ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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As a child, I would lie in bed at night, recite the Shema, and reflect on how fortunate I was to be alive. My grandmother was one of four siblings who left Poland in the 1920s to come to America. Sadly, all the rest of her family was murdered in the Holocaust. Keenly aware of the thin line between life and death, I wondered about relatives whose names were whispered in a painful hush; their stories elusive and shrouded in mystery.  

 

My husband, Paul, on the other hand, heard many terrifying tales about his parents during the Holocaust. But years after their deaths, the discovery of a family secret thrust him into a state of confusion.  Who was the father he thought he knew? 

 

The Shoemaker of Treblinka has been a labor of love, discovery, and connection. As Samuel and Sabina came alive on the page, the responsibility to portray them honestly and honorably— respecting what they revealed and what they concealed—tested us to the limit.   

 

Our collaboration and combined resources allowed Paul and me to dig deep, set aside doubts, and trust our instincts. From my many careers — as an artist, educator, entrepreneur, consultant, and in sacred service as an ordained Cantor, I channeled my creative passions into writing this book, while Paul’s lifelong career in marketing, his originality, and knack for problem-solving helped steer the story through various conundrums. Drawing on cherished memories, his parents’ written and spoken testimonies, careful research, and trusted intuition, these threads came together to create a heartfelt story that resonates with universal themes.

 

We share with you the inspiring story of Samuel and Sabina’s miraculous survival – two  remarkable individuals whose lessons and legacies were lovingly entrusted to us. As Paul embarks on his search for meaning, we hope their story touches your heart as it has touched ours.