Living among the Dead: My Grandmother's Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength

Written by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky

Narrated by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky, Sarah Anne Astrowsky, Gabriella Grace Astrowsky and Zachary William Astrowsky

This is the story of one remarkable young woman's unimaginable journey through the rise of the Nazi regime, the Second World War, and the aftermath. Mania Lichtenstein’s dramatic story of survival is narrated by her granddaughter and her memories are interwoven with beautiful passages of poetry and personal reflection. Holocaust survivor Mania Lichtenstein used writing as a medium to deal with the traumatic effects of the war.

Many Jews did not die in concentration camps, but were murdered in their lifelong communities, slaughtered by mass killing units, and then buried in pits. As a young girl, Mania witnessed the horrors while doing everything within her power to subsist. She lived in Włodzimierz, north of Lvov (Ukraine), was interned for three years in the labor camp nearby, managed to escape and hid in the forests until the end of the war.

Although she was the sole survivor of her family, Mania went on to rebuild a new life in the United States, with a new language and new customs, always carrying with her the losses of her family and her memories.

More than 75 years after liberation, we are still witnessing acts of cruelty born out of hatred and discrimination. Living among the Dead reminds us of the beautiful communities that existed before WWII, the lives lost and those that lived on, and the importance to never forget these stories so that history does not repeat itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
• Release date: Apr 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9789493231450

Adena Bernstein Astrowsky

Adena Astrowsky ha dedicado su carrera profesional a ayudar a los más vulnerables de nuestra sociedad haciendo de fiscal en casos de abuso sexual infantil y de violencia de género en la fiscalía del condado de Maricopa. Se ha convertido en la experta del condado cuanto a la acusación de los casos de estrangulación relacionados con violencia doméstica y ha enseñado mucho sobre este tema. Adena fue profesora en la Escuela Dominical de su templo durante ocho años y los últimos dos hizo coenseñanza de desarrollo del carácter a través de los estudios del Holocausto. Una vez al mes, Adena hace de voluntaria en la biblioteca local de Scottsdale con su perro de terapia, Charlie, como parte del programa Tail Waggin' Tales (cuentos que hacen mover la cola). Adena también ha organizado eventos para recaudar dinero para el Emily Center del hospital infantil de Phoenix. Recientemente, han reconocido el trabajo profesional y filantrópico de Adena con el Amazing Woman Award (premio Mujer Asombrosa) de los Phoenix Suns y el banco nacional de Arizona. El mayor papel de Adena, sin embargo, es como madre de tres niños muy activos. Ella y su marido, Brad, están muy ocupados con sus respectivas actividades de baile, teatro, música y atletismo.

Reviews for Living among the Dead

[Sarah Peachey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent record of something that really happened. A sad story but I admit the dear woman who was willing to walk through the pain to do it.