Praise for

THE SHOEMAKER OF TREBLINKA

 

 

HOLOCAUST SCHOLARS

“The discovery of a memoir in his father’s long-shelved tallit bag is the beginning of Paul Goldstein’s journey to recover his past, half-revealed and half-concealed. He had seen his father as a victim, and discovered his father was a hero, a fighter in the death camp uprising at Treblinka on August 2nd 1943. The result is an informative, meticulously researched, and beautifully written, charming work as Sharon and Paul sort out his past lovingly and together. Paul sees himself in a new light and is now not only the son of survivors, but the bearer of their legacy. The Shoemaker of Treblinka is a work to be savored, bold and honest, courageous, and 

even humorous.

Survivors had long wondered, “Who will tell our story when we are no longer?” Sharon and Paul can truthfully answer, “We will,” and emphatically they do so with skill and sensitivity. With respect and reverence, yet with little melancholy, they offer us the unvarnished truth.”

—MICHAEL BERENBAUM, Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of Sigi Ziering Institute, American Jewish University; former Project Director of US Holocaust Memorial Museum 

 

“The Shoemaker of Treblinka is like putting together a puzzle—made up of memories, impressions, accounts found and heard, conversations, and readings. The story, which began with notes found after the author’s father’s death, takes us through a beautiful tale of sacrifice, courage, suffering, and love. It restores the memory of the author’s parents’ lives, but it is also a restoration of the world’s collective memory. It is a look into the past—attentive and tender. The author uncovers family secrets, stories never told, and interprets the silences he did not understand in his youth. He is aware that some questions will remain forever unanswered.

Telling a story from more than 80 years ago, interwoven with events from the entire history of the Goldstein family, allows us to truly get to know the people the book is about. As a result, the story also ceases to be merely an account of some victims of the Holocaust and some survivors, but becomes a story about people who feel close to us. It becomes part of the history of all of us.”

—EWA TELEZYŃSKA-SAWICKA and PAWEŁ SAWICKI, Memory of Treblinka Foundation

 

“Sharon Citrin Goldstein, along with her husband Paul, has written an excellent account of Samuel Goldstein, Paul’s father, who survived the infamous Treblinka death camp, with great care and attention to detail. Sharon does not hide from doubts about Samuel’s retelling the account of the Treblinka uprising on August 2, 1943, and the alleged murder of the camp commandant, which is to her credit. This is a must-read publication, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.”

—CHRIS WEBB, Co-author of The Treblinka Death Camp—History, Biographies, Remembrance; Founder of the Holocaust Historical Society

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HOLOCAUST ORGANIZATIONS

“From the first lines of this impeccably written manuscript until the very end, The Shoemaker of Treblinka was captivating; you could feel the raw emotions with every word. Survivor stories bring so much depth to help today’s students understand history, why it is important to learn about it, and what happens when hate goes unchecked. We must follow Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers, as stated in the book, “It is not up to you (us) to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” Keeping memories alive and sharing history are among the best ways to continue the work of repairing the world. Never Forget!” 

—LEIGH ROUTMAN, Executive Director of the Holocaust Learning Experience

 

 “When one speaks of a labor of love, one can imagine this deeply heartfelt memoir filled with raw emotion and profound dedication. As a child of survivors, this writing touches on so many issues that we all grapple with and have struggled with for decades. We live with regret for the questions that went unasked, and for the failure to recognize our parents’ daily struggle with what they felt that they could share, and wanted to share, and what was too painful to disclose. And yet, we will forever marvel at their heroism, their ability to survive, and the incredibly humane way in which they lived their lives after the Shoah. Their experiences, while incomprehensible, are a testament to triumph over evil. As their children, it is our duty to share their lives and continue to share their love and menschlichkeit with the world. This is a testament to our duty to remind the world what they endured, in the hope against hope that this will never happen again. The Shoemaker of Treblinka is truly a work of art.”

—ADELE JACOBS, President, CT Voices of Hope; Chairperson, Town of Fairfield Holocaust Commemoration Committee; former Chairperson, Statewide Holocaust Commemoration

 

“The Shoemaker of Treblinka is a deeply moving family memoir by Paul Goldstein and his wife, Sharon Citrin Goldstein, focused on the lives of Paul's parents before, during, and after the Shoah. This beautifully written book also describes the loving and determined efforts by Paul and Sharon to uncover the whole story of Paul's father's experiences, including the significant role he played in the little-known revolt in Treblinka.” 

—JOEL LEVY, Founding Chairman for The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and Founding Co-Director of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, Berlin; former Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League, NY; President and CEO Emeritus, Center for Jewish History, NY

 

“Embark on a journey through the diverse experiences and emotions of three generations with Samuel Goldstein, the father who participated in the Treblinka uprising, the son who discovered his father’s history and bravery, and the grandsons who felt his spirit absorbed into their souls. Paul Goldstein searches for the meaning of being the one chosen to experience these emotions as he deciphers and explores his father’s words.  

As a child survivor and a child of survivors, I feel Paul’s anguish to understand the mystery of adult memories. I can experience Paul’s childhood through his parents’ interviews and reminiscences. This book is as much about his heroic parents—especially his father, who contradicted the accusations that Jews went to slaughter as sheep. This is not true! They fought and made a stance, not only with bullets, but wherever they could.”

—ZELDA MARBELL FUKSMAN, Child Survivor; Executive Vice President of Survivors/Hidden Children of the Holocaust, Palm Beach County, Florida

 

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CLERGY 

“I have read many accounts of the Holocaust. The Shoemaker of Treblinka is unique and an important read for every human being. The book intertwines two stories: the wartime experience of Paul's parents and Paul's uncovering of the truth about what they endured. Sharon's writing is compelling, and I simply could not put the book down. The excitement, along with Paul's bewilderment upon discovering that his father was involved in the Treblinka Uprising moved me beyond words. I have made the pilgrimage to Treblinka many times. For decades, I have tried to learn everything I could about the Treblinka Uprising. And now I know so much more thanks to Paul's retelling of his father's story. The reality that his father was a true Jewish hero, a modern-day Maccabee, and the fact that he only discovered this after his passing is a story that will move anyone who reads it.

Please read this book. You will learn more about the Holocaust, and you will also learn more about the human struggle with memory and truth. Simply put, this is an amazing book for everyone.” 

—RABBI MICHAEL SCHUDRICH, Chief Rabbi of Poland

 

“Morality demands empathy. We owe the living, and we owe the dead; we owe the survivors, and we owe their descendants; we owe our progeny, and we owe the Source of Life and Conscience a commitment to remember the Shoah and reflect on its lessons. Candid and well-crafted, The Shoemaker of Treblinka is a valuable resource for this ongoing obligation. Both memoir and love story, it documents the systematic, cruel annihilation of individuals and communities and their aftermath amidst pain, loss, miraculous survival, commitment, and hope. Precisely at a time when many consciously endeavor to discount the Holocaust and vilify the Jewish people, this history’s recounting through the lens of one family educates and inspires.” 

—RABBI ERIC POLOKOFF, B’nai Israel of Southbury, CT

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EDUCATORS 

“This is the story of a son coming to terms with the extraordinary legacy of his parents—and, in doing so, discovering something universal about what it means to be human. Born from the remarkable life of a Holocaust survivor, Paul Goldstein’s journey is both deeply personal and profoundly relevant. Through memories, family stories, and reflections across generations, he explores the enduring questions of identity, belonging, responsibility, and love.

At its heart, this is more than a family memoir. It is a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable suffering, to the strength carried forward by survivors and their children, and to the choices each generation makes about remembrance and renewal. It is a story about honoring the past without being imprisoned by it; about carrying forward the values of respect, compassion, courage, and human dignity.

As Paul wrestles with the inheritance of history, he discovers that his parents’ story is not theirs alone. It is our story—the story of loss and hope, of wounds and healing, of the enduring power of love to outlast hatred. A moving and deeply human account, The Shoemaker of Treblinka reminds us that so long as we live, those who came before us live within us, and that memory itself can be an act of resilience, responsibility, and grace.”

—MORT SHERMAN, former Senior Associate Executive Director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association; Co-author of Resonant Minds: The Transformative Power of Music, One Note at a Time 

 

“The Shoemaker of Treblinka is a spellbinding story of survival and heroism. An astonishing discovery led Paul Goldstein to see his father, Samuel, a Holocaust survivor born in Kozienice, Poland, in a radically new light. Drawing on 90 pages of handwritten testimony by his father, a lengthy interview of and published essays by his mother, Sabina, who was also a Holocaust survivor, historical research, and stories by family, Kozienice survivors, and second-generation Kozienice descendants, Goldstein and his wife, Sharon Citrin Goldstein, have written an extremely moving and eye-opening book. As they began to dig deeper into Samuel’s past, Paul’s youthful disinterest in his father’s stories gave way to a hunger for learning more about his parents’ past. What he learned takes us as readers on an unforgettable journey from pre-war Kozienice and Warsaw, to harrowing tales of deportation to forced labor camps, the death camp Treblinka, and conscription into the Russian army, to inspiring memories of resistance, escape, armed revolt, liberation, and love.”

—DR. ELLEN UMANSKY, Professor Emerita of Judaic Studies and Founding Director of the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, Fairfield University, CT

 

“The Shoemaker of Treblinka is a remarkable story of courage, remembrance, and discovery that brings together history, family, and memory in a deeply meaningful way. This compelling narrative honors the courage of those who resisted, preserves the voices of those who can no longer speak for themselves, and reinforces the vital importance of Holocaust education in our world today. As a Holocaust educator, I was deeply moved. Through the uncovering of Samuel Goldstein's hidden role in the Treblinka uprising, Sharon Citrin Goldstein and Paul Goldstein illuminate not only a powerful chapter of Holocaust history but also the enduring responsibility across generations to carry these stories forward. Weaving together firsthand testimony, meticulous research, and a son's quest to understand his father's hidden past, they have created a compelling and important work that will inspire readers to remember, reflect, and bear witness for future generations.

More than a survivor story, this moving and important book is a powerful testament to memory, resilience, and the responsibility we share to preserve the voices of those who endured the Holocaust.”

—KIMBERLY COOMBS, Holocaust Educator

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 AUTHORS 

“Not your usual Holocaust book! In the tallit bag given to him by his deceased father, Paul Goldstein discovers a treasure trove of notes about his parents’ experiences during the Holocaust— experiences never spoken about. Paul and his wife, Sharon, embark on a journey of discovery and piece together the harrowing tales of his parents. What follows is a masterful description of the journey from the beautiful Kozienice, Poland, to the death camp of Treblinka. Incredibly, Paul had no idea that his father, Samuel, was part of the group responsible for the uprising and outbreak from Treblinka. Samuel’s day-by-day experiences are so brutally described that they leave the reader wondering how anyone could survive such ordeals. The vivid account of the prisoners’ treatment and Samuel’s suffering conveys the full horror of what took place. 

The Shoemaker of Treblinka reminds us of the importance of remembering the Holocaust. It anchors truth against denial, honors the millions who were murdered, and warns every generation how quickly ordinary society can collapse into organized hatred when prejudice goes unchallenged. This book is a testament to loss, endurance, and the importance of remembering those who did not survive.”

—DR. DOROTHY PIERCE, Author of Shoes of the Shoah, International Impact Book Award winner

 

“Paul Goldstein’s journey started when he stumbled upon papers inside his father’s prayer shawl bag. Goldstein, the child of Holocaust survivors, along with his wife, Sharon Citrin Goldstein, shares with the reader a gripping excavation of his father’s and mother’s lives in a shtetl in Poland, their Holocaust saga, and their destined marriage after liberation. The bag of writings by his father, who organized the Treblinka revolt, provides an engagingly written first-hand account, reconstructing a history that has not been fully told.

The Shoemaker of Treblinka has a universal appeal, and will talk to the many who have gaps in knowing their parents’ lives, and those who want to probe their parents’ secrets. The Goldsteins captivatingly engage the reader in their quest for the past and its meaning.”

—EVA FOGELMAN, PhD, Author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust; Writer and Co-producer of Breaking the Silence: The Generation After the Holocaust 

 

“Just when you think you’ve heard it all when it comes to the Holocaust, a work such as The Shoemaker of Treblinka materializes, offering fresh perspectives into this devastating time for the Jewish people. From within his father’s tallis bag, Paul Goldstein randomly extracts three yellow legal-sized handwritten sheets amidst other writings by his father that reveal he had spent time in the Treblinka concentration camp. As if this wasn’t enough, his father had been a leader in the Treblinka uprising on August 2, 1943. This begs the question: Why hadn’t he ever mentioned these incredible facts to his family? This illuminating book takes us on a fascinating quest of self-discovery as the author sees his father in a new light that challenges everything he thought he knew about him and fills his life with unexpected meaning.” 

—GARY M. KREBS, Author of award-winning bestseller Little Miss of Darke County: The Origins of Annie Oakley