Focusing on the historical journey of Jewish communities in Maine, the book traces their origins from the first recorded Jew, Susman Abrams, in 1830, to the establishment of synagogues and cultural institutions by the late 19th century. It highlights the growth of Jewish life, including schools, shops, and charitable organizations, showcasing how Jews have integrated into every facet of Maine society over the past 150 years. The narrative celebrates their contributions and the absence of social or religious discrimination they now experience.
This is the story of a promise kept against all odds: a vow made by four friends to always be together. Like his friend Paul Ornstein, Steve Hornstein aspired to become a doctor, despite the barriers faced by Jews in Hungary. Both pursued their education in Budapest and held onto their dreams even after the German invasion in March 1944. They were sent to forced-labor camps, but managed to escape and endure the dangers of life on the run. Anna Brunn, who met Paul in 1941, had limited encounters with him before the war disrupted their lives. Paul intended to marry Anna if they both survived. Anna and her parents were deported to Auschwitz, where her father perished, and she fought to keep her mother alive. Lusia Schwarzwald, raised in privilege in Lvov, Poland, lost her family during the war and joined the Polish underground, hiding in Warsaw with false identification. After the war, she connected with Steve, Paul, and Anna. As medical students in postwar Heidelberg, they set their goals and plans. They eventually arrived in the United States with little more than their medical training, hopes, and each other. Their powerful accounts of survival and triumph highlight the resilience of the human heart and spirit.
