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The Lightmaker of Auschwitz

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Come si fa a creare la luce nel luogo più buio al mondo?
Quando Moshe Brezniak scende dal treno ad Auschwitz, è chiaro che la sua vita non sarà mai più la stessa. È chiaro anche che, per difenderla, dovrà resistere con ogni fibra del suo corpo e della sua anima. Moshe lo sa. Sa che, se vuole sopravvivere, deve evitare di essere assegnato ai lavori più pesanti, quelli a cui viene destinata la maggior parte degli uomini come lui, giovani e senza difetti fisici. Così, dà via l’ultimo dei suoi beni in cambio di un lavoro come elettricista. Quella posizione all’interno di una delle fabbriche di Auschwitz gli offre libertà che pochi hanno nel campo, e lui è determinato a usarle per aiutare gli altri. Ma con l’opportunità arriva il pericolo. E quella di portare luce ad Auschwitz, mentre lotta ogni giorno per sopravvivere, potrebbe rivelarsi per Moshe una missione impossibile...
Una storia vera commovente.

Una testimonianza della resilienza umana e una celebrazione del trionfo del bene sul male.

«Una storia triste e bellissima, che spezza il cuore.»
«Una vera testimonianza degli orrori dell’Olocausto.»
«Uno dei migliori libri sull’Olocausto che io abbia mai letto.»
«Un libro potentissimo. Grazie all’autore per aver permesso al mondo di conoscere la storia di suo padre.»


Naphtali Brezniak
È nato in Israele nel 1950 da genitori sopravvissuti all’Olocausto. Ha scritto diversi libri. Il custode delle luci di Auschwitz racconta la vera storia di suo padre Moshe.

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2023

516 people are currently reading
284 people want to read

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Naphtali Brezniak

6 books2 followers

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5 stars
252 (56%)
4 stars
123 (27%)
3 stars
55 (12%)
2 stars
15 (3%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
13 reviews
February 1, 2024
Good book but heartbreaking in many aspects. To hear from another perspective how jews were treated in concentration camps is deplorable. How can humanity treat others this way and yet some form of this treatment exists to this day in other countries.
Profile Image for Carolyn Scarcella.
452 reviews29 followers
April 21, 2025
Today the book I’m reading is called “The Lightmaker of Auschwitz” by Nepthali Breznaik. This book, which I simply devoured, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. This is a story has been written “to remember and not to forget” all those who lived and died during the Holocaust. The author's father's horrific wartime experience teaches us about both the best and worst of humanity. It was often a matter of luck to survive. It's a tale of survival, bravery, and good fortune. In remembrance of the millions of innocent victims who never came home. Moshe grew up in a town of mezritch in Poland, and he is one of eight children, and at the time there was 18,000 Jews lived there and only 179 only have survived the Holocaust. As a result, what happened to his family? Did they all survive? You can decide.
3 reviews
January 3, 2024
The Lightmaker of Auschwitz

This was an accurate tale of a Jewish man's life during WWII. While it was a fascinating story, I found myself horrified by the cruelty of the German soldiers and how the lives of the Jews were so disposable. And yet in the most unexpected moments there was some kindness. Great book!
Profile Image for Frieda Thompson.
397 reviews6 followers
April 19, 2024
The Lightmaker of Auschwitz

This is one of the better true-story Holocaust books that I have read. What this man endured was hell on Earth. Now multiply that by millions. A shameful time in our world's history. Praise God the enemy's goal was unattained & that Moshe was one of the survivors! Rest in Peace, Sir!
Profile Image for Amanda B..
197 reviews
February 25, 2025
An insightful tail. I enjoyed it, but won’t be rereading it. It is of course a heavy read with accurate accounts of horror this survivor faced. Shed new light on the downfall of Poland, pitfalls of communism, the chaos at the end of the war, and life immediately following immigration to a new country.
807 reviews8 followers
February 2, 2024
Good read

A very good book about a man who had a terrible time in life. To his son thank you for sharing his story with the world. So many times before release he thought death had found him and then he continued to survive. In the end he had a large family so praise God.
2 reviews
December 16, 2025
the Lightmaker of Auschwitz: a WW2 Historical Page

I read Holocaust survivors stories to pay honor to their suffering/surviving and to say, “never again”. This book is such a great addition to written Holocaust histories. He survived so many camps and as a Polish POW, his story is spellbinding. Personality came through with this story that were told experiences. . He seemed like firecracker. I am so surprise he was able to make it through the world war and in the c description he did between Polish workers maybe Germans, as stand up for himself. His dealings on the black market while working in the factory, were riveting. I would recommend this book.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
August 16, 2024
The Lightmaker of Auschwitz is based on a true story. The author had sat down with his father during his last days and heard the story of his father's life during World WAr II. Naphtali wanted to make sure his father's story was told and his message of Never Forget is carried on. Moshe was an electrician when the war broke out. This skill helped him in his travels and in the future. Moshe's story is interesting and one which is well worth hearing; but it tends to lack the ability to gain and keep your attention.
Profile Image for Sherree Bennett.
98 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2024
poignant and powerful

Thank you for sharing the story of your father with us all. Another amazing recount of the horrible atrocities of WW2. I can only imagine how the survivors felt on a daily basis but this brave man lived it! Moment by moment choosing life in untenable conditions. Amazing.
Profile Image for Fran Burdsall.
539 reviews12 followers
August 13, 2024
The first person, non-fiction storiess of the Holocaust are unreal in their horror and depravation. Those who survived the brutal misery of the genocide are brave and heroic. Their stories must survive as a reminder to all those who come after.
5 reviews
October 11, 2024
One of thousands!

The fickle fate of one survivor of the holocaust was left to tell the story of his close calls of death. His experience though several years represents tens of thousands who did not survive!
3 reviews
October 24, 2024
A truly inspiring book. Reading of the horrors people endured during the Second World war, sadden me. How can people treat others like third grade human beings - and still it continues all over the world.

888 reviews4 followers
January 14, 2024
Required reading

A first hand account by a survivor of several Nazi death camps, as told to his son. Puts a personal face on the atrocities

45 reviews
January 22, 2024
Since I am Jewish it is extra sad to know what the Germans did to us. A very good read.
28 reviews
February 21, 2024
Great book.

Great book and easy to read but very sad. I have read lots of books like this. But this by far was one of the best. Thanks
Profile Image for Arlyn Stokesbary.
7 reviews
April 10, 2024
Interesting true story

I liked the descriptions of the experience during the war. Great book. What more can I say than that about the story.
Profile Image for RdeLT.
58 reviews
December 26, 2024
A wonderful story of survival in the darkest and most hopeless of times.
28 reviews
June 10, 2025
Great book, although felt a little short. Wished it would have been longer and more details. Great book!
2 reviews
March 16, 2024
Truly inspiring

A truly inspiring read. Reading the horrors endured by the Jewish people saddened me but the writers humanity shone throughout the book. A true hero.
Profile Image for Píaras Cíonnaoíth.
Author 143 books206 followers
October 31, 2023
The Lightmaker of Auschwitz: Illuminating the Shadows of History...

In "The Lightmaker of Auschwitz," Naphtali Brezniak masterfully transports readers to the chilling and haunting landscape of World War II and the Holocaust, providing a profound glimpse into the life of Moshe Brezniak, a man whose dreams of a simple, stable existence are shattered when he steps onto the grounds of Auschwitz.

Amidst the grim reality of Auschwitz, where every day is a struggle for survival, Moshe recognizes the pivotal importance of avoiding the backbreaking manual labor typically assigned to prisoners. In a poignant act of selflessness, he parts with his last possessions in exchange for a coveted role as an electrician within one of the camp's factories. This seemingly modest position becomes the linchpin of Moshe's determination to make a difference within the camp, utilizing the privileges it affords him to help his fellow inmates. Yet, with these newfound freedoms comes an inescapable danger, and Moshe's quest to bring a flicker of light to the darkest of places while wrestling with the relentless demand for his own survival becomes a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Naphtali Brezniak's storytelling is nothing short of staggering, offering a poignant and heart-rending depiction of real historical events. It serves as a profound testament to the unyielding human spirit, a testament to how good can ultimately triumph even in the face of the gravest of evils. "The Lightmaker of Auschwitz" is more than a mere historical novel; it's a captivating and poignant narrative that pays homage to the remarkable strength of the human soul, a triumphant story of illumination prevailing over the most profound darkness. Highly recommended, and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Julia.
3,093 reviews95 followers
November 12, 2024
The Lightmaker Of Auschwitz by Nepthali Brezniak is a powerful true account of the author’s father’s experiences during World War II.
The book has been written “to remember and not to forget” all those who lived and died during the Holocaust.
The author’s father was a Polish Jew. His wartime story is harrowing. We see the best and the worst of humanity. To survive was often a matter of luck.
Nazi-occupied Europe was a terrible place to be. The author’s father was in ghettos, several concentration camps and involved in a death march in 1945 during a terribly cold winter. He needed to have his wits about him, as well as luck, in order to survive. He also had a friend which gave him a reason to survive too. This book tells his story and also that of countless others.
The book is anecdotal as we see snippets over the war years.
This is a story of bravery, courage, luck and survival. It is a story that needs to be told in memory of the six million innocents who never returned home.
1,236 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2024
This heartrending biography involves Moshe, fortunately a young, strong, and skilled young fella, who through both luck and cleverness, was able to survive the majority of WWII in captivity. Harrowing story of the precise details and how he averted extermination through his skills as a valuable electrical technician, despite losing his family members one by one. Fortunate to barely survive, his goal was to find his way to Israel which he ultimately did. Books like these need to be written to remind society how easily it can break-down from the axis of evil of others. Definitely a worthy read.......
Profile Image for Courtney Lineweber.
11 reviews
June 20, 2024
Truly a great read. I was shocked to finally read the stories of the Holocaust from a survivor.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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