Hide and Seek: A Wartime Childhood

ISBN: 082633198X

Author: Cahn-Tober, Theresa

Condition: Used

In 1939, Irenka Licht had just turned three when Germany invaded Poland. Her father, a respected local physician, tapped into a large network of friends who were willing to hide and protect his Jewish family. Irenka was sent to live separate from her family and spent six years hiding in cellars, attics, and a convent. She continually assumed false identities and was allowed to visit her family only occasionally-and under a heavy cloak of secrecy.In 1946, when Irenka entered the United States, her name was changed to "Theresa." This is her memoir of those years. She recognizes, and pays tribute to, those who made sacrifices and ignored the danger of helping her and her family during those terror-filled years, especially Marysia Niemiec, who went to extreme lengths to assist young Irenka."I was profoundly touched by this incredible story. Not only does it depict the horrors of the Holocaust and its impact on a child, but it is also a beautiful and hopeful reflection on the survival of the human spirit."--Rabbi Leon A. Morris, Director, Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning, Temple Emanu-El, New York"Any child, young or old, whom life has pushed about, and especially those who have had to endure the unendurable, will identify with this story."--Guy Carter, Theology Department, St Peter's College, New Jersey"Gripping. . . . Her portrait of her rescuer, a totally selfless woman, is unforgettable."--Eva Fogelman, author of Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust