Jews in the Garden
A Holocaust Survivor, the Fate of His Family, and the Secret History of Poland in World War II
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Jews in the Garden
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Narrated by:
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Judy Rakowsky
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By:
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Judy Rakowsky
About this listen
Villages of Poland hide the lost secrets of World War II
1944: Heavy footfalls thud on the road on a rainy May night. A band of gunmen scour a hilltop farm, acting on rumors that it harbors a Jewish family. For 18 months, the Rozeneks have been hiding safely, but their luck is about to run out. Only one from the family of six will live to see the sunrise. Sixteen-year-old Hena Rozenek shelters in the woods until morning . . . and then she runs.
Forty years later: Holocaust survivor Sam Rakowski Ron has lived in the United States for decades, never thinking he could return to the Polish village he fled as a teenager. But now he's ready to talk about what he heard, what he saw, and what he knows about two separate families of cousins who were his neighbors, and presumably were killed during the war. The story Poland presents to the world is that Poles saved more Jews than citizens of any other nation, that any murders in Poland were committed by Nazis and Nazis alone. But Sam, while defending his countrymen, suspects a painful truth. The stories he shares with his younger cousin, Judy, an investigative journalist, send them off on a decades-long journey unlike any other to find out what happened to the Rozenek family and ultimately reveal the secrets the Polish government is still desperate to keep.
©2023 Judy Rakowsky (P)2023 HighBridge, a division of Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Jews in the Garden
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-12-23
a stunning story of a survivor
Thank you for sharing your story of your search for Henia. I loved your connection with Sam and the importance of searching for the truth.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather Coltman
- 08-20-23
Incredibly interesting
Deeply personal and very compelling. This was beautifully researched and told, and meant a lot to me, as I believe I met Judy’s grandfather when I lived in South Florida.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-06-23
Must Listen!
I love when books are read by their authors. It feels like the writer's voice is coming through as intended (and here it also means that the pronunciation of the Polish names isn't butchered). Rakowsky's experience as an investigative journalist makes this book feel like a thrilling mystery. But the way she weaves in personal anecdotes also makes it a touching exploration of a painful history. The complexity of Holocaust survivor Sam's relationship with his home country is evident, and the book is written with the nuance that such a story demands. The focus on the truth in a time where there are so many lies and falsehoods is refreshing and empowering. This is a must listen!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Melissa Klipfel
- 07-11-24
AMAZING journey
I had no clue of how much the Pols took part in the extermination and theft from the Jews. This is a beautiful story. I wish I could meet Sam and his family.
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