Table of Contents

Recommendations ix

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction xxi

1. Bubbie 1

2. The World I once knew 14

3. Nechamka 24

4. Family 28

5. Life in Poland 33

6. Russian Control 46

7. Unforgettable Images 49

8. German Occupation 55

9. The Beginning of the End 60

10. Life in the Attic 70

11. A New Ghetto 75

12. One Thousand Remaining 79

13. In the Forest 86

14. Liberation 93

15. My Home 97

16. Looking for a New Home 100

17. Leaving ‘Blood-Soaked Europe’ 105

18. Moving to a New Country 108

19. My odd Wedding Day 117

20. Righteous Among the Nations 122

21. More of Mania’s Writings 127

Postscript 143

Kind Review Request 145

Notes 147

About the Author

Adena Astrowsky has dedicated her career to helping the most vulnerable of our society. She did this by prosecuting child sexual abuse cases and domestic violence cases within the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. She became Maricopa County's expert concerning the prosecution of domestic violence related strangulation cases, and taught extensively on that subject. Adena taught Sunday School at her temple for eight years, with the last two years co-teaching "Character Development Through the Studies of the Holocaust." Once a month Adena volunteers at the local Scottsdale library with her therapy dog, Charlie, as part of the Tail Waggin' Tales Program. Adena has also chaired events to raise money for the Emily Center of Phoenix Children's Hospital. Recently, Adena was recognized for her professional and philanthropic work with an Amazing Woman Award from the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona. Adena's greatest role, however, is as the mother of three very active children. She, and her husband, Brad, are kept very busy with their respective dance, theater, music, and athletic activities.

Reviews

"Adena Bernstein Astrowsky describes an important and tragic chapter in world history in Living among the Dead. In sharing the story of her grandmother through WWII and the Holocaust, she reminds us that we must remember these experiences so that they are never allowed to happen again." — Harvey Mackay, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Swim with The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
"Using both her own words and her grandmother's, Astrowsky weaves the story of survival against all odds during the Holocaust. Before I had even finished the book, I felt I knew "Bubbie" and could hear her unwavering voice through her poetry and her amazing story of war and strife in EasternEurope." —Kimberly Klett, Museum Teacher 2003-04, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Executive Deputy Director, Educators' Institute for Human Rights.
"In order to understand history's impact is to have first-hand accounts of those who lived it; it is also important to never forget the events of the holocaust so that history does not repeat itself. Living among the Dead is an excellent book that does both." —Paul Becker, Scottsdale Unified School District SecondaryLanguage Arts Coach
"Living among the Dead transforms the study of the Holocaust from a distant event to a personal journey. As a teacher, I believe reading this book will help my students develop a richer, more intimate understanding of this period in history, and better equip them to do the important work of sharing the lessons of the Holocaust with future generations." —Sarah Armistead, M.P.A., 8th Grade History Teacher
"I found Living Among the Dead very emotional and poignant. The imagery was so clear and expressive, and I admired Bubbie for her strength and spirit. Every Holocaust survivor has a story to share. I was glad to be given the opportunity to learn about Mania "Bubbie" Lichtenstein and other Jews who perished in WW2." —Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
"What stood out for me is how different this book is from many of the other Holocaust books. I was most impressed with two things: 1) the amount of important documentary information, which is often not known or forgotten, and 2) the details about her grandmother's life in labor camps. I feel it is a very important and well-written book that the world needs to read." —Ben Lesser, Holocaust Survivor, Author, Speaker, and Founder of Zachor: Holocaust Remembrance Foundation
"Wonderful book - a treasure of individual strength, family love, community solidarity and Jewish History." —Marcia Ruth, Retired Writer & Editor
"Narrative history of the Holocaust through discussions with her grandmother who wrote poetry during the Holocaust as well as her thoughts through the years. The poems, such as 'The Nostalgic Past,' could easily be adapted to middle and high school class lesson plans." —Jay Levinsohn, Teacher
"Living among the Dead can help serve as an important wakeup call. This book should be found in every library from middle school on up. Readers will come away feeling a range of emotions. Mine is of enormous sadness tempered with gratitude and the eternal hope that these lessons are not lost on this and future generations." —Linda F. Radke, President, Story Monsters LLC, formerly Five Star Publications, Inc.
"It should be books like this that children use to learn about the Holocaust, and I feel privileged to have read about Adena's Bubbie." —Books by Bindu, Book Blogger
"This was a truly wonderful and compelling look at a woman's life which was told in many of her own words from the Holocaust - very highly recommended, this is a book and story to treasure - 5 stars from me!!" —Donna's Book Blog, Book Blogger