Welcome to Litsy!

Holocaust Martyrs‘ and Heroes‘ Remembrance Day is observed today in Israel. Yad Vashem has created special mini-sites dedicated to Holocaust Remembrance Day, containing information about the events and ceremonies taking place throughout the day. Also included in the mini-sites are relevant educational materials and a new online exhibition. Please take a moment and visit YadVashem.org #NeverAgain #WeRemember

I don't quite have the right words to recommend this book as highly as it should be, so I will use the author's own words: "The pulse of history beats in every family. All of our lives are engraved with epics of love and death. War has touched all of us. Fate and chance and character make and break every generation. ... Open the book of your family and you will be amazed, as I was, at what you will find."

Sadness. Grief. Heartache.

I keep reading this paragraph over and over again. It's like a sucker punch right to the soul.

A sobering reminder that so many of us who live a life of relative privilege and safety in the U.S. today are able to do so thanks to our immigrant ancestors who made the often painful decision to leave their native countries and come here to start anew. I think about what would have happened if my Jewish great-great grandparents hadn't chosen to leave Russia (now Latvia) in 1889. Where would my family be? Or rather, would we BE at all?

Congrats @LaurenReads on your Litsy Milestone 🎉🎉🎉 I chose an obscure NF title because it deserves lots more #LitsyLove🙌🏻 A fascinating journey of three branches from one family tree, covering plenty of riveting world history and the sheer randomness of life choices that can alter lives. It‘s a truly powerful read.
Thanks for the #giveaway #HundredGrand

#GetMovin I‘m a big #believer in NF is more interesting than fiction. This memoir was a fascinating story of 3 branches from the same family tree who chose 3 separate paths. Beginning in late 1700s Russia, we follow the journey of siblings to Poland, The United States and Palestine as they each strive to make their mark through the 20th Century. Amazing story, full of history. My copy has been in circulation since 2015, as people keep sharing it.

#photoadaynov16 #setineasterneurope I REALLY enjoyed each of these books, as I discovered more about history, people, places and cultures. I especially loved the two non fiction reads THE FAMILY & THE LADY IN GOLD. I'm always blown away by the endurance of humans to survive such arduous journeys and circumstance.