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Courage and Grace
A family’s unbelievable survival in the face of the Holocaust
Yoseph and Itzhak Komem are two young Jewish brothers hiding under fake Catholic identities in the Aryan side of a Polish town during the Holocaust. Their fascinating testimonies are brought together with those of their deaf father, their mother, and others, to convey their life stories and their unbelievable escape from the Nazis.
You’ll read this amazing literary, historical, and biographical document with bated breathThe novel weaves an unbelievable mix of everyday and nightmarish reality, between the ghetto and outside of it, colorfully portraying the struggle to survive on the rear lines of a war between the Wehrmacht and the Red Army. The memories conclude with the period of life after liberation: in the Polish People’s Republic, in an orphanage in France, in a boarding school in England, and in the Land of Israel.
A drama of tragedy and rescue, dare, courage, and graceCourage and Grace offers a unique memoir of the Second World War, written in the form of a polyphony— a chorus of voices that reverberate with each other, highlighting their differences in experience and points of view. The author recreates a gripping and suspenseful mosaic of daring escapes, concealments, and acts of valor, portraying the struggle for survival in the face of a living nightmare.
Get your copy of Courage and Grace now!461 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2017
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About the author
Yoseph Komem
2 books17 followersYoseph Komem is the descendant of a Jewish family of lace curtain manufacturers from the ancient town of Kalish, Poland. He, his brother, and their parents survived in the Nazi ruled "Generalgouvernement" during the years 1939-1945. He lived for several months in the survivors' orphanage in Bellevue, France, before immigrating to British Mandate Palestine (5.6.1947). Yoseph finished orthodox and secular schools in Tel Aviv and served in the Israeli Army on active duty. He has an MSc from the Technion in mechanical and control engineering. Komem was employed as designer and in research and development at Israel Aerospace Industries and also as designer of the first Israeli satellites. After retirement he acted as a consulting engineer in the fields of air quality control, and Intelligent technologies for control and data analysis. He currently leads the Association of Former Residents and Descendants of Kalish and Vicinity.
Yoseph is married to Azriela, and they have children and grandchildren. Yoseph Komem has experienced the most significant events of Jewish history in the twentieth century, and those are reflected in Courage and Grace.
Yoseph is married to Azriela, and they have children and grandchildren. Yoseph Komem has experienced the most significant events of Jewish history in the twentieth century, and those are reflected in Courage and Grace.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 3, 2019
WWII Holocaust. The life/times of Yoseph Komem (Jewish, brother), Itzhak Komem (Jewish, brother), & family/friends.
My bio-dad was over in WWII Germany US Army infantry. He was messed up for the rest of his life.
Not much said about the horrors he saw.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written WWII Holocaust Jewish family memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great WWII Holocaust movie, a PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
My bio-dad was over in WWII Germany US Army infantry. He was messed up for the rest of his life.
Not much said about the horrors he saw.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written WWII Holocaust Jewish family memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great WWII Holocaust movie, a PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 24, 2021
Courage and Grace: A Jewish Family’s Holocaust True Survival Story During WW2: World War II Memoir is by Yoseph Komem. This Holocaust story is told by different members of the family who wrote their stories down at different times in their lives. Yoseph also had taped interviews with various family members over a span of years to get the entire story. Although parts of their stories don’t always align, they are telling it from their own points of view. I will use the names Yoseph used when he told the story, not their Jewish names. Yoseph is Marek and Itzhak is Marian. They were between the ages of 3-10 during 1939-1945.
Grandfather Shemuel had created a successful business in Poland but eventually moved to Israel. He wanted his sons to follow him; but they stayed in Poland. He was very upset with them and did little to help them after that. He went to Israel with his wife and daughters Roza and Genia. He became very successful in Israel and created places for his boys and their families to live when they came to Israel. However, it wasn’t much.
Moshe or Moniek or Mateusz was Marek’s Father. As a child, he had scarlet fever and became deaf. He was schooled in Vienna in a special school and did very well. He spoke Polish and German very authentically. He was outgoing and friendly. He repaired and ran the machines in the Tulle and Curtain factory owned by his family. He was able to pass as Polish and not Jewish due to his blond hair and blue eyes and his false ID. He did a multitude of jobs during the war to support his family as well as his two sisters and their children in the ghetto and many other friends. He found safe places for his family to stay and tried for his sisters; but they stayed in the ghetto. He never forgave himself for being unable to save them. Later, he became very involved with the deaf groups in Israel.
Cesia was Marek’s Mother. She was from a family with many rabbis in it that dated back to the 1200’s. Although next to the youngest of 11 children by two mothers, she became the “Mother figure” when her own mother died. Though her family objected at first, she was determined to marry Moshe. She stayed home and raised her two sons as well as helped Moshe. When she was separated from Marian, she and Marek survived with the help of neighbors. She even helped one lady with selling baked goods to help raise money. Most of the time, she and Marek were hiding in the open under false names while Marian was in hiding with her sister Francia or Mila. Eventually, she was captured and sent to Stuttgart where she finished out the war. When they moved to Israel, she had a hard time finding her place now that the danger was over and Marek and Marian no longer needed her. She and Moshe tried; but never made friends like they used to have.
Marian was older than Marek and much quieter and more sedate. He was always interested in books and reading. He spent a great deal of time hiding with Leopolda Kuropieska and her family. After the war, she married a Polish diplomat and moved to London. With his parents’ permission, she adopted Marian and took him to London with her. Eventually he attended boarding school in London until he went to Israel with his Grandfather. He became a school teacher. He married a Holocaust survivor and had three children and six grandchildren. He wrote his memoir but he spent as much of his time as possible reading books and sitting in the quiet and he can’t remember portions of what happened to him. Most of his time was with his Aunt Francia and Leopolda.
Marek or Yoseph or Jurek was the second child of Moshe and Cesia. He was born in 1936. He was 3 when the War broke out. He went into hiding with his Mother using a Polish Catholic name. He was more outgoing and rambunctious than Marian. He was too loud or too talkative or something. Eventually, he was placed with a friend when it became clear that someone had identified them as Jews. He ended up with his Father and eventually in an orphanage in France before he and his parents went to Israel after the War. He had problems socially with his peers and eventually became an engineer in Israel. He married a Holocaust survivor and had three children and five grandchildren. His memories are basically those of a young child and are dependent mainly on the physical. He can describe where he was and create a floor plan of the house as well as his few interactions with other children. However, he shut out what adults were saying so he couldn’t tell anything if he was tortured.
This book is unique in that it doesn’t rely on one person’s memories but on several and from different viewpoints. We get views from all the family members as well as some extended members as well as those of some of the rescuers and their families. This makes for a very different but a very detailed memoir. It is not one you can rush through; but you have to take breaks to keep from getting confused as to who they are talking about when. It does get a little tiresome reading about the same event over and over even if from some one else's viewpoint.
Grandfather Shemuel had created a successful business in Poland but eventually moved to Israel. He wanted his sons to follow him; but they stayed in Poland. He was very upset with them and did little to help them after that. He went to Israel with his wife and daughters Roza and Genia. He became very successful in Israel and created places for his boys and their families to live when they came to Israel. However, it wasn’t much.
Moshe or Moniek or Mateusz was Marek’s Father. As a child, he had scarlet fever and became deaf. He was schooled in Vienna in a special school and did very well. He spoke Polish and German very authentically. He was outgoing and friendly. He repaired and ran the machines in the Tulle and Curtain factory owned by his family. He was able to pass as Polish and not Jewish due to his blond hair and blue eyes and his false ID. He did a multitude of jobs during the war to support his family as well as his two sisters and their children in the ghetto and many other friends. He found safe places for his family to stay and tried for his sisters; but they stayed in the ghetto. He never forgave himself for being unable to save them. Later, he became very involved with the deaf groups in Israel.
Cesia was Marek’s Mother. She was from a family with many rabbis in it that dated back to the 1200’s. Although next to the youngest of 11 children by two mothers, she became the “Mother figure” when her own mother died. Though her family objected at first, she was determined to marry Moshe. She stayed home and raised her two sons as well as helped Moshe. When she was separated from Marian, she and Marek survived with the help of neighbors. She even helped one lady with selling baked goods to help raise money. Most of the time, she and Marek were hiding in the open under false names while Marian was in hiding with her sister Francia or Mila. Eventually, she was captured and sent to Stuttgart where she finished out the war. When they moved to Israel, she had a hard time finding her place now that the danger was over and Marek and Marian no longer needed her. She and Moshe tried; but never made friends like they used to have.
Marian was older than Marek and much quieter and more sedate. He was always interested in books and reading. He spent a great deal of time hiding with Leopolda Kuropieska and her family. After the war, she married a Polish diplomat and moved to London. With his parents’ permission, she adopted Marian and took him to London with her. Eventually he attended boarding school in London until he went to Israel with his Grandfather. He became a school teacher. He married a Holocaust survivor and had three children and six grandchildren. He wrote his memoir but he spent as much of his time as possible reading books and sitting in the quiet and he can’t remember portions of what happened to him. Most of his time was with his Aunt Francia and Leopolda.
Marek or Yoseph or Jurek was the second child of Moshe and Cesia. He was born in 1936. He was 3 when the War broke out. He went into hiding with his Mother using a Polish Catholic name. He was more outgoing and rambunctious than Marian. He was too loud or too talkative or something. Eventually, he was placed with a friend when it became clear that someone had identified them as Jews. He ended up with his Father and eventually in an orphanage in France before he and his parents went to Israel after the War. He had problems socially with his peers and eventually became an engineer in Israel. He married a Holocaust survivor and had three children and five grandchildren. His memories are basically those of a young child and are dependent mainly on the physical. He can describe where he was and create a floor plan of the house as well as his few interactions with other children. However, he shut out what adults were saying so he couldn’t tell anything if he was tortured.
This book is unique in that it doesn’t rely on one person’s memories but on several and from different viewpoints. We get views from all the family members as well as some extended members as well as those of some of the rescuers and their families. This makes for a very different but a very detailed memoir. It is not one you can rush through; but you have to take breaks to keep from getting confused as to who they are talking about when. It does get a little tiresome reading about the same event over and over even if from some one else's viewpoint.
Want to read
July 8, 2019TheFussyLibrarian
October 14, 2019
Wow what a story. Very inspiring and horrendous at the same time. I liked the different viewpoints of different family members. Highly recommended!
August 28, 2019
A timely look at what the holocaust and concentration camps were like in reality. Our senators and congressmen/congresswomen would benefit a refresher on these terrible places and treatments.
Read
August 16, 2019A survivor of the Holocaust era in Eastern Europe tells his story of, as a child, being separated from much of his family and living under a false identity, with constant fear of discovery despite frequent moves.
The book opens with pre-Holocaust family details which are vague but unimportant, actually part of its charm
The volume contains maps and family trees of both sides to assist the reader in following the narrative narrative
Most significant and surprising to this reader was learning that the writer's father, whose skills at creating false documents are highlighted, was deaf, had attended schools for the deaf, and therefore had an extensive deaf network which assisted the family in their many surreptitious moves.
Because the writer was a child, it is unlikely that he was told everything, and many details are acknowledged to be vague, but the reader gets his point of view and learns what his life was like.
Although there's no surprise ending, the account of constant movement, false identities and general fear is compelling, as is the reminder that there were indeed “righteous Gentiles” who risked their own lives to save others.
Let's also never forget that there's a good reason many Holocaust survivors , even after the Nazis were defeated, spent their lives suffering from PTSD, expecting the next one.
The book opens with pre-Holocaust family details which are vague but unimportant, actually part of its charm
The volume contains maps and family trees of both sides to assist the reader in following the narrative narrative
Most significant and surprising to this reader was learning that the writer's father, whose skills at creating false documents are highlighted, was deaf, had attended schools for the deaf, and therefore had an extensive deaf network which assisted the family in their many surreptitious moves.
Because the writer was a child, it is unlikely that he was told everything, and many details are acknowledged to be vague, but the reader gets his point of view and learns what his life was like.
Although there's no surprise ending, the account of constant movement, false identities and general fear is compelling, as is the reminder that there were indeed “righteous Gentiles” who risked their own lives to save others.
Let's also never forget that there's a good reason many Holocaust survivors , even after the Nazis were defeated, spent their lives suffering from PTSD, expecting the next one.
September 27, 2019
This book is an eye opener to the reality of the evils man can do. The amount of suffering this family and others had to endure because of their religious beliefs and bloodlines is unbelievable, yet it happened. Their were so many names of people affected by Hitler’s and his Hitlerites that I had a hard time following what was going on to who. Also, some people change names so that added to my confusion. I understand enough to know that their was great suffering and death to many. Meitek was a blessing to many because of his Anglo looks. He was able to go places and do things others couldn’t, thus providing an income for his family and some time others. A lot of people risked their lives to help others. This book showed some of the struggles people endured just to survive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2020
To read actual transcripts of this family’s experiences during the Holocaust was different and very enlightening. It was so much more real to read each family member’s recollections of what they went had to deal with in order to survive. I truly felt the turmoil, confusion, and horror that was happening. The fact that they were driven to survive and keep their families intact was proof that the human spirit was strong and very much alive and that their belief in God’s will kept them going. Thank you for writing this book.
February 9, 2021
I set this book aside after receiving it as a Goodreads Giveaway several years ago as it was in a Kindle format, and I found it hard to read using the app on my phone at that time. However, I remained very interested in the subject and when I picked up "Courage and Grace:..." several weeks ago, I was amazed by the details of the true story of Yoseph Komem, his family, and close family friends during the Holocaust. His story is one of significant determination and luck. The memoirs that it captures are important testimony and have greatly enhanced my knowledge of that place and time.
August 18, 2019
Courage and grace is an inspiring story, which will leave you at the edge of your seat. This story is breathtaking with it's survival, adventures and bedlam. Not only does it take you back in time to the horrific times of what the boys went through during the holocaust, but their survival. Highly recommended to read! Tina McCarter
March 19, 2020
This story brings the hideous events of the holocaust into the personal level as one family's experience is presented in detail. The evil is chilling as people are mercilessly massacred based on their heritage. This book should be required reading in American schools to keep the memory alive and prevent a recurrence.
August 17, 2020
Very Long
A very long story about a Jewish Family's story of survival thru the Holocaust in Poland. It contains many names of family, friends and places which I found difficult to follow. So I only skimmed through this book. I feel that this book is best read by those with some knowledge of Poland's language and areas of Poland.
A very long story about a Jewish Family's story of survival thru the Holocaust in Poland. It contains many names of family, friends and places which I found difficult to follow. So I only skimmed through this book. I feel that this book is best read by those with some knowledge of Poland's language and areas of Poland.
January 14, 2021
Amazing
I have read.many books dealing with holocaust & Poland this account has been the best ! It is a book that was difficult for me as I am a skip reader & in order to fully follow this history of so many family members experience in this tragic struggle of survival i found myself rereading sections in order to get all the characters in their places.
I have read.many books dealing with holocaust & Poland this account has been the best ! It is a book that was difficult for me as I am a skip reader & in order to fully follow this history of so many family members experience in this tragic struggle of survival i found myself rereading sections in order to get all the characters in their places.
March 20, 2023
I'm glad that the author recorded his memories of WWII and those of some of his family members. It's really important to remember what happened. I had a very difficult time keeping people straight, because of similar names and nicknames. The organization of the book left me confused at times, but I'm still glad I got to learn about this family.
September 25, 2019
Words just aren’t enough.
How do you comprehend survival in the face of unrelenting apathy for life? The recorded accounts in Courage and Grace are a must-read for all of us. The lives lost must be recounted by the lives saved. This is a read for all ages.
How do you comprehend survival in the face of unrelenting apathy for life? The recorded accounts in Courage and Grace are a must-read for all of us. The lives lost must be recounted by the lives saved. This is a read for all ages.
November 27, 2019
A difficult but important read
I have read much about this time but nothing else compares to this account of tremendous survival. I so appreciated this very real account of what it was like to be Jewish. Definitely worth your time.
I have read much about this time but nothing else compares to this account of tremendous survival. I so appreciated this very real account of what it was like to be Jewish. Definitely worth your time.
March 7, 2020
Such a fitting title - Courage and Grace
Such a resilient family in such inconceivable dangers! And all those wonderful people who took such risks to aid and protect Jewish people in such dire times. I can only hope I would do the same.
Such a resilient family in such inconceivable dangers! And all those wonderful people who took such risks to aid and protect Jewish people in such dire times. I can only hope I would do the same.
Want to read
July 8, 2019Placeholder
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
September 1, 2019
Randolph Review
I appreciated the authenticity of the text. The interviewees were allowed to let their own voices come through in the transcriptions.
I appreciated the authenticity of the text. The interviewees were allowed to let their own voices come through in the transcriptions.
September 4, 2019
Some stories are to be savored and held close; others deserve to be abandoned. I abandoned this due to excessive tediousness.
September 9, 2019
Interesting
A complete family version of the history of all sides and interviews of families of this horror. Gave different perspectives with each family member.
A complete family version of the history of all sides and interviews of families of this horror. Gave different perspectives with each family member.
September 20, 2019
.
A very interesting account of experiences during World War II from a Jewish point of view.
The only problem I had with this book was keeping the name straight. So many!
A very interesting account of experiences during World War II from a Jewish point of view.
The only problem I had with this book was keeping the name straight. So many!
September 23, 2019
This story is told from the perspective of numerous family members who survived the holocaust. We should NEVER forget that horrible time in history.
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win.
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win.
September 26, 2019
Courage and Grace
A very in depth Jewish family history that follows them thru their travels living and surviving in world war 2 Nazi Germany,
A very in depth Jewish family history that follows them thru their travels living and surviving in world war 2 Nazi Germany,
July 21, 2020
Amazing
The ability to survive, the resilience to continue living is what amazed me. Thank you for sharing this Amaziing story of survival. Blessings
The ability to survive, the resilience to continue living is what amazed me. Thank you for sharing this Amaziing story of survival. Blessings
April 27, 2021
The story of a Polish Jewish families survival during WWII.
April 4, 2020
This is a very chilling and horrendous account of one families courage to survive. Only if you have walked in their shoes, unbelievable, yet it happened. Highly recommended.
Read
August 1, 2019This is a book that is going to stay with me a long time. It's written by a Holocaust survivor. It's a story about survival and sacrifice, life and death. I have read many books about the Holocaust and this is one of the best ones.
August 15, 2019
It was an interesting story with a lot of history in it. However, I did find this book hard to follow. The different names and languages. I would like to re-read it again where I could be with no interruptions and am able to just focus on the book. An WWII historian should read this book.
July 8, 2017
Courage and Grace is a memoir from a child’s perspective on surviving World War II in Poland. Additionally, the author includes an account from his father and other relatives that detail and support his testimony of how they made it through the invasion from Germany and liberation by Russia. The book contains a lot of historically significant pictures and documents that anyone interested in studying this historical period would find fascinating. This book is different from many of the Holocaust books I have read in that only one member of the family ended up in a concentration camp and while there are some details concerning those accounts most of the story is spent detailing how the family hid and obtained documents to continue living outside ghettos as well as continue to work. The father of the family is deaf and led a very different life from what you normally read in these types of memoirs. My favorite fact about the father of the family was they actually made the black out curtains that were used during the war and produced them for the Germans. This was a very unique account to read.
The book is really well written and kept my attention despite its intimidating length. The documents and pictures the author included were amazing to look at. The story isn’t as gory or heartbreaking as the other accounts I have read although there certainly is pain and suffering in the stories; the author choses to describe them simply and move on so the reader doesn’t feel as emotionally turbulent. The author has taken great care to accurately tell the story of his family and close friends to preserve this history for others. I also was glad he included what happened to them after the war and how tough it still was as the resettling began. None of the accounts that I have read go on to describe what exactly happened after the war and it was interesting to read how the family was rebuilt and how it still wasn’t a quick transition back from an anti-Semanticist atmosphere.
I wish the author had not made the book into such an outline. I would have much preferred alternating chapters of his father and his accounts instead of reading each separately because it felt like just reading two books on the same thing and I feel it could have been condensed greatly if the author had mixed both he and his father’s accounts. That is about the only complaint I have with the book. I thank the author for the diagrams to see how everyone related to each other because that was a little hard with all the assumed alias names and so forth but there’s simply no correcting that and I feel the author did his best with it.
In all, this was a very unique and worth while read of the World War II Holocaust and how many Jewish and Polish people were able to avoid being sent to a concentration camp as well as how those affected settled back into life after the war was over. I highly recommend this as part of the regular reading people would usually be directed to like Corrie Ten Boom and Ellie Weisel. The author preserved the history of how his family contributed to their survival as well as many around them during this harsh period of war.
The book is really well written and kept my attention despite its intimidating length. The documents and pictures the author included were amazing to look at. The story isn’t as gory or heartbreaking as the other accounts I have read although there certainly is pain and suffering in the stories; the author choses to describe them simply and move on so the reader doesn’t feel as emotionally turbulent. The author has taken great care to accurately tell the story of his family and close friends to preserve this history for others. I also was glad he included what happened to them after the war and how tough it still was as the resettling began. None of the accounts that I have read go on to describe what exactly happened after the war and it was interesting to read how the family was rebuilt and how it still wasn’t a quick transition back from an anti-Semanticist atmosphere.
I wish the author had not made the book into such an outline. I would have much preferred alternating chapters of his father and his accounts instead of reading each separately because it felt like just reading two books on the same thing and I feel it could have been condensed greatly if the author had mixed both he and his father’s accounts. That is about the only complaint I have with the book. I thank the author for the diagrams to see how everyone related to each other because that was a little hard with all the assumed alias names and so forth but there’s simply no correcting that and I feel the author did his best with it.
In all, this was a very unique and worth while read of the World War II Holocaust and how many Jewish and Polish people were able to avoid being sent to a concentration camp as well as how those affected settled back into life after the war was over. I highly recommend this as part of the regular reading people would usually be directed to like Corrie Ten Boom and Ellie Weisel. The author preserved the history of how his family contributed to their survival as well as many around them during this harsh period of war.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews