In my hands by irene gut opdyke

On 9 june 1995, irene gut opdyke was honored with a papal blessing from pope john paul ii at a joint service of jews and catholics held at a synagogue in irvine, california. Irene saved at least 12 jews during the time of the holocaust. In my hands began as one nonjews challenge to any who would deny the holocaust. In the fall of 1939 the nazis invaded irene gut s beloved poland, ending her training as a nurse and thrusting the sixteenyearold catholic girl into a world of degradation that somehow gave her the strength to accomplish what amounted to miracles. Recognized by israel as one of the righteous among the nations and honored by our united states holocaust memorial museum as a permanent contributor to the study of the holocaust, irene gut opdyke stands as a moral model. She tried to always follow the righteous path, always tried to be good.

Memories of a holocaust rescuer is a memoir written by irene gut. School library journal, starreda book sense top ten picka publishers weekly choice of the years best books a booklist editors. In 1940, opdyke was a teenager walking to work in tarnopol, poland, when she saw a nazi soldier pull a baby from his mothers arms, throw him in the air and shoot him like a bird. Irene gut opdyke is currently considered a single author. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke online at alibris.

Memories of a holocaust rescuer, by irene gut opdyke in my hands starts with the author writing to the reader that if she tried to tell you what really happened during the war, told you everything at once, you wouldnt understand it. Read free book excerpt from in my hands by irene gut opdyke, page 7 of 7. A former resident of poland tells her experiences first helping rescue jews from hitlers regime then as a partisan fighter for poland during the time of world war ii in the book in my hands by irene gut opdyke. Gut endured terrible ordeals at the hands of both the germans and the russians but through all that somehow managed to remain strong and resilient. Irene gut opdyke irene was a fiercely polish girl, she was very patriotic. In 2008 irene posthumously presented the commanders cross the polish medal of honor, given by the president and first lady of poland. She joined the polish underground and hid in forests until a group of russian soldiers accosted her and the other resistance fighters. Holocaust rescuer and aid provider irene opdyke on providing aid duration. Irene risked her life many times to protect jews she was hiding from imminent destruction. Gr 7 upan amazing, courageous, uplifting autobiography knopf about a brave teenager who was not afraid to get involved. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Irene gut opdyke audio books, best sellers, author bio.

Irene gut opdyke in my heart i was seeing them dead. Irene gut opdyke 1 the most important character of this book was irene because she is the one willing to help the jewish people that were hurt. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke, jennifer armstrong. Irene gut opdyke, author, jennifer armstrong, with alfred a.

Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Capably assisted by the childrens author jennifer armstrong, irene gut opdyke reaches the widest audience with in my hands. Click below to download the full study guide for in my hands. She was surrounded by horror and agony, and she was told she could do nothing. Wholesale murder, rape, and torture haunted those memories. The intriguing book in my hands by irene opdyke is a must read. In 1940, opdyke was a teenager walking to work in tarnopol, poland, when she saw a nazi soldier. Apr 17, 2001 irene gut opdyke with jennifer armstrong when the nazi army invades poland in 1939, irene gut is a seventeenyearold student nurse. Memories of a holocaust rescuer is a memoir written by irene gut opdyke with help from historicalfiction author jennifer armstrong.

If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. She was granted the israel medal of honor, israels highest tribute, in a ceremony at jerusalems yad vashem holocaust memorial. Opdyke began a public speaking career which culminated in her memoir in my hands. You must understand that i did not become a resistance fighter, a smuggler of jews, a defier of the. When the history of the twentieth century is fully comprehended, i have little doubt that this remarkable woman will emerge as one of the most signficant models of honor, decency, morality and personal responsibility. All this she tells to writer jennifer armstrong, who tells it to us in the first person. Memories of a holocaust rescuer has 10 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Irene gut opdyke audio books, best sellers, author bio audible. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke. Speakers bureau jeannie smith for her mother irene gut opdyke. In my hands by irene gut opdyke about the book in the fall of 1939 the nazis invaded irene guts beloved poland, ending her training as a nurse and thrusting the sixteenyearold catholic girl into a world of degradation that somehow gave her the strength to accomplish what amounted to miracles.

Irene was seventeen when the nazis bombed the city where she was a. Alan boinus and his wife, rosalie boinus, among others, are thanked by opdyke in the acknowledgements. Browse irene gut opdyke s bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Jeannie smith is the daughter of polish rescuer irene gut opdyke who passed away on may 18, 2003.

The russians beat and raped her and sent her to a hospital aiding russian soldiers. On one hand, he is a good, friendly man and had none of the ferocity and malevolence that irene had come to expect of the germans p. The antagonists of this book are the nazi soldiers who were hurting the. The blessing had been obtained for her by alan boinus and by monsignor joseph karp of the polish catholic church in yorba linda, california. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke and jennifer armstrong overview no matter how many holocaust stories one has read, this one is a must, for its impact is so powerful. In my hands memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke. As the war progressed, the soldiers of two countries stripped her of all she loved her family, her home, her innocence but the degradations only strengthened her will. Memories of a holocaust rescuer, and it is a powerful account of one persons bravery in the face of unimaginable hate and violence. Irene gut opdyke with jennifer armstrong the villa the instant i was able to get away after breakfast, i walked to the villa as quickly as i could quickly enough to put a stitch in my. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 304 pages and is available in paperback format. Memories of a holocaust rescuer, and it is a powerful account of one. Irene gut opdyke, polish national, although homesick and separated from her own family, found herself in the right place during world war ii. In many ways, the story of my mothers life seems too unbelievable, even for even hollywood.

Irene gut opdyke 19222003 was named by the israeli holocaust commission one of the righteous among the nations, a title given to those who risked their. Much like the diary of anne frank, it has become a profound document of an individuals heroism in the face of the greatest evil mankind has known. Irene opdyke was born in poland to a catholic family. Reading guide for in my hands by irene gut opdyke discussion guide for book clubs. Since she cant reveal the terrible things that happened all at. This book shows in great detail what irene went through in order to hide the jews and keep them safe from danger. Memories of a holocaust rescuer, chronicles irene gut opdykes path to becoming a member of the resistance, smuggling and hiding jews during the nazi occupation of poland. Irene gut opdyke s remarkable story of courage and faith as a holocaust rescuer began in a small village in eastern poland where she was raised. May 21, 2003 irene gut opdyke, who has died in california aged 81, saved jews during the holocaust by becoming the mistress of major eduard rugemer, a 70yearold german officer. What was it about irene gut opdyke, that caused her to step out of the path of least resistance and get involved when so many others did not. Memories of a holocaust rescuer isbn 0385720327, was published in 1999 with the help of alan boinus, who. About this book the compelling memoir of irene gut opdyke, a polish girl who risked her life to save her jewish friends during world war ii. When faced with decisions of whether to do the right thing or to step aside, irene gut explains, the war was a series of choices.

In the first pages of the memoir we are introduced to the black madonna of czestochowa at the shrine of jasna gora, and irene recounts that she prayed to god to get her through particularly difficult or lonely times. If you are a girl, this is how you destroy your enemies. When world war ii began, irene gutowna was a 17yearold polish nursing student. A former resident of poland tells her experiences first helping rescue jews from hitlers regime then as a partisan fighter for poland during the time of world. Chapters before anything else i would just like to say that i am really emotional when it comes to wwii and the holocaust, especially when. She published an autobiography entitled in my hands. On the first page of her memoir, irene gut opdyke says, if i tell you about the war all at oncefirst this happened, and then this, and these people died and those people lived and then it was overyou will not believe me 1. Buy in my hands by gut opdyke, irene, armstrong, jennifer isbn. She was born on may 5, 1922 to maria and wladyslaw gut, who brought up irene and her four younger sisters as polish catholics in a nurturing family environment. Irene received international recognition for her actions during the holocaust while working for a highranking german official. She was helped in the telling by author jennifer armstrong. In the fall of 1939 the nazis invaded irene guts beloved poland, ending her training as a nurse and thrusting.

No matter how many holocaust stories one has read, this one is a must, for its impact is so powerful. The book details opdykes experience as a young polish woman who rescued jews from the holocaust during world war ii. Memories of a holocaust rescuer polish teenager irene gut endured harrowing depredations during the german occupation of her country, which only served to inspire her to risk her life further to rescue jews from the death camps. Read the extended syllabus, in my hands, and the insiders guide to msu chapters for first test in general psychology. In my hands by irene gut opdyke with jennifer armstrong. Mar 08, 2016 capably assisted by the childrens author jennifer armstrong, irene gut opdyke reaches the widest audience with in my hands. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on in my hands. Jennifer armstrong is the author of many highly acclaimed books for young readers. In my hands is the inspiring story of how a young girl proved that the actions of one good person can make a difference. Opdyke, nee irena gut, was born in a small polish village in may 1922, and in my hands begins with a brief recounting of irena s happy childhood as the eldest of five sisters.

Browse irene gut opdykes bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. The first edition of the novel was published in june 1st 1992, and was written by irene gut opdyke. May 17, 2003 a native of poland who agreed to serve as a german officers mistress to save the life of jews during the holocaust opdyke s 1999 book, in my hands. Her mother was maria gut and her father was wladyslaw gut. Irene gut was just 17 in 1939, when the germans and russians devoured her native poland. Irene was born irene had four sisters, their names were jania, marysia, bronia, and wladzia. She is studious, young, and pretty, a good catholic girl and close to her loving parents and three younger sistersher life thus far is as remote as possible from the horrors of war. As karin adjusts to her new surroundings, she begins to find a maturity and independence she did not realize she had. Irene gut opdyke 19222003 was named by the israeli holocaust commission one of the righteous among the nations, a title given to those who risked their lives by aiding and saving jews during the holocaust. In my hands memories of a holocaust rescuer summary irene gut. Irene gut opdyke was presented with the israel medal of honor and a special commendation from the vatican. Irene was seventeen when the nazis bombed the city where she was a student nurse and eliminating contact with her family. Irene was seventeen when the nazis bombed the city where she was a student nurse.

Memories of a holocaust rescuer, irene gut relates her arduous journey as a polish girl trying to survive in world war iiravaged europe, making a choice to help those in need around her and continuously risking her life in doing so. The true story of irene gut, a young polish catholic nurse and her life, specifically during the german occupation of poland during wwii and some of the russian communist occupation that followed. The boy with the incredible brain superhuman documentary real stories duration. Irene gut opdyke has received international recognition for her actions. Irene s story is part of a permanent exhibit in the united states holocaust memorial museum in washington d. Polish teenager irene gut endured harrowing depredations during the german occupation of her country, which only served to inspire her to risk her lif. About this author irene gut opdyke s remarkable story of courage and faith as a holocaust rescuer began in a small village in eastern poland where she was raised. The autobiography in my hands tell the horrible life story of irene gut opdyke as a holocaust rescuer. She was hired during the german occupation to work in the kitchen of a hotel and would take food to the local ghetto to help the hungry. In my fantasies, i was always caught up in heroic struggles, and i saw myself saving lives, sacrificing myself for others. As a teenager, irena wishes to become a hero, saving lives and taking part in righteous adventures 14, so she volunteers for the red cross and decides to become a nurse. Set in the howling abyss of the holocaust, irene gut opdykes stirring memoir, in my hands, serves as a beacon of light when the worlds moral compass pointed to darkness.

Memories of a holocaust survivor, is being turned into a movie. But she also admits, as good and kind as he was, he was a german, and i could not reconcile those two things in my mind p. You must understand that i did not become a resistance fighter, a smu. The irene gut opdyke holocaust rescuer foundation was founded in 1997 by alan boinus and rosalie boinus in honor of irene opdyke to offer awards, grants, and scholarships to young people inspired by the heroic acts of irene gut opdyke when she was young, so they may likewise stand up to racism, bigotry, and hate. Memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut opdyke and jennifer armstrong. Dec 18, 2008 irene gut was just 17 in 1939, when the germans and russians devoured her native poland. In my hands memories of a holocaust rescuer by irene gut.