Small Miracles of the Holocaust

Book excerpt: The Holocaust--perhaps the darkest period in human history--conjures up horrific images: death camps, torture, starvation, genocide on a grand scale. For survivors, the end of World War II and liberation all too often meant being alone, bereft of every last family member, frail in body and spirit. The thought of rebuilding life was daunting. Yet there were some rays of light during this nightmarish time: inexplicable events in which human lives were spared, families were brought back together, and the human spirit and faith somehow endured--because of a chance occurrence at just the right moment. These uplifting twists of fate or "extraordinary coincidences," as they are known, have become the hallmark of the best-selling Small Miracles series, which has sold more than two million copies. In "Small Miracles of the Holocaust"--a magnificent work that appears on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht ("night of the broken glass")--authors Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal have collected over fifty remarkable Holocaust and post-Holocaust coincidences that defy the imagination and challenge credulity. From remarkable reunions and timeless love stories to amazing survival tales and new twists on heroic acts--ranging from Oskar Schindler to Chiune Sugihara--this book will become a staple in Holocaust literature and a cherished keepsake. A beautiful tapestry of stories both magical and revelatory, no matter what one's persuasion or beliefs, Small Miracles of the Holocaust opens our eyes to the gifts and blessings that surround us all the time--even in the worst of times.