July 11, 2016 The Cornelia Street Cafe with Karen Kaplan and Robin Hirsch
Interesting evening at Cornelia Street Cafe.....What brought my friend Renee and I to the Village was Karen Kaplan discussing her book about growing up in a family of Holocaust survivors & why forgiveness was crucial to "moving on and living a healthy, productive life.....And to the remnants of my extended family, who have risen from the ashes of the Holocaust, I say that I'm a work in progress & am ever hopeful that our current reality evolves. -S. Levin
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.
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
November 2015 FILM DIRECTOR review
Hi Karen,
We met (briefly) in Evanston when I showed my film in November. I finally got around to reading your book and I must admit, I wasn't looking forward to it (I've read a LOT of Holocaust era memoirs), but I found it completely compelling and engaging. Your father sounds "typical" in some ways for survivors, but rather extreme in certain colorful ways and your personal history of coming to terms with it all was very moving. And then after all that, the Epilogue … wow! A very moving book............
...........But on a more important level, your story was very moving and touching. Congratulations with it, and with getting it out there!I had just returned from a trip through Poland before I screens at the synagogue in Evanston, and ironically one of the screenings was in Bialystok, where I had never been before. I didn't know its history, how it had had a large Jewish population, and the recent book about it which painted a very intolerant image of the city, and which got a lot of press and attention in the country, In actuality it was, after 12 trips to Poland, one of the very first places I was at besides Warsaw and Krakow - there've been a few for brief trips, but my experience in Poland is deep, but narrow. I certainly found it fascinating on that level, but also what was, and what is.Also, I remember your saying you'd be going to Germany, I too am hoping to go there this spring, for a number of screenings. Looking forward!Once more thank you, and congratulations. Wish you well with it and do hope to stay in touch.All best,xxxxxx
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