gertrudas oath a child a promise and a heroic escape during world war ii
trapped in the horrors of world war ii a woman and a child embark on a journey of survival in this page turning true story that recalls the power and the poignancy of schindlers list . br michael stolowitzky the only son of a wealthy jewish family in poland was just three years old when war broke out and the family lost everything . his father desperate to settle his business affairs travels to france leaving michael in the care of his mother and gertruda bablinska a catholic nanny devoted to the family . when michaels mother has a stroke gertruda promises the dying woman that she will make her way to palestine and raise him as her own son . br written with the invaluable assistance of michael now seventy two and living in new york city gertrudas oath re creates michael and gertrudas amazing journey . gripping vignettes bring to life the people who helped ensure their survival including ss officer karl rink who made it his mission to save jews after his own jewish wife was murdered ; rinks daughter helga who escaped to a kibbutz where she lived until her recent death ; and the jewish physician dr. berman who aided michael and gertruda through the worst of times . br gertrudas oath is a story of extraordinary courage and moral strength in the face of horrific events . like schindlers list it transcends history and religion to reveal the compassion and hope that miraculously thrives in a world immersed in war without end .