Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World

by Jane Ziegelman

A powerful exploration of the books created by Jewish Holocaust survivors to honor their lost world

By the close of World War II, six million Jews had been erased from the face of the earth. Those who eluded death had lost their homes, families, and entire way of life. Their response was quintessentially Jewish. From a people with a long-history of self-narration, survivors gathered in groups and wrote books, yizkor books, remembering all that had been destroyed. Jane Ziegelman’s Once There Was a Town takes readers on a journey through this largely uncharted body of writing and the vanished world it depicts.

Once There Was a Town resounds with the voices of rich and poor, shopkeepers and tradespeople, scholars and peddlers, Zionists and Communists, men and women telling stories of the towns that were their homes. Stops are made in the bustling market squares where Jewish merchants catered to local farmers; study houses where men recited Torah; kitchens where homemakers baked 20-pound loaves of bread; cemeteries where mourners conversed with departed loved ones and wooded groves where young couples met for the occasional moonlit tryst. Of the many towns on Ziegelman’s itinerary, she always circles back to Luboml, her family’s ancestral shtetl and the point of departure for her own journey of discovery.

In conversation with classics by IB Singer and Roman Vishniac, Once There Was a Town is a landmark of rediscovery, and a love song to a vanished world.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Jewish

240 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 20, 2026

About the author

Jane Ziegelman is the director of the Tenement Museum's culinary center and the founder and director of Kids Cook!, a multiethnic cooking program for children.

Her writing on food has appeared in numerous publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title intrigued me, and I wasn’t disappointed. The author gives the history of the Jewish Memory Books. Then she tells the story of the destruction of a town in Poland by the Nazis during World War II. Laced in the book is her on personal family stories.

In this time of world uncertainty, this book is a must-read to cement in the facts of the Nazi atrocities which we should never forget.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Jan. 20, 2026

“Yizor” books are collections of memories, anecdotes and family histories of Jewish communities, long forgotten or torn apart by war and antisemitism. In “Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World”, author Jane Ziegelman used the stories collected in her family’s “yizor” (and others) from a small, now non-existent town in Poland as the basis for her new book.

Most people are familiar with the tragedies of the Holocaust and the indignities that the Jewish community suffered at the hands of the Nazi’s, but there were everyday atrocities that plagued Jewish communities that we are likely less familiar with, and these are the stories told in “Town”. Ziegelman is proud of her heritage and her family, and she shares their stories as well as others, to ensure readers get as much information as possible.

“Town” is a deep dive into the Jewish faith and its different facets, from the extreme to the less devout, and it speaks of the foods, stories and traditions that make up the Jewish faith. I found these details interesting and educational, as my understanding of the faith and traditions of the Jewish people are by no means expansive. Obviously, the traumas suffered by the community, especially during the Holocaust, were devastating, and Ziegelman helps readers understand on a more personal level, by connecting them with individuals and families who experienced it.

“Town” does not have one protagonist telling their story but is, instead, a collection of experiences from a former Jewish community in Poland. It is more of an examination of storytelling in the Jewish culture and how it has aided to preserve parts of history that would otherwise be lost.

Ziegelman is known for her cultural cookbooks and “Town” is her first non-culinary book and, although both genres are extremely different, “Town” is well-written, well-researched and emotional. It is more than just “another World War Two” story of the Holocaust and those afflicted, but instead it examines the Jewish culture and traditions, with the war as a backdrop, as an influence on these traditions and culture and not as the starring role.

Unique and educational, “Town” won’t be for everyone, but it provides a lot of information on parts of Judaism that are not known, beyond the Holocaust and its tragedies. “Town” is a story of a community and its people and the stories that connect them.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Holocaust, since entire shtetls had been reduced to just a handful of survivors, people across continents came together to put together yizkor books to record their collective memories of these vanished places.

I have never heard of yizkor books, nor knew much about life in the shtetls before or during World War 2. As such this book provides a comprehensive overview with a strong personal touch, as the author interweaves the words of the people who lived there with her own family stories as a typical example of the place. I liked how the author arranged the themes by chapter, giving us glimpses in the work they did, the food they ate, the stories they told, how they prayed, and more.

I did think the book was a bit more limited in scope than I first assumed - though the author does briefly discuss other towns and other yizkor books, the focus remains on Luboml, from where her grandparents came. While the author does use these family histories cleverly to illustrate the theme being discussed in each chapter, I wished we'd gotten other stories too - yizkor books seem to have been full of anecdotes, but we only hear a few. I also thought the writer's style was a bit dry for my taste.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Stanjay Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II took an immense toll on the Jewish people of the market town of Luboml. The author provides insight into these atrocities by recounting portions of the Yizkor book. Prior to reading this work, I was unfamiliar with Yizkor books. As I read, I conducted research alongside the text to better understand the events discussed. One of the first things I explored was the meaning of a Yizkor book. These memorial books were created by former Jewish residents whose communities were destroyed during the war.

The Yizkor book offers insight into religious observances, traditional foods, patterns of migration, and the survivors’ efforts to rebuild their lives in America. This material was deeply impactful and fostered empathy and understanding as I read. I also learned several Yiddish words and their meanings, as well as a great deal about the author’s family experiences across multiple generations.

I recommend this book because it is essential that we learn about the atrocities that have affected so many people throughout history. Whether those atrocities stem from racism, antisemitism, or other forms of hatred, we must acknowledge them, reflect on their impact, and allow that knowledge to guide us toward empathy, understanding, and meaningful humanistic work. Only then can we move forward in a way that is better than the past.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book! It is a memoir of sorts- it includes many of the author's memories but also facts about yizkor books. I was fascinated with the variety of yizkor books! They often included quotes from the old testament, maps and visual images.

There are many heart wrenching parts of the book. From the German occupation to the Soviet occupation, many Jewish and Polish lives were lost. These events are in the past but sadly antisemitism seems to be on the rise again. This book serves as a reminder that history should never be forgotten.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once There Was a Town is a moving and deeply reflective work that reminds us why the act of remembering—and the discipline of recording those memories—matters not only to individuals, but to entire cultures. Through its intimate portraits of a community that no longer exists, the book becomes far more than a historical narrative; it becomes a testament to the power of collective memory.

At its core, Once There Was a Town is about reclamation. It gathers stories, fragments, testimonies, and recollections of a place lost to time and, in doing so, reassembles a world that would otherwise vanish from human consciousness. The author treats memory not as a static archive, but as a living thread connecting past to present. Every detail: daily routines, traditions, relationships, celebrations, serves as a reminder that history is built from ordinary lives, and that each life is worthy of being remembered.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in how it models historiography; the study of how we write history and why it matters. The author doesn’t simply recount events; they examine the process of preserving those events, calling attention to the fragility and responsibility inherent in historical record-keeping. By showing how memories are gathered, contested, and ultimately shaped into narrative, the book highlights that history is not inevitable or self-sustaining. It must be consciously preserved.

This theme resonates especially powerfully today. In an age when information can be lost as quickly as it is produced, Once There Was a Town argues for intentional remembrance. It urges us to document our family stories, safeguard community histories, and preserve the experiences that define who we are. The book demonstrates that memory is not merely personal—it is cultural, intergenerational, and foundational to identity.

For future generations, these records become guideposts. They offer insight into how people lived, loved, endured, and adapted. They provide warnings and wisdom, continuity and context. They ensure that those who came before us are not erased, and that their lives continue to speak into our own.

Ultimately, Once There Was a Town is more than a recollection of a vanished place; it is a quiet call to action. It asks readers to become stewards of memory, to value the histories woven into their own families and communities, and to take seriously the task of passing those stories forward. It reminds us that the past survives only when we choose to carry it—and that in doing so, we build a richer, more connected world for those who follow.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review: Jane Ziegelman Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World.
St. Martin’s Press, with heartfelt thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This is one of those books that asks you to slow down and listen. Not skim, not rush, not read with one eye on the clock. Jane Ziegelman invites the reader into a quiet, deliberate act of remembrance, and once you step inside, it feels almost disrespectful to hurry. I expected a history lesson. What I got instead was a deeply human meditation on memory, loss, and the stubborn will to record a life even after that life has been violently interrupted.

At the center of this book are yizkor books, memorial volumes created by Jewish Holocaust survivors to honor the towns and communities that were destroyed. Ziegelman explains their origins, structure, and purpose, but what makes this work so compelling is how personal it feels. By circling back again and again to Luboml, her family’s ancestral shtetl, she gives the reader something solid to hold onto. This isn’t abstract history. It’s names, kitchens, schools, marketplaces, arguments, prayers, and recipes. It’s people being people right up until history refuses to let them continue.

What struck me most was how much life is here. There is grief, of course, but before that comes texture. Muddy roads and crowded markets. Massive loaves of bread baked for hours. Study houses humming with debate. Young couples stealing moments of privacy. These details matter, and Ziegelman treats them with reverence. She understands that genocide doesn’t just erase bodies, it erases routines, jokes, rivalries, and the thousand small habits that make a place feel like home.

The writing is thoughtful and restrained, which makes its emotional weight even stronger. Ziegelman never needs to overstate the horror. She trusts the reader to feel it on their own, especially once the inevitable destruction arrives. One line in particular stopped me completely: “To remember a town is to insist that it once mattered, even if the world tried to erase it.” That sentence feels like the spine of the entire book.

I also appreciated how this book examines the act of recording history itself. Yizkor books were not neutral documents. They were created by grieving people, often across continents, arguing over details, tone, and meaning. Ziegelman doesn’t smooth over those tensions. She lets us see memory as messy, emotional, and imperfect, which only makes it more honest. This is history shaped by love and loss, not distance.

Once There Was a Town is not a traditional Holocaust narrative focused solely on camps and death marches. Those realities are present, but they are not the whole story. This book insists that Jewish life before destruction deserves just as much attention as Jewish death during it. That insistence feels especially urgent now.

This is not a book I sped through. I read it slowly, sometimes putting it down just to sit with what I’d absorbed. By the end, I felt changed in a quiet way. More aware of how fragile memory is, and how powerful it can be when someone takes the time to preserve it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

#OnceThereWasaTown #JaneZiegelman #BookReview #NonfictionReview #HolocaustHistory #JewishHistory #YizkorBooks #HistoryBooks #ARCReview #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure what I was expecting out of Once There Was a Town. I think it was more survivor stories from those who lived through the Holocaust.

It is kind of that, but it is more about the culture and traditions of the European Jews who lived in shtetls, many of which ceased to exist at the end of World War II, leaving those that survived and hadn’t already emigrated to America or Israel in search of a new place they could call home, where they might be welcomed.

Grieving their home, community, and dead, survivors around the world tried to work together to create yizkor books that told the history of their shtetl through the vibrant stories of its people and the tragedies and mistreatment they were often the victims of.

I have never read a yizkor book, nor am I Jewish, but I see Ziegelman incorporating elements that are probably similar to one, telling stories of her grandmother and great uncles coming to America, the challenges they faced in getting here, the working conditions once they did, and the things they’ve done to keep their religion and traditions alive and passed along in a new world.

Ziegelman also recounts other stories held in yizkor books and historical events that occurred between the two world wars, reminding readers that discrimination against Jews didn’t begin with Hitler coming to power in Germany.

It’s also a great introduction to many Jewish traditions for those not familiar with Judaism, especially its more devout practitioners. Not unlike many other religions, women were regarded as lesser and a temptation for men. Not being a practitioner of any of these religions it is always hard for me to read about women being treated as lesser, or being expected to censor or hide themselves to avoid “tempting” men, instead of men being expected to have the willpower and strength to live equally beside women, and being found lacking and punished if they cannot. No wonder I root for the modernizations that provide more balance and freedom.

At times the book feels a bit repetitive, and some of the chapters seem to start on one topic only to meander into something different by chapters end. But overall it was interesting introduction to shtetls and Jewish culture and history during the twentieth century.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I had heard of the Yizkor books, I had no real knowledge of their history. As the author explains early on, it's long. Even the Biblical book of Lamentation, I believe credited to Jeremiah, might be considered the first example of what might be called "Jewish disaster literature". It tells of the destruction of the Temple and an era of Jewish exile. To be simplistic, these books attempt to capture the history and times as well as the individual names of those caught up in disaster. They tend to run from 400-800 pages when complete and provide the link that connects past to present and, yes, future. The objective, as directed by scripture, is remembrance. While names of those killed or passed are certainly given, they also capture a snapshot of the life these people and/or village lived.

Ironically, I started this book just before the Bondi Beach attack, so one has to imagine that event will eventually make its way into a vizkor book. The author's focus, however, is largely on the now long-gone town of Lubomi, Poland, where many of her ancestors came from. She knew little of that story growing up but not just Lubomi but many other villages disappeared during WWII. Totally. They are remembered, however, by the presence of Vizkor memories captured in writing. While the author detours away to other places at times, her focus remains on her family's past hometown. Besides names, it includes memories of personal life, one of my favorites being the time-consuming baking of a huge amount of bread. Their ordinary lives remind us not to forget. As you read, a community seemingly erased by history comes to life. The people are no long mere statistics but living, breathing people. People who were part of the author's family.

I'm not going to detail the stories, that would be unfair to not just the reader but the subjects, but it's very human and obviously heartfelt. While I did feel the pace slowed here and there, perhaps that was actually a good thing as it gave my mind time to process all I was reading. The author's occasional detours to other sites is also a reminder that Lubomi wasn't an isolated, one time instance. It is part of history and deserves to be remembered. Thanks #StMartin'sPress for this early look at such a meaningful book.

[Nan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful addition to my knowledge of WWII was this little gem of a book! It answered a lot of questions that I’ve had for years. One thing I’ve always wondered about was how precise accounts of life that happened several hundred years ago were preserved. This book is based on the yizkor books that were housed in the synagogue of the shtetl in Luboml, Poland. This was a common practice among the Jewish population in Eastern Europe. The oldest yizkor books that have been found date back to 1296 in a synagogue in Nuremburg, validating the lives of the Jewish population there.

Some of this book had actual translations from the yizkor books that survived the war in Poland and some of this book was either explanation or oral memories of those times that the Jews were being targeted as undesirables in Poland.

The knowledge in this short book was well laid out and easily read as a family saga. For anyone interested in the history of the era, I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. I sincerely hope that the photos are present in the commercial offerings as my copy was lacking photos.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, 3.5 stars and I received this book as an ARC, so many thanks!

Once There Was A Town is a book written by Jane Ziegelman about her family and Jewish history to include Yizkor, or memory books. Although the book contained a lot of interesting information and insight into Jewish history it was honestly hard to follow. I personally believe the book would benefit from having a family tree at the start of the book that you can reference. At the end of the book, it was highlighted that there were two Nathan’s in the family (hence my confusion throughout the book since the last names weren’t frequently used). The family tree with little tidbits would help the reader a lot.

I would also love captions with the photos (perhaps this is intended to come later)

The excerpts from the Yizkor books was wonderful and helped to capture the feelings that were being experienced at the time

Lastly, the flow of the book was hard. Personally it felt like there was no real flow. It hopped around a lot which is where having the family tree would be most helpful.

All of this being said, I learned a lot and I am very grateful for the pleasure of reading and enjoying this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there's one historical era I've read more about than any other, it's the Holocaust and WWII, so it's always a pleasant surprise to learn something about the history of that time period that is new to me. Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World introduced me to the documents known as yizkor books, volumes created as memorial records of the towns and shtetls essentially erased by the Nazis. They describe what life was like in these places and what sort of people inhabited them in addition to containing lists of the names of those killed. While the book addresses this topic generally, there's also a focus on the town where the author's relatives came from, making this a memoir of sorts, too, as her study of the yizkor book for their shtetl was able to tell her things about the family left behind that her grandmother and great uncles could not and would not discuss. I found it to be a fascinating read. My only disappointment in the book is that the ARC I received did not contain the photos that are referenced in the back of the book -- I would have loved to see those family photos! But that just gives me an excuse to pick up a physical copy of the book when it's published.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This book will be published January 20, 2026.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World
by Jane Ziegelman

Before I read this book I didn't know about yizkor books, books written by the Jewish survivors of the attempt to eradicate them forever. Millions of Jewish (and other) people were murdered and as I read books about those times I've always felt something more for the many who had to be forgotten because there was no one left to remember them as their deaths were just one among millions anyway. How can such a thing be recorded in most of these instances?

But Jewish people did gather to write yizkor books, some groups were more formal than others, some had more arguing and dissention than others, so each of these books came into existence by various means. What the books are meant to do is attempt to remember the times, the places, the people, and the past. This book features two Nathans, one related to the author and through him we learn some of what her family did to escape the death and destruction and how some didn't make it out in time.

There is another Nathan and he's a little boy during the time that the town of Luboml is being drained of its people, a boy who had to save himself while he watched his family die over a few years. This boy went on to tell what he saw and he was magnificent at telling things as he saw them. What a mature boy and he had to be to survive all he survived. I want to learn more about this boy and all that he did throughout his life to make sure those who died were not forgotten.

I've read so much about this time yet this book was able to add more to what I know. Think goodness stories can be passed on from person to person so all is not lost. It hurts to get to know the town of Luboml and then to watch destruction approaching, arrive, and then leave the dust and ashes of all that were lost to life.

Expected pub January 20, 2026

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC

[Kimberly Tierney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and review:

After World War II, the Jewish population had to rebuild not only their lives, but their history, as much of it had been destroyed, with homes and towns being burned to the ground. As is typical in Jewish culture, they started writing, putting the stories they knew onto paper. This new collection of those stories was a way to preserve what they still could for the next generations.

Once There Was A Town is the story of these stories. We meet some of the voices that make up this new collection of history. They talk of the old days and the old ways.

This is a valuable and vital story that needs to be shared, especially at a time in the US when people in power are trying to erase so many of the historical stories that need to be told. This book is a reminder that, despite hardship and the ugliness of others, we can preserve our history for future generations to remember and learn from.

I hope that stories like this continue to be put out into the world, because the more there are, the harder it will be for them to be taken away.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives us such an amazing read, so many facts that I never knew, and found disturbing.
I am not Jewish, and found this read page turning, and so sad. Breaks my heart what happened here, and it seemed that no one was really trust worthy.
The focus was on a small town in Poland, and memory books, Yizkor Books, I never knew about, but what a gift, hearing the words of your ancestors.
I personally enjoy books about WWII and the monsters that took over Europe, most are fictional, but this one is really personal to the author, and full of written down facts. I never knew of the antisemitism that went on prior to the War, at least in Poland.
I highly recommend this book, and it should be a mandatory read! Thank you to Jane Ziegelman!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Once There Was a Town" by Jane Ziegleman. writes of her ancestors who came from Poland. Their town was Luboml. her relatives came from Poland when their small town was was taken over by the Holocaust. She describes the memory books that Jewish people wrote in called a "Yizkor" these books have the memories and histories of what happened during this horrific time in history. Many may have died in the Holocaust and these written down memories can show they existed words their relatives can read.
The author shares chapters of traditions and ways of life such as food they eat. like making a 15-20 pound bread that took five hours to bake. She writes of her relatives slowly coming to America to start a new life. i had not heard of the books called "Yizkors" quite an interesting read.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I requested an Advanced Readers Copy of Once There Was A Town, I was under the erroneous assumption that this was a historical fiction book. The author, Jane Ziegelman, had actually written about her own family history, as well as the history of the town of Luboml in Poland. The historical content goes way back in time and is very informative about Jewish customs and religious practices.
This family, along with the citizens of Luboml, suffered horribly in the hands of the Natzi regime. I learned great deal about the Jewish faith and I especially found the personal accounts of her family’s survival and immigration to the United States inspiring and also so sad to thing that antisemitism is still going on today.

[Jean Mader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful, sobering, and deeply human book. Jane Ziegelman explores the memorial volumes created by Holocaust survivors to preserve the Jewish towns that were wiped away, but she does so with warmth and care, not academic distance. What struck me most is how personal the journey feels. By returning again and again to her family’s ancestral town, she grounds the history in everyday life—homes, work, worship, disagreements, celebrations, and meals. These were living communities, not footnotes, and Ziegelman helps us see them that way. The result is quietly heartbreaking, but also meaningful and honoring. This book asks the reader to remember, to linger, and to respect what was lost. I’m grateful for the chance to read this powerful work.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Buster Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Ziegelman is not writing about the Jews in the shtetl. No, she us writing about us. The deeper forces which connect our lives with the past and those which reshape society. She teaches about our memory and how our conception of who we are is not always in line with reality. The past and the future have never been so connected. Now is the time to read this foundational text.

Truly a landmark work of historical nonfiction. There are two versions of myself: one before I read, Once there was a town, and one after. I cannot fathom the one before. This book is life changing. It changes not only your perspective on Jewish history, but also European, and American history.

Truly touching.

[Escaping in Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - December 13, 2025
Publication Date - January 20, 2026

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you so much @stmartinspress and @netgalley!

Once There Was a Town is a captivating mix of memoir and history, focusing on the periods of WW1 and WW2 but also connecting to present day. It is a story comprised of many stories, which gives the book a very personal feel. It goes in depth about a variety of topics but it’s palatable because of how story focused it is, rather than feeling like a textbook. It took me a few days to finish this book because I really wanted to absorb everything and take my time. It is slower paced but far from boring! I didn’t know much about yizkor books and this story taught me so much. They can look so different from what I previously learned and I am excited to educate my family on facts I learned from this book! There’s also a bibliography at the end, which can help guide the start of you doing your own research. If you are interested in a mix of memoir and non-fiction historical insight into Jewish life with lots of stories, you have to try Once There was a Town!

Get excited to read Once There was a Town, available January 20! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting and informative non-fiction book about preserving history through Jewish Holocaust survivors' memory books, which are also known as Yizkor books. It vividly describes the customs, cultures, and traditions of Luboml, the town in Poland where the author's ancestors lived, and documents the lives of the residents. The Yizkor books bear witness to the atrocities and suffering of the victims of the Holocaust, and create a record so that the world will never forget.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ms. Ziegelman, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this compelling book. This is my honest opinion.

[Mary C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of yizkor books, written by Holocaust survivors about the villages they lived in before they were destroyed .Details about everyday life - the food they ate, the work they did, the customs and traditions followed. Information about the atrocities the Jews suffered and the difficulties they faced trying to leave. The yizkor bools aid in remembering what was lost and how it happened.
#OnceThereWasaTown #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers stories from all walks of Jewish life, those who survived and those who were taken during the Holocaust. This book would make an addition to a Holocaust study, remembering those who may have been forgotten otherwise.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Bev Stegmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a recounting of a Jewish family’s relocation from Poland to the United States during the holocaust. Very detailed descriptions. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review. #netgalley @netgalley #stmartinspress @stmartinspress #janeziegelman @janeziegelman

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Once There Was a Town, by Jane Ziegelman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I learned a lot about Jewish customs that I did not know about. This was a heavy read but a good read.

[Karen Jaunarajs · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful little book that will stick with me for long after I've put it down.