Щоденник львівського гетто. Спогади рабина Давида Кахане

by David Kahane, Давид Кахане

Ця книга свідчення духовної особи, рабина Давида Кахане про трагічну долю львівських євреїв періоду фашистської окупації, про власний порятунок, порятунок дружини й доньки у монастирях Студійського уставу, резиденції митрополита Шептицького, його роздуми про сенс Голокосту.

Вперше подаються спогади українців-галичан про рабина Кахане, інформація про галицьких рабинів і католицьке духовенство часів Другої світової війни.

Становить інтерес для істориків, краєзнавців, тих, хто цікавиться історією, сучасністю, перспективою міжнаціональних взаємин.

Genres: History, Holocaust, Memoir, Nonfiction

First published December 1, 1990

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The diary may not actually be a diary. I'm not sure when many of the "entries" were written; perhaps Kahane *did* write some of them during his time in Lvov, but many of them read more like memoirs.

I really appreciate, however, the information given about the Christian religious movement that saved so many Jews in Ukraine/Poland. Very interesting.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this immediately after Suite Francaise. Any sympathy I mustered for German soldiers who just couldn't help the situation of war in the previous book was gone after the first few pages. As a memoir, it's a bit dry & detached, but very informative. It gives a good rundown of Jewish society within the ghetto.

[Pavlo]

It's hard to give a star rating to a book of this kind. Also it would be very easy (but pointless) to say "not as good as Primo Levi (or Anne Frank)."

Obviously fascinating to me, because it deals with my hometown. Very good for what it is.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book represents the memoirs of Rabbi David Kahane who survived the Holocaust by the grace of God (and not for lack of trying) by the Germans and Ukrainians. I can't do it justice with a review. Please read this book. Rabbi Kahane started to record his notes toward the end of World War II while being hid in a monastery. He did not compile them into book form for 12 years for reasons that were not detailed.

There were a couple of things about this book that engaged me on a deep level:


The sadness and utter fruitlessness with which Rabbi Kahane searches for compassion in his fellow man. An exception should be made for the Metropolitan (kind of a bishop), and the monks and priests of the "Ukrainian church" who helped him and his family hide.

The efforts of the before-mentioned Metropolitan to admonish his flock concerning their treatment of Jews. In a pastoral letter, reproduced in the appendix, he appeals to his parishioners using Jesus command to love one another. He warns them of the consequence of disobeying. (There is little ambiguity and we are privy to the thoughts of a man who clearly has a better understanding of the cause-and-effect nature of the spiritual and physical worlds.)

You may be familiar with Holocaust literature detailing incredible stories of survival and the heightened capabilities of a person committed to living. This book will be remembered for illustrating the horrible depths (of surrender) among those who have lost all desire.

[Micebyliz]

I appreciated this account for many reasons, but i think mostly because it included references to historical and religious events/laws/poetry, etc. that were relevant to the current situation. It made the whole picture more meaningful and understandable. Especially for a time in history that is so impossible to understand anyway.

[Matty]

Author is Janowska escapee and wrote diary during war

Janowska Road Camp cruelty
Camp commander Wilhaus wife Otilia had lady's pistol and their tiny tot Hydka clapped her hands with great joy watching killings on their front porch
He's bil of Major General Katzman of SS & police chief of Galicia

Eyewitness accounts of Shpitalna bath-house experience of Janowska inmates p111-113