This article appeared in the Sept. 7, 2004 Jewish Advocate.

Local author pens new Holocaust chronicle:

Book follows lives of Terezin survivors

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

The small garrison town of Terezin, Czechoslovakia, first absorbed a transport of Jews in November, 1941. Among the total of 140,000 Jews sent there by May of 1945 were Europe’s most talented artists, writers, and musicians.

A transit stop on the way to Nazi death camps, the conditions in the camp were deplorable, and art supplies were banned, yet its population managed to maintain a viable cultural community. Ironically, the art and music that was somehow produced wound up being utilized as propaganda by the Nazis. When members of the International Red Cross visited, they saw the carefully-scrubbed exterior, which included gardens, an outdoor music pavilion and play areas, and viewed performances by Jewish musicians, all of which gave the farcical impression of idyllic ghetto life.

Of course, this charade did not intercept the tragic fate of its occupants, who were ultimately deported to death camps just like their counterparts in other Nazi camps.

In 1992, 11 survivors of Terezin, who were ten young Czech boys and their 20-year-old group leader when there, met for their first reunion. They were the sole survivors out of an original group of 40. At the meeting, Thelma Gruenbaum of Brookline, the wife of member Michael Gruenbaum, handed out a collection of the stories they had each told her during the preceding two years. The book, which follows the men through their post-war lives, was released this February by publisher Vallentine Mitchell of London.

“Nesarim: Child Survivors of Terezín differs from most books written about the Holocaust because it goes beyond the war years to describe what subsequently happened to each man, as well as how the war and their camp experience affected the rest of their lives,” said Gruenbaum, who explained that “Nesarim” means “Eagles.”

Gruenbaum’s first book, “Before 1776: the Massachusetts Bay Colony from Founding to Revolution,” was used nationally in schools during the Bicentennial. She also wrote “To Music and Children with Love: Reflections for Parents and Teachers,” with musician and teacher A. Ramón Rivera. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Human Development, with concentrations in Child Psychology, from the University of Chicago; in 2001, she received the school’s Alumni Service Medal in recognition of her 20 years of volunteer work for its Admissions Office and the Boston Club.

“After the war, all surviving Nesarim returned to Czechoslovakia, but when Communism overtook over their country, the men began to relocate to the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil and Australia,” said Gruenbaum. Since the fall of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, the Nesarim, who have stayed in contact, have held three reunions.

Last month, the Gruenbaums traveled to the Czech Republic for the fourth reunion of the Nesarim. “The first reunion of the group since World War II was just after the Velvet Revolution,” recalled Michael Gruenbaum. This reunion was extra special, as it included the second and third generations; over 50 people arrived from Australia, the US, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France. During their three days together, the group visited sites in Prague, including Terezin. “Despite the fact that most of the second generation of the Nesarim were meeting each other for the very first time, spoke different languages and were brought up in very diverse cultures, they all spoke some English, and also bonded instantly,” he added. The second generation enjoyed each other's company so much that they planned their own 2006 reunion, tentatively to be held in Los Angeles.

“The life lessons they learned both in Terezin and from their group leader not only helped the Nesarim to survive, but are imbedded in their philosophies of life,” noted Thelma Gruenbaum. All survivors have successfully rebuilt their lives, despite starting over from nothing, and suffering untold abuse.

She related reader comments on the inspirational nature of the book, and its portrayal of how people can successfully overcome incredible adversity. The book, which was featured in the April newsletter of the Friends of the New England Holocaust Memorial and the JCRC, has been highly recommended by the Holocaust educational organization Facing History and Ourselves, whose spokesman Marty Sleeper commented: “As history recedes farther into the past, it is clearer than ever that the systematic process of dehumanization and the steps involving indifference, hatred, racism and anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust must be a lasting piece of history and civic education in our democracy.”

“These memories do not close at the moment of liberation but show the later life of those who survived,” said Dr. Jan Munk, Director of the Terezín Museum in the Czech Republic. “This demonstrates the tragedy of the Jewish people and the whole world, which lost so many talented and brave human beings as well as the generations that would have followed.”

The Gruenbaums have lived in Brookline for over 40 years, Thelma Gruenbaum has been an active member of The Writer’s Group (TWG) of Brookline for 15 years. The Gruenbaum's oldest son, David, has just had his "New SAT 2005, Inside Out" published by REA. Middle son Peter, who has a Ph.D. from Stanford in Applied Physics, is starting a software company in

Seattle. Youngest son, Leon, who invented a musical instrument called the "Samchillian," was the Peter Ivers visiting artist at Harvard.

“Nesarim” is distributed in the US by ISBS. For information, contact Lenny Gerson at 800-944-6190, or e-mail: Lenny@ISBS.com. Books may also be ordered through bookstores, distributors or on the internet.

“These memories do not close at the moment of liberation but show the later life of those who survived. This demonstrates the tragedy of the Jewish people and the whole world which lost so many talented and brave human beings as well as the generations that would have followed.”

Dr. Jan Munk, Director, Terezín Museum, Czech Republic

“Nesarim … shows the horrors of the Holocaust, but also the kindness, love and help that young people could share at the most difficult times...” Anita Tarsi, Director of Beit Terezín, Israel

“I was very much affected by some of the stories. The nicknames spoke to me directly, taking me back in time, in a very real and profound way.” Zuzana Justman, survivor of Terezín and Emmy Award winning film producer of Voices of the Children

“In spite of their dispersal, they have much in common: the decision to get ahead in life, not to depend on material things, to be always ready to start anew and never give up. A wonderful story.” Ruth Bondy, survivor of Terezín and Holocaust author

This has truly been a banner Spring for the Gruenbaum family.

- In February 2004 Thelma Gruenbaum's new book, "Nesarim: Child

Survivors of Terezin", was published by Vallentine Mitchell of London.

- In March 2004 the Gruenbaum's oldest son, David, who is an expert on

the SATs, had his book "New SAT 2005, Inside Out" published by REA. It

has had an immediate and very successful reception and a high ranking on

Amazon.com.

- Their youngest son, Leon, a well known musician who has invented his

own musical instrument called "Samchillian", was the Peter Ivers

visiting artist at Harvard.

- Their middle son, Peter, who has a PhD from Stanford in Applied

Physics, is in the process of starting his own software company in

Seattle.

“As history recedes farther into the past, it is clearer than ever that the systematic process of dehumanization and the steps involving indifference, hatred, racism and anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust must be a lasting piece of history and civic education in our democracy.”

Marty Sleeper, Facing History and Ourselves

“These memories do not close at the moment of liberation but show the later life of those who survived. This demonstrates the tragedy of the Jewish people and the whole world which lost so many talented and brave human beings as well as the generations that would have followed.”

Dr. Jan Munk, Director, Terezín Museum, Czech Republic

“Nesarim … shows the horrors of the Holocaust, but also the kindness, love and help that young people could share at the most difficult times...” Anita Tarsi, Director of Beit Terezín, Israel

“I was very much affected by some of the stories. The nicknames spoke to me directly, taking me back in time, in a very real and profound way.” Zuzana Justman, survivor of Terezín and

Emmy Award winning film producer of Voices of the Children

“In spite of their dispersal, they have much in common: the decision to get ahead in life, not to depend on material things, to be always ready to start anew and never give up. A wonderful story.....“

Ruth Bondy, survivor of Terezín and Holocaust author

B) Boston Globe City Weekly - Brookline column:

I don't know if this is appropriate, but I thought I would mention it to

you and perhaps, if not for this particular column, you might be able to

refer us to someone else at the Globe who would be interested in writing

the following as a human interest story...

________________________

Nešarim: 206 pages, paperback - $19.50, publication date: 2004 - (ISBN: 0-85303-511-3)

. Shipping for first copy: $4.95; additional books: $1.50 each. Resale orders receive a discount.

ISBS is the distributor for the USA. Contact: Lenny Gerson at 800-944-6190 or e-mail: Lenny@ISBS.com

Books may also be ordered through bookstores, distributors or on the internet.

Expressall

260 Dean Rd, Brookline, MA 02445

From: "Michael and Thelma Gruenbaum" <mtgruenbaum@rcn.com>

CC: "'hana krasa'" <ehkrasa@rcn.com>

Dear Susie:

How nice to hear from you. It sounds like we have a lot in common.

We appreciate Edgar Krasa bringing us to your attention and we also

presume you probably saw the article about Nesarim and Thelma's Writer's

Group in the Brookline TAB about a month ago.

We would be glad to have you bring the Nesarim book to the attention

of your readers in the Jewish Advocate. We are attaching a flyer about

the Nesarim book. You can also check out Thelma's website:

www.expressall.com

Since you live in Brookline, we wondered if you would like to stop

by our house one day for a cup of coffee/tea to discuss the Nesarim book

as well as your Holocaust book in more detail.

We live at 260 Dean Road and our unlisted phone number is: (617)

734-3508.

Thank you for your interest and help. We look forward to hearing

from you.

Michael and Thelma e-mail: Expressall@rcn.com