Destined to Live - Hardcover

William Ungar; David Chanoff

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0761818065 ISBN 13: 9780761818069

Publisher: University Press of America, Lanham (MD), New York, 2000

Synopsis

William Ungar's biography Destined to Live is a perilous yet triumphant account of a young Polish soldier who suffered tremendous personal losses during the Holocaust. Despite losing several of his loved ones, Ungar did not succumb to anguish and despair. Ungar lost his entire family, including his wife and son, under the German occupation. His faith in Divine Providence sustained him until he could arrive in America on May 20, 1946. Here, he renewed his life, remarried and raised a happy family. Ungar is forever grateful to the United States for enabling him as a refugee, to fulfill his dreams and aspirations.

About this title

About the Author

William Ungar is one of the founders of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., as well as the Museum of Jewish Heritage of the City of New York.

Review

William Ungar lived through the horror of the modern Jewish persecution, saved by the kindness and courage of two righteous gentiles. Having been spared, he has spent the rest of his life sharing his good fortune with all around him and memorializing the horror of the Holocaust so that 'Never again!' will be a prophesy instead of a pathetic plea. (Mario M. Cuomo, Former New York Governor)

'Destined to Live' is a heartbreakingly beautiful survivor's story of life before, during, and after the Holocaust. Ungar did not go through the camps. Rather he fought as a Polish soldier, passed as a Gentile, hid under the Nazis' noses, escaped repeatedly and lived to tell this stunning account. This book is full of love, courage, hope, loss, and nostalgia. It is suffered with idealistic naiveté and life saving cunning and told with understatement, unflinching integrity and nobility of spirit. Despite its devastating report of death, cruelty, and betrayal it never loses its unique quality of sunniness and faith. In short, this book is a gem. (Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Chairman, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Why is William Ungar a hero? The reasons are as many as the growing number of anti-Semetic Holocaust deniers on the Internet who blame the slaughter of six million men, women, and children on a 'Jewish conspiracy.' 'Destined to Live'—Ungar's moving story of tragedy, survival, rebirth, and renewal—offers a compelling antidote to this poison, words of truth that will long outlive those of us who witnessed first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust. William Ungar is a hero not because he survived. He is ahero because he has so eloquently channeled the pain of his past into the consciousness of future generations. (Congressman Tom Lantos, United States House of Representatives)

William Ungar's sparse and focused testimony unfolds with the artfulness of fiction. A world gone mad shatters the bliss of newlyweds turned parents exactly one month after the German invasion of Russia. Told with all the immediacy of yesterday and themuted pathos of unforgotten longing. 'Wilo's' story is a tribute to the resilience and resourcefulness, courage and will that sustained him in the darkest of days. (Dr. Isnar Schorsch, Chancellor, The Jewish Theological Seminary)

William Ungar's memoir, 'Destined to Live,' is an understated story of courage, will, ingenuity and character which enabled him to survive the Holocaust and cope with the tragic loss of his wife and son. It is a record of his background, anti-Semitism,and also of the help he received from Non-Jews. 'Destined to Live' is a fascinating story of a remarkable man. It hints at the way he rebuilt his family life, achieved great business success in America, and developed his role as a community leader. (Rabbi Mordecai Waxman, Temple Israel of Great Neck)

A moving memoir, William Ungar's words are not simply a life story, but a powerful life lesson. You will not soon forget the woman he loved, the son he lost, the kindness of a few, the cowardice of many, and Ungar's own fierce struggle to survive. A compelling testimony to the meaning of the life of one man. (Lyric Wallwork Winik, Contributing Editor Parade Magazine)

William Ungar lived through the horror of the modern Jewish persecution, saved by the kindness and courage of two righteous gentiles. Having been spared, he has spent the rest of his life sharing his good fortune with all around him and memorializing the horror of the Holocaust so that 'Never again!' will be a prophesy instead of a pathetic plea. (Mario M. Cuomo, Former New York Governor)

'Destined to Live' is a heartbreakingly beautiful survivor's story of life before, during, and after the Holocaust. Ungar did not go through the camps. Rather he fought as a Polish soldier, passed as a Gentile, hid under the Nazis' noses, escaped repeatedly and lived to tell this stunning account. This book is full of love, courage, hope, loss, and nostalgia. It is suffered with idealistic naiveté and life saving cunning and told with understatement, unflinching integrity and nobility of spirit. Despite its devastating report of death, cruelty, and betrayal it never loses its unique quality of sunniness and faith. In short, this book is a gem. (Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Chairman, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Why is William Ungar a hero? The reasons are as many as the growing number of anti-Semetic Holocaust deniers on the Internet who blame the slaughter of six million men, women, and children on a 'Jewish conspiracy.' 'Destined to Live'—Ungar's moving story of tragedy, survival, rebirth, and renewal—offers a compelling antidote to this poison, words of truth that will long outlive those of us who witnessed first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust. William Ungar is a hero not because he survived. He is a hero because he has so eloquently channeled the pain of his past into the consciousness of future generations. (Congressman Tom Lantos, United States House of Representatives)

William Ungar's sparse and focused testimony unfolds with the artfulness of fiction. A world gone mad shatters the bliss of newlyweds turned parents exactly one month after the German invasion of Russia. Told with all the immediacy of yesterday and the muted pathos of unforgotten longing. 'Wilo's' story is a tribute to the resilience and resourcefulness, courage and will that sustained him in the darkest of days. (Dr. Isnar Schorsch, Chancellor, The Jewish Theological Seminary)

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of America, Lanham (MD), New York
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0761818065
• ISBN 13: 9780761818069
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 362