Until We Meet Again: A True Story of Love and Survival in the Holocaust

by Michael Korenblit

Excellent Book

Genres: Holocaust, History, Nonfiction, World War II, Biography, Memoir, Historical

310 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1983

About the author

Michael Korenblit is president and co-founder of the Respect Diversity Foundation. Prior to moving back to Oklahoma in 1992, Korenblit worked 19 years for the Close Up Foundation, an educational organization in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[L.A. Starks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up after learning that the couple who ran a small-town beloved Oklahoma drive-in were, to my great surprise, also World War II Holocaust survivors from Poland. Their son has recorded and told their stories in this book, together with Kathleen Janger. The stories are difficult to read but speak to Meyer's and Manya's great resilience--their strong will to stay alive, the people who helped them and those who betrayed them, their extreme hardships in the camps, the loss of most of their families, and after liberation, their joyous reunion with one another and much later, with Manya's brother.

Although the fact comes at the end, it puts the book in context: less than 5% of the Jewish population who lived with Meyer and Manya in their small Polish town of Hrubieszow survived the Holocaust.

[Maggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book wondering if it would be a good eye-oener for my middle schoolers, but it turned out to be one for me. When you think of the Holocaust, like me, you may secretly think,"'I know about that, no point in thinking about that horrific tragedy again; too upsetting." Upsetting yes, but also engrossing, deeply moving, and incredible. I was struck anew with "How in the f-- did this crazy person get an entire society to go along with this cruel insanity? And why?" The scope and immense proportions of systematically attempting to put an entire people to death is absolutely stunning. The callous and capricious way in which people's lives were taken or spared is mind-boggling. News to me was the way people were moved from one camp to another to another, sometimes after only a short while. So was the fact that I had only heard of a few of the camps. It's only 70 years later, and though the Jews say we must never forget, I feel many have. This is a book young people can read, but it conveys the story in all its shocking horror nonetheless, with a dramatic true-story intensity and a miraculous ending (though most of the families of both protagonists were tragically lost to them regardless). One of many important books about the Holocaust, but most definitely worth your while. You will not look at your peaceful life the same way ever again.

[Lucy Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until We Meet again is definitely a book that I enjoyed and has challenged me. It has encouraged me to be thankful in everything, for the freedoms I have, and all the little things in life that sometimes I ignore or take for granted. I have always been fascinated in stories of the Holocaust so it was very interesting to read a book about an actual testimony of what the people suffered through during World War II. The terrible tortures that Jews and many other people suffered through in the work and concentration camps is unbelievable and hard to even imagine. For example at the first camp that Meyer Korenblit the main character was transported too, he was forced to do situps and pushups while the guards and instructors walked on top of them. That is just one instance of something that the jews and victims of the holocaust had to go through. This book is about how Meyer Korenblit and Manya Nagelsztajn because of their love for eachother survived the dreadful events of the holocaust and were able to find each other when the war was over, and enjoy a married life together.

[Brooke Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up from the Holocaust museum when I went earlier this year. A heartbreaking but amazing read

[Becca Bork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredible story of these handful of survivors. I’m so glad that the authors were able to tell of the family’s life.

[Nicole Schnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy books about love and bravery in the holocaust then "until we meet again" is a book you'll want to read! This is a story about a happy beginning with love, a suspenseful bravely middle, and a strong lasting ending. Until we meet again is a story about 2 famillys connected by love, Manya and Meyner childhood lovers with a share of religion. unfortunately back then germans took over Poland and rounded up Jewish people . The two families are then forced to hide and risk not being caught. risky nights of sneaking back to the ghetto to get supplies they hold onto their last supply of hope and freedom. suddenly, they are caught and the two families are torn apart. Heartbroken Manya and Meyer are sent to different camps. from then on they are forced into labor and suffering. the rest is about a true story about love and survival. Through the surroundings of death and horror they fight through this long journey. I definitely recommend this book to a friend. because I enjoyed it very much. You should definitely read this book yourself!

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand why this book is shelved in the Young Adult section of the library. Its content and writing is more suitable for adults. The story is at once one of the most beautiful and most ugly Holocaust stories that I have read. Two young Jews, Manya and Meyer, are in love. They and their families hide from the German soldiers who search out Jews in order to send them to a ghetto, to a work camp, or worse, to immediate death.

The ugliness is in the horrors of Germany's disgusting treatment of Jews during WWII. There is incredible suffering and constant uncertainty with each day. The beauty is found in the young couple's love for their families and for each other. There is beauty too in the non-Jews who try to help by providing food and places to hide. And even within the confines of the work/death camps, compassion sometimes shows itself.

The author is the son of Manya and Meyer. So yes, there is a happy ending for the couple. Of course the ending is unhappy too, since not everyone has survived Hitler's lunacy. The details in this story serve to realize each moment's fear, confusion, and physical pain. Scratching their lice-riddled bodies, ingesting a soup devoid of any solids, defecating where they stood, or withstanding beatings from their captors, this brave couple never loses sight of the possibility of a happy life together.

I am deeply touched by the author's attention to detail and by his obvious love and respect for his parents. He, through research and his parents' recollections, has created an avenue for a reader to know empathy and compassion toward all those who were singled out, persecuted and destroyed in Nazi Germany.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
This is a touching true story of two young Jews in love during the Holocaust and their struggle to survive. I love stories in which people have to overcome adversity/struggle and do so with honor. What makes this even more inspiring is that it is true. You can’t help but to think what you would have done in such unimaginable situations. Any story in which one survives through hardship makes you ponder human character-what makes us who we are and why/how we’re able to react in certain ways. I just feel that it’s so telling as to who we are or who we have the potential to be, as well as what moves us (the victims and also sometimes the victimizers). This is also a love story, as the two are separated, but long to “meet again”. I also love how this story brings to life that of the Holocaust, as it should always be remembered.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a haunting, heart-wrenching, beautiful story, told with love and ending with hope. After reading this book I feel ashamed for the times I feel overwhelmed with my piddly little problems. I became immersed in this story and after completing it am still thinking of the people in it. It's a true story, which makes it all the more poignant. It is amazing what the human spirit can endure and still have the ability to love.

I think this is my favorite book about the Holocaust because it brought everything into focus and I felt like I was there with the two main characters--living through the horrors of they endured.

I also loved it that there was some good news at the end. A miracle really.

I highly recommend this book!

[Hannah]

I read this for a boom response in literature. the book was intrigueing. Sad. But it is nice finding out in the beginning that they live. When she was blind, I cried. I couldn't believe a more remoresful thing could take place. after all that she had seen, death, friends taken away, families last faces, and love. She got it all taken away from her, not to be seen again. Until one day she woke up to half blurry vision. She got a second chance. And meyer found her. Love can go on even through the most torturous things.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time. It's a story about the power of love and the strength of the human spirit. Much like Night, this book is a tear-jerked and shows how awful human being can treat one another to make themselves feel superior. The detail, at times, can be sickening, but the amazing part of the story is that some of the characters find the will and the ability to survive. If you ever get the chance, read this book. It will make you appreciate all that you have.

[Ilene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very poignant love story about two Jews who have to face their worst nightmare of separation, losing their families and getting through the Holocaust alive until they can find each other again.

I would definitely recommend reading the forward by the author to make sure that you get the background of the story and how it came to be. The fact that this is a true story is just astounding...thinking that people can go through so much with just the thought of their loved ones to see them through.

10 stars for me!!!

[Andrea McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, it's incredible how hard it is to find this book. If you want a true story of pain, love, and perseverance, this is a book for you. "Until We Meet Again" was the first book to make me understand the true horror that was the holocaust. Prior to this story, I had read "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "Number the Stars," both of which focus on children. "Until We Meet Again" follows adults and focuses on the hardships of surviving and thriving through Hitler's reign, and not knowing whether you will ever see your loved ones again.

[Krystel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written true story about two young people in the midst of the Holocaust. This book ellaborates the amazing spirit of survival that men and women possess. It also focuses on the importance of love, family, inner strength, and forgiveness. The two main characters in this story reside in Ponca City, Ok. I have met one of them when I was a child. Their son, Michael Koernblit wrote this true love story about his parents. Michael is a motivational speaker.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The WW2 era, and Holocaust survival stories are among my favorite topics--the heroism of so many in war-torn Europe humbles me, and gives me hope for the human race. This is an engaging and well written account of the family of the author in Poland, and what happened to them. One can only wonder if the courage shown by the families, and those brave enough to try to save them--some who lost their own lives in the trying--would be possible for self.

[Ren Luebbering · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know a girl who is thinking of picking up Twilight, direct her to this instead. This beautiful, tragic (and somewhat true) love story is inspiring and heartfelt. It gives you that seem "awww" teenage love story feeling, but with much more depth and personal strength exhibited than angst in Manya and Michael, the two main characters. I love this book for all ages, but I really encourage it as a Twilight substitute.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because it was based on the true story of a couple who survived the Holocaust who are living in Ponca City, OK. One of my best friends lived next door to the couple for a while and told me I should read this. This book is captivating. I couldn't believe what they went through and how they survived. This book is a must read.

[Colene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago on a trip to Washington D.C. I bought it at the Holocaust Museum and let me tell you... The rest of the trip is a blur because I could not stop reading this book. It had me crying with every single page. Such an emotional story and such a wonderful love story. DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was difficult due to the many other Holocaust memoirs I have read lately, mostly because the people kept flitting from one place to another, always going back to the loved ones they were NOT with, which exposed them to a lot more danger.

[Amanda Coppage · Rating 4 out of 5]

It amazes how anyone could have survived the holocaust...a great book about love & courage.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandmother co-wrote this book. It's a beautiful story and one of the best-selling books at the Holocaust Museum in DC.

[Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is quite a bit of emotion in Michael Korenblit’s book Until We Meet Again. Korenblit’s book follows two protagonists, Meyer Korenblit and Manya Nagelsztajn, and their escape from the Nazis. Korenblit was trying to inform more people of the struggles of the Jewish people under Hitler’s control. Meyer and Manya go through multiple struggles trying to stay away from the Nazis but still end up going from one work camp to the next trying to survive: “This was what her own family must have experienced ten months ago, and Chaim only three months ago. This was what it was to be deported” (182).
Michael Korenblit writes the story as nonfiction, but it sounds like pure fiction. Until We Meet Again gets a 78/100 rating because of the unique storytelling and how unbelievable it is. The main theme in Until We Meet Again is perseverance because Meyer and Manya come to many different situations where they could have given up, but because they pushed on, they managed to live. Out of the 8,000 Jews from their hometown, only 200 of them made it back. It just so happens that Manya, Meyer, and Manya’s little brother, Chaim, made it through together and almost entirely due to luck. I recommend reading this book if you enjoy reading; it is hard to read at points but still worthwhile and a very interesting book.

[Penny Stansberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Hearing the author speak at my church made it even more moving. Actually, I might have to say it’s a tossup which was better for different reasons (book/author talk). Hearing a grown man tell of how he was six years old when he asked his mother what the numbers on her arm meant took my breath away. When he told of them being liberated and seeing the American flag on the vehicles coming down the road, there were emotional tears and applause from us all.

But about the book (even though the above was in the book too), to read once again of the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust and an author’s parents who survived it will leave an indelible mark on me. How Michael Korenblit’s parents endured so much fear, pain and loss and lived through so many close calls was only because God was watching over them and their promise of love and a future to each other. These are people who settled in our country in my home state of Oklahoma. This is definitely a book worthy of your time.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and thought it was a great true story, but I've been reading so many incredible Holocaust stories recently and this one just isn't quite in the same league for me. Obviously it's neat that there's the close personal connection (the boy and girl in the story are the author's parents) and the story of what they went through is amazing, but I didn't necessarily think the writing was that fantastic. I did like that while it mentioned some of the atrocities that occurred, it didn't center around them and instead tried to focus on the positives. Of course, I always like a happy ending and the fact that they not only survived, married and had children, but were eventually reunited with a family member they believed long dead was just the icing on the cake. Overall it was a quick read and a good book and I enjoyed reading it. I'd recommend it to others, especially those with an interest in Holocaust accounts, but there's probably others I'd recommend first.

[Sabrina Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read!

A friend of mine told me about this book when I was telling her about another book I was reading about holocaust survivors. This book is the story of her grandparents, Meyer & Manya Korenblit, written by her uncle Mike.

At first, I had a hard time reading it, knowing that this wasn't a story about some unknown person, this was my dear friend's grandparents. But soon, I couldn't put it down. Even though I knew that Meyer and Manya eventually must have found each other (because my friend wouldn't exist if they hadn't) I had to keep reading to find out their story. I cried, I laughed, I hurt for them and their massive losses. These stories must be told, so we never allow these atrocities to happen again. This is part of humanity's history, and those that do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. This type of history should never be repeated.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about the Holocaust are always difficult to read and this was no exception. However, knowing that Meyer and Manya had a son (who wrote this book) gave me hope of a “happily ever after” ending…eventually.

I’m amazed by what the human body and mind can endure and by the courage of those who helped others at great risk to themselves. This story is a testament to both. I’d love to hear more about Meyer and Manya’s post-war life here in Oklahoma. I hope they were happy. Their story is amazing.

[Frances Rettenmaier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of the holocaust. It is quite different because it starts off with the family planning where to hide out. It is basically the love story of the parents of the author. They do eventually get captured and sent to concentration camps. Since they were young, they were able to survive. They did get separated, and sent to various camps. There were some horrific events for them, but they managed to survive. The man was rescued by the Americans. The girl was rescued by, the Russians. It Was interesting because they ended up settling in Ponca City Oklahoma.

[Roxana P Kappmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we visited the Holocaust museum in Washington DC in 2012, the author of this book was with his wife signing copies of book. I was touched by the cute couple and bought the book. I just finally read it and was inspired to read it when I opened the caption that he wrote in the book when signing it. It read "May you always make and be friends like those in this book." I really liked this book and enjoyed the story of this couple that survived the horrors of WWII. It is beautiful love story!

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one book about holocaust survivors, this would be the one I recommend. I was convinced I would end up crying through the whole thing, and I did shed quite a few tears, but there is enough happiness and hope throughout that I didn't spend the entire book bawling. I really can't say I "enjoyed" this book, as it brought to life some horrors of the holocaust that I had previously been unaware of. It was incredibly moving and I was grateful for the bittersweet ending.