La promesa de Gestruda

Michael Stolowitzky, the only son of a wealthy Jewish family in Poland, is only three years old when the war breaks out and his family loses everything. His father, desperate to save his business, travels to France, leaving his son in the hands of his mother and Gertruda Babilinska, a Catholic nanny who works with the family. When Michael’s mother suffers a stroke, Gertruda promises the dying woman that she will bring Michael to Palestine and raise him as her own son. Written with the invaluable assistance of Michael Stolowitzky himself, La promesa de Gertruda re-creates the extraordinary trip that Michael and Gertruda took to survive. Gripping vignettes bring to life the people who help ensure their survival, including SS Officer Karl Rink who makes it his life’s mission to save Jews after his own Jewish wife is murdered, and Dr. Berman, a Jewish physician who aids Michael and Gertruda during their worst times. A story of courage and moral strength, La promesa de Gertruda transcends history and religion to reveal the compassion and hope that miraculously thrives through a war with no apparent ending.

Ram Oren is a former lawyer and journalist, as well as the founder of the Keshet publishing company and an author. He has written more than 16 runaway bestsellers.