[book_talk] Leon Layson

From: "Bonnie L. Sherrell" <blslarner@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Blind Chit Chat" <Blind-Chit-Chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Books for the Blind" <Books4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Blind Book Lovers Cafe" <bblc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Book Talk" <book_talk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:08:23 -0800
_The Boy on the Wooden Box_ 
by Leon Layson

Leib was quite small when his father left their village of Nerewka in
the northeastern section of Poland to go to Krakow to establish himself
as a machinist.  For five years Leib, his three older brothers, his
sister, and mother lived sparsely on what money father Moshe could
bring home on his periodic visits and aid from his grandparents, aunts,
and uncles within Nerewka until Moshe finally was able to rent an
apartment for them in Krakow and bring his wife and children to join
him.  None could imagine at the time that within a few years World War
Two would cause their growing prospects to shatter and would destroy
much of their trust in others.

During the last war the Germans had been respectful of families, or at
least of women and children.  This time, however--who could believe
these monsters were even men?  The restrictions placed upon Jews and
the posters depicting all Jews as being both subhuman and totally
without humanity were both cruel and ludicrous.  Moshe was arrested for
no reason anyone could discern, and for weeks his sons searched vainly
for news of where he was being held.  Finally they learned the name of
the site where he was imprisoned, and after frantic pleas to German
officials they inexplicably let him go.

After his release Moshe was able to work again for the glass factory
where he'd worked before, but now he was receiving no wage--only a
sparse meal at midday, from which he'd bring anything he could carry to
share with his family.  This continued until the day when he found
himself working for a new employer, and a member of the Nazi party at
that--a rather strange, dissolute man named Oskar Schindler, at which
time the family's fortunes did manage to change for the better,
considering the times they found themselves living in.  Eventually
Moshe was able to convince Schindler to take on his wife and children,
and Leib found himself operating a machine while standing upon a wooden
box in order to reach the machine's controls.

Still, two of Leib's brothers were lost--one was arrested along with
his fiance, and refused to leave her when Schindler recognized him on
the train from which the German saved Itzak Stern; the other was forced
early in the German occupation to return to Nerewka and apparently was
killed with every other member of their extended family by
Einzengruppen killing squads sent to "cleanse" eastern Poland of Jews.

After the liberation of the camp Schindler established for "his" Jews
in Czechoslovakia, the five remaining members of the family made their
way to a displaced persons camp in the American zone of Germany until
they could manage to attain visas to emigrate.  Leib's brother and
sister went to Palestine while Leib, who chose the new name Leon,
accompanied his parents to the United States.  They did have relatives
in California, and here in their new world the three of them forged a
new life for themselves, with Leon finally earning a degree in
education and teaching for years without letting people know his
personal history.

The release of the book and movie "Schindler's List" changed his life
again: as interested people, most of them reporters, researched the
list, Leon Layson was contacted about his story as a member of those
fortunate enough to come under the protection of Oskar Schindler, and
he found himself traveling throughout the United States and Canada,
telling his story, from which lectures this book was finally distilled.
 The book was published posthumously by Anthemeum for their Children's
Nonfiction division, and released both in print and in e-book form at
the same time.

I purchased it for my Nook and recommend it for those who are
interested in Holocaust studies as I am.  Definitely a good read
without being anywhere as graphic as many books on the Holocaust have
proved.  As it's been released as an e-book at least we know it's in
accessible format.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large

"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise 
cannot see all ends." LOTR

"Don't go where I can't follow."
[book_talk] Leon Layson

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