Tunnel, Smuggle, Collect: A Holocaust Boy

by Jeffrey N. Gingold

A boy should never be forced to gather the dead or watch his family starve to death. Based on the hidden and illuminating video and audio recordings of interviews with the author’s father and grandmother, Tunnel, Smuggle, A Holocaust Boy (2nd edition) tells the true and tormenting story of a 7-year-old boy during the Holocaust. When Germany occupied Poland in 1939, he and his family were confined to the Warsaw Ghetto, along with 400,000 other Jews. Young Sam Gingold helps his family survive by smuggling food and medicines, and as the war continues, is forced to labor under Nazi rule in the walled city within a city. After a harrowing underground escape, the family is pursued by the Gestapo across the Polish countryside. A compelling, poignant story of courage, resilience, and determination. For the Gingold family, “survivor” is a living word.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 27, 2015

About the author

Jeffrey N. Gingold is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author, and published freelance writer. Jeffrey has been interviewed on national television, public radio shows, in magazines, and numerous global publications. He is an outspoken advocate for Holocaust education who shares his father*s epic survival and unforeseen life twists in the Warsaw ghetto. Jeffrey donates 100 percent of his author royalties from this publication to Holocaust education and research.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving

I have read many books about WWII and the Holocaust, including some personal accounts. I've also read history books and historical fiction. This was the first account I read about someone who lived in a ghetto. This was also one of the most relate-able accounts I've ever read. Maybe that's because I'm an adult, maybe because my time of life is similar to that of Leah's, maybe because of the way the book is written ... I suspect it is some of all of the above.

I never cried while reading this book, but I definitely got teary. When I'd put the book down, I'd keep thinking about what the Gingold's went through. It's a book that stays with you. And that's important. We need to never forget what happened, and we need to make sure it never happens again.

Personally, I would've left the subtitle "A Holocaust Boy" off the book. The focus of the book is not on Sam, he is just one of the movers and players in the story. The story is really his family's collective story, not his.

I read an ARC and I'm sure some of these issues have been corrected since I know there was an updated version before the book was published, but I did not read that manuscript. Toward the end of the book there are a couple editing mistakes, and the afterward is somewhat awkwardly attached to the end. It ties the beginning of the book full circle, but it was not seamlessly done.

My only other complaint in the book is there is a bit of Yiddish in the book that is transliterated, but not translated. I have no problem with including the Yiddish in the book, but I do think translations would be helpful, even if just in footnotes. Many times the Yiddish is paraphrased or the English response gives the context to get a good idea of what was said in Yiddish, but a direct translation is always better.

If the issues I mention above were fixed before publication, it is a 5 star book. If they were not, the book is 4-4.5 stars, depending on how much was changed.

This is a book that will stay with you and offers a perspective on the war and the Holocaust that is not mainstream. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jennifer Hinterscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this story by one of the people in it. Baruch, who goes by Bill, was a guest speaker who shared his experiences as a Jewish infant/toddler/boy during WWII.

So many stories from this point in history are about families being ripped apart. It was interesting and reassuring to read about a family that was cautious, courageous and managed to cone through the war together.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been reading a lot about the Holocaust lately, mostly accounts of individuals who witnessed the atrocities committed in concentration camps. However, until this book, I have not had the opportunity to read an account of an individual who witnessed life inside the Jewish ghettos during WWII.

The braveness of the people that lived through these horrendous experiences never ceases to amaze me. At the beginning of this book, Leah gives birth to a baby boy inside of a city and a hospital that is being bombed, with walls crumbling down all around her. Merely a day later, she takes the long trek out of the city with thousands of other people, carrying the swaddled baby while having to run from ditch to ditch in order to avoid the German planes shooting into the masses of people fleeing the city.

Duvid led his wife, her brother and sister, his 6 year-old son and his 1 day-old baby out of their city, while it was being bombed, guiding the family to jump into ditches frequently to avoid the German planed that flew overhead, shooting into the thousands of civilians escaping the bombings, lasting throughout the day, until nightfall. Unfortunately, when the family made it to the Russian border, the Russians handed them over to the Germans, who returned them to the city after their death-defying escape.

Sam and his family were taken to the Warsaw ghettos, where they were forced to share a small apartment with 4 other families. His family of 4, along with Leah’s brother and sister, crowded into one bedroom. Leah and the baby slept on the only mattress, the rest of them “positioned themselves like a set of spoons all facing the same direction. One could only turn if they all turned together.” The family only had 2 blankets, one for the baby and the other had to be passed around and shared.

The family clung so hard to their Jewish heritage, which helped them see some good in everything bad that was happening to them. When another family moved into their already overcrowded apartment, a mohel was among them, which allowed the baby his bris ceremony and circumcision, even if it was a month late. The ceremony made everyone present happy, even those that were not a part of the family and had only met them upon arriving at the ghetto.

The bris was a ritual that affirmed the past, while facing the unknown. It was the only time Sam and his family would smile in the Warsaw ghetto and the last time they would be happy in Poland.

Unlike most others who gave up and died of starvation, or waited to die, in hopes that things might eventually get better, Duvid took his family’s future into his own hands. Although it meant teaching his young son to hide and guide his way through the dark and dangerous streets of the ghetto and its secret passages, Duvid would feed his family and find a way to escape from the Germans.

I especially admired Sam’s father, Duvid. Although the family went through a terrible experience, they were lucky in the sense that they were able to remain together during it, with Leah’s brother and sister able to stay with them until they successfully escaped the ghetto.

I really enjoyed this book! It gave a unique perspective of the Jewish ghettos, while many books tell of experiences in the concentration camps or fighting in the war. I like being able to read many different experiences during that time. This account is well-written and keeps the reader engaged throughout the family’s long journey to safety and freedom.

[Lisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having heard a presentation by the author's uncle, I definately want to fill some blanks. Particularly in comparison to current day's antisemitism, its hard to think of it going this far again. What strong people.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many holocaust survivor books but none have touched my heart the way this one has. The things Sam had to see and endure, no small child should ever have to. Sam’s mother Leah is the true meaning of resilience. The author and Sams son, Jeffrey, did a great job in the writing and descriptions. I didn’t feel anything was exaggerated...instead, real and raw. Even though I know Polish, I don’t know Yiddish and would have preferred translations on the few Yiddish sentences throughout the book. Many times I got choked up and feared the worst, but I knew the ending. I knew the ending because a week ago I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Sam and speaking with him. He briefly shared parts of his life with me. It was a pleasure to meet him and hold his hand. Thank you Sam for sharing your life with all of us through the book...we must all never forget.

[Deborah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Courage

This is a story of a family surviving the harsh conditions brought by the Nazis in world war two. Each family member did their part to contribute to the survival of the group. The experiences they endured at the hands of the Russians and escaping from the Warsaw ghetto are heart wrenching. I had to set the book aside after reading of the harsh conditions and starvation of the family. My heart broke reading of an eight year old assigned to gather dead bodies each day. I was thrilled when the Americans rescued Jewish people from the Soviet held areas. This is a story that should be read by high school students and all adults.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few weeks ago I attended a talk given by the author's uncle, William (Baruch) Gingold (the baby born on the day the Nazi's invaded Warsaw) about his family's survival and journey to freedom as they escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto.
I will be recommending this book to everyone because we need to remember and to resist hatred in all forms so that something like this never happens again. Especially now.

[Loren Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. It was a great story of survival and family.

[Roxanne Tibbits · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Sam Gingold, the subject of the book. He graciously let of my students interview him. Having met him and hearing a pieces of his life, in addition to his son’s heartfelt rendering of Sam’s story made this a great read.

[Mimi Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

The circumstances were horrible but the strength of the family was incredible. They had a happy ending but so many were much less fortunate.

[Erica Nack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book so highly

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title through NetGalley for review.

I have long been deeply interested in the events involved and surrounding the Holocaust. I expected this book to be an account of a single family's struggle through the harrowing process of survival, yet it proved to be much more. There were moments where I felt anger, sadness and hope for the young boy who the novel seemed to center around.

I did feel as though there were parts that were rushed and lacking development, although this added to what I assume life at this time was like. I don't know any Yiddish myself, so it was a bit confusing at moments where the family was speaking Yiddish and I had no guide to translate.

All in all, I was grateful to be able to share this account of the events, as I fork that they are heavily unpublished.

[Polly Krize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Inspiring and moving, this is the story of a Jewish family in WWII Poland. But it is much more. As the Jewish oppression deepens, the Gingolds are forced to live hand-to-mouth for many years in the Warsaw Ghetto. Seven-year old Sam Gingold must smuggle food, medicine and also labour for the Germans removing the dead. An escape becomes the only way to stay alive. Based on his family recordings, Mr. Gingold relates this poignant story well, holding nothing back, and as a result honors his family and the difficult choices forced on them in order to survive.

[Kazimiera pendrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this Ebook for the purpose of a review.This book is about a Jewish family and what happens to them during the Second World War. this book tells a truely incredible story I was up untill 1 am last night because i could not bear to put it down before the end.I would recommend this for anyone who has a liking for memoirs and biographies

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book about the Holocaust boy whose family were put in the jewish ghettos in Warsaw when the Nazis invaded Poland and were subjected to hard labour, vicious and brutal murders of whole families put in ghettos to liquidate them. How they tunnelled, smuggled to keep family members together alive in the midst of hell on earth.

[colleen mansfield-chiong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

This is a well written account of one family and their struggle to survive. My only compliant is the amount of Yiddish (or polish) that is not translated into English. This makes the reading difficult at times. Good book, overall.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read but difficult because of the story. Always good to hear the stories of the Holocaust so that it is never forgotten. The photos at the end of the book made the story even more personal.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been deeply interested in the events involved and surrounding the Holocaust. I expected this book to be an account of a single family's struggle through the harrowing process of survival, yet it proved to be much more. There were moments where I felt anger, sadness and hope for the young boy who the novel seemed to center around.

I did feel as though there were parts that were rushed and lacking development, although this added to what I assume life at this time was like. I don't know any Yiddish myself, so it was a bit confusing at moments where the family was speaking Yiddish and I had no guide to translate.

All in all, I was grateful to be able to share this account of the events, as I fork that they are heavily unpublished.