again, thanks for being with us.Peace,Rev. David J. WoodSenior Minister at the Glencoe Union Church
.....I was moved by your experiences and your message... I too am a child of survivors and a teacher at the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. - Sandy R. 7-12-16
FEBRUARY 2015 Rabbi Len Zukrow
While Karen Kaplan writes very personally of her journey – growing up as the child of a survivor, suffering from her father’s ill will toward her and the terror of a robbery she brings us to forgiveness – the most challenging of human behaviors and emotions. She brings us her story that ultimately becomes our story as we share through her forthright openness her lesson that forgiveness does have the power to overcome tragedy and heartbreak. Her presentation to our community was moving and powerful. A moment of transformation that all of us will long remember as we consider her story when we are called upon to forgive, repent, repair and move forward toward a life of purpose and meaning with kindness and generosity of spirit.
Rabbi Len Zukrow, Temple Beth El of Munster Indiana
July 2, 2016
What a beautiful book you have written. Thank you for sharing your life and experiences. The relaxed, conversational prose pulled me right in. I felt as though I had met you and your family members because of the generous way you shared your stories. Although I was raised Catholic ( no longer a member) I have never been able to fathom forgiveness. You have given me the determination to delve into this complex subject. Thank you and bless you!
Judith E. S.
JANUARY 2015 Rotary Member of Highland Park I just finished reading DESCENDANTS OF RAJGROD last night and I was moved as well as inspired by the message.... your story and your viewpoint are making me evaluate my own perspective and approach. I come from a passionate Italian-American family with its own tendency to catalog and retain “transgressions”. Coupled with being raised Catholic, through which we were always reminded that we were unworthy of those whose saintly suffering came before us, there’s a tendency to feel guilty or naïve about letting go of the past.
I cannot even begin to comprehend the brutality and hopelessness of your father’s childhood experiences. I can appreciate how the circumstances created the man and I find his story inspiring yet tragic.
I can fathom how difficult it must have been for you to grow up amid the challenges related by the examples in your book. That said, I apologize for appearing presumptuous enough to draw any parallels to my comparatively charmed upbringing. Your message of forgiveness resonates with me. Genuine forgiveness is about letting go of everything....and opening up my possibilities of greater things for my future.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and for writing the book. I wish you nothing but peace and joy in your life. I am sharing your book with my family and I want to thank you for inspiring me to go further and purer in my own personal and professional life.
Warmest regards,
Rotary Member of Highland Park
MAY 2016 I Highly Recommend "Descendants of Rajgrod!"
I read quite a bit of history and I don't usually read memoirs. But I am so glad I read this... you wrote it from the heart, it was hard hitting and very honest. Forgiveness is one of the toughest subjects for people to deal with, because of the personal damage that the hurt that was inflicted leaves in its wake! We as humans know how to treat a wound on our body, first thing we learn is don't pick at it and we don't and it heals. The wound to our psyche we love to pick at because we don't want to the wound to heal. We have been wronged, our pride is at stake, we have been lied about and in most cases we don't want to forgive... Only the weak forgive, when in truth only the truly strong forgive and move on...... As a Priest friend said to me one time; Priests, Ministers and Rabbis spend more time helping people deal with their emotional problems then psychiatrists do, and it's cheaper! "LOL" ......... For those of you who have not read this book, "Descendants of Rajgrod" all I have to say is that this is a special kind of book, of a journey down the road to forgiveness. Highly recommend it! - Robert Snow
August 2015 Ross Rosenberg, Author and Best Seller of The Human Magnet Syndrome Her journey of healing, reconciliation and forgiveness is moving testament of the human condition that distinctly reminds me of Victor Frankl's book "Man's Search for Meaning" and Elie Wiesel's "Night." Her triumph over overwhelming and seemingly impossible obstacles will inspire anyone who has been hurt by unspeakable trauma and wishes to make sense of it while healing from it. Because of her book I was able to forgive me own father and better understand my Jewish roots. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
This book with the help of my therapist helped me overcome the anger, resentment and hostility I had been holding onto my whole life. I would by lying if i said it "cured me" of it all, but the struggle I have with my darker feelings are more clear, specific, and not that of a hurt child (I had been carrying around).
I cannot recommend it more highly. More about Karen and her book: Descendants of Rajgrod:
Ross Rosenberg, Author and Best Seller of The Human Magnet Syndrome
April 2015 A review from GreeceDear karen,what you went through was not just a transformation. To me, it looks like a trip to hell. ........... Thank God you are back, alive and well. And thanks for sharing.The book is not a simple memoir, in an era where pseudo-memoirs are in abudance. Your book is what I call in greek "katathesi phychis" or "soul submission" according to Google translation, though another exprssion such as "bare of soul" maybe more appropriate..........Txxxx"Those who do not forgive are those who are least capable of changing the circumstances of their lives".
July 24, 2016
Lorna Cameron Tough .......I had always believed, Karen, that our bodies carried "our" trauma and I discussed with my therapist last week what you said in your interview and how I wondered whether I carried my father's ptsd. She was in agreement with you. Wake up calls galore for me so I am grateful to you for your validation of your own wounds. Namaste xx