ReadingGrrls Paper Safari

Release Date:  September 4, 2018 Publisher:  Harper Publishing Format:  Paperback Pages: 288  pages Genre:   literature, jewish culture Buy:  Kindle  |  Paperback  |  Synopsis:  In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a  Tätowierer  (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name ...

Title:   The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal Publisher: Schocken 304 pages Genre: non-fiction Synopsis: While imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, Simon Wiesenthal was taken one day from his work detail to the bedside of a dying member of the SS. Haunted by the crimes in which he had participated, the soldier wanted to confess to--and obtain absolution from--a Jew. Faced with the choice between compassion and justice, silence and truth, Wiesenthal said nothing.But even years after the way had ended, he wondered: Had he done the right thing? What would you have done in his place? Review:  This is more like 2 books in one.  The first is the story and the second is responses from scholars, religious leaders, and country leaders on what they would do or what they believe.  Its a difficult question with no right answer. Since I've never been in that situation its hard to know what I would do, I probably would d...