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Out of the Depths: The Story of a Child of Buchenwald Who Returned Home at Last
Israel Meir Lau, one of the youngest survivors of Buchenwald, was just eight years old when the camp was liberated in 1945. Descended from a 1,000-year unbroken chain of rabbis, he grew up to become Chief Rabbi of Israel--and like many of the great rabbis, Lau is a master storyteller. Out of the Depths is his harrowing, miraculous, and inspiring account of life in one of the Nazis' deadliest concentration camps, and how he managed to survive against all possible odds.
Lau, who lost most of his family in the Holocaust, also chronicles his life after the war, including his emigration to Mandate Palestine during a period that coincides with the development of the State of Israel. The story continues up through today, with that once-lost boy of eight now a brilliant, charismatic, and world-revered figure who has visited with Popes John Paul and Benedict; the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and countless global leaders including Ronald Reagan, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Tony Blair.
Lau, who lost most of his family in the Holocaust, also chronicles his life after the war, including his emigration to Mandate Palestine during a period that coincides with the development of the State of Israel. The story continues up through today, with that once-lost boy of eight now a brilliant, charismatic, and world-revered figure who has visited with Popes John Paul and Benedict; the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and countless global leaders including Ronald Reagan, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Tony Blair.
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First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 20, 2012
This is a poignant and beautifully written memoir by Israel Meir Lau, born into a family with a distinguished rabbinic history reaching back 38 generations. Lau was only 5 years old in 1942 when the Nazis blasted into his town in Poland. His father, the town's rabbi, was selected for public beating and humiliation, in front of his family, before being taken to a death camp and murdered.
Astonishingly, little Israel ("Lulek" to his family), despite his small size (even for his age) manages to survive the horrors of Buchenwald, thanks to ongoing life-risking efforts by his much older brother, Naftali. Lau is one of the youngest children to have survived this hell on earth, and just as astonishingly, grows from this harsh orphanhood to become the Chief Rabbi first of Tel Aviv and then of the State of Israel.
Arriving in Israel with his brother, who had been charged by their father to do everything he possibly could to safeguard little Lulek and who did so with a degree of self-sacrifice and risk that is hard to fathom, Lulek becomes Israel, living with an aunt and uncle and trying to create the first semblance of a normal life -- as normal as could be given his parents' murders by the Nazis and the ripping apart of his family life.
Rabbi Lau clearly inherited his late father's gift for oration, and manages to overcome the emotional trauma to become an invaluable and wise leader of the Jewish people. In the last chapters, it is especially affecting to read about Chief Rabbi Lau's friendships with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, as well as world leaders ranging from Fidel Castro, Desmond Tutu, King Hussein of Jordan, and Pope John Paul II, and more.
It is a deeply inspiring and moving book.
Astonishingly, little Israel ("Lulek" to his family), despite his small size (even for his age) manages to survive the horrors of Buchenwald, thanks to ongoing life-risking efforts by his much older brother, Naftali. Lau is one of the youngest children to have survived this hell on earth, and just as astonishingly, grows from this harsh orphanhood to become the Chief Rabbi first of Tel Aviv and then of the State of Israel.
Arriving in Israel with his brother, who had been charged by their father to do everything he possibly could to safeguard little Lulek and who did so with a degree of self-sacrifice and risk that is hard to fathom, Lulek becomes Israel, living with an aunt and uncle and trying to create the first semblance of a normal life -- as normal as could be given his parents' murders by the Nazis and the ripping apart of his family life.
Rabbi Lau clearly inherited his late father's gift for oration, and manages to overcome the emotional trauma to become an invaluable and wise leader of the Jewish people. In the last chapters, it is especially affecting to read about Chief Rabbi Lau's friendships with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, as well as world leaders ranging from Fidel Castro, Desmond Tutu, King Hussein of Jordan, and Pope John Paul II, and more.
It is a deeply inspiring and moving book.
July 17, 2013
Not the type of book I'm usually drawn to, but I wanted a Tisha be-Av worthy book and this seemed like a good choice. Others spoke very highly of it, and I was in fact pretty riveted by the first 100 pages or so, which describe Rabbi Lau's experiences as a very small child protected by adults at Buchenwald. The remaining 250 pages didn't work as well for me. They felt more like a loose collection of people and anecdotes; "Then I met this one, and here's what my experience with him was like...Then I met that one, and here's what my encounter with him was like..." Some of the stories were admittedly interesting, even inspiring, and my increasing ADD was probably at least as much a function of my continued hours of fasting as of the book itself. Still, though, I think I needed more of a narrative arc and development as opposed to what I want to call name-dropping, although that would be selling the book short; it was more than name-dropping but definitely less than an overarching compelling narrative.
So three stars from me, although others have been more generous and you may want to listen to them instead. In any case, it did serve its function as a decent Tisha be-Av read which passed the time but didn't make me feel guilty for being inappropriate to the fast day.
So three stars from me, although others have been more generous and you may want to listen to them instead. In any case, it did serve its function as a decent Tisha be-Av read which passed the time but didn't make me feel guilty for being inappropriate to the fast day.
May 6, 2015
At times heart-wrenching and tear-jerking, always inspiring and life-affirming. Couldn't put it down. Read it in one sitting. It's a must read! One of the few books I immediately ordered after finishing my library copy.
November 27, 2011
I was privileged to receive this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. This book is a beautifully written, personal pilgrimage to Israel by the author. Israel Meir Lau was just a boy when he went to the concentration camps. Through it all he perseveres with help from his brother and various others in the camps. I think the spirit of this book, and others like it, can be attributed to what the author describes as giving an individual voice to the six million Jew voices that were silenced during WWII. It makes this story and others like it (Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel, etc.) more personal. Instead of having a horror that is unfathomable it brings the horror and, in this case, the triumph home to those who did not experience these things directly. It is unimaginable to think of 6 million people gone at another's whim, but Israel Meir Lau brings the reader on his journey from Poland, to the camps, to Israel and beyond. He brings to life leaders of nations through his interactions with them. I left the book feeling as though I had been on a whirlwind journey with Rabbi Lau. His story is beautiful, remarkable, and it gives one in six million a voice.
September 1, 2014
My grandparents never talk about their Holocaust experiences, and I've always avoided reading Holocaust stories. But my book club is discussing this book at our next meeting, so while I was home between prayers on Rosh Hashanah, I tearfully devoured Rabbi Lau's memoir. Wow.
It's incredible how a person can move past the horrors he lived through, and become not just a normal person but a leader. His brother's determination to keep his promise to his father, to protect his baby brother so he can continue the rabbinic family tradition, is also incredible to read.
It's incredible how a person can move past the horrors he lived through, and become not just a normal person but a leader. His brother's determination to keep his promise to his father, to protect his baby brother so he can continue the rabbinic family tradition, is also incredible to read.
January 24, 2015
Have bought this book in Israel, read it in Israel, re-thinking it in Israel.
Buchenwald is the one concentration camp I have visited, so what he wrote about the witch of Buchenwald, I saw her tools with my own eyes. This book is a very genuine book, it does not contain many many surviving details about the death camp since he was only eight. The book is about him and his family returns back to Israel, and how he starts his religious leadership life there. Reading this, lots of dots became connected.
It's a zoom in for a rabbi's life, and a rabbi with great responsibility, we could see how he writes, how the tremendous responsibility affects his thinking. There are many moving scenes in the book, as living in Israel, one could definitely picture those. However, he wrote in 1990s, he was very well aware that there are two countries in the world remains communist, one is Cuba one is North Korea. So what about China. Nothing mentioned there. In China, there is also no religious education as in these two countries. No recognition that much for judaism. Hope its an omission.
Buchenwald is the one concentration camp I have visited, so what he wrote about the witch of Buchenwald, I saw her tools with my own eyes. This book is a very genuine book, it does not contain many many surviving details about the death camp since he was only eight. The book is about him and his family returns back to Israel, and how he starts his religious leadership life there. Reading this, lots of dots became connected.
It's a zoom in for a rabbi's life, and a rabbi with great responsibility, we could see how he writes, how the tremendous responsibility affects his thinking. There are many moving scenes in the book, as living in Israel, one could definitely picture those. However, he wrote in 1990s, he was very well aware that there are two countries in the world remains communist, one is Cuba one is North Korea. So what about China. Nothing mentioned there. In China, there is also no religious education as in these two countries. No recognition that much for judaism. Hope its an omission.
April 26, 2020
Amazing read. Inspiring, uplifting, sobering and heartbreaking all at once.
July 21, 2018
I have been reading first-hand Holocaust narratives for decades but had taken a long break because it is so heart-breaking.. THen I read a review of another book in which (review) Rabbi Lau was mentioned. I had to find it.
I couldn't read it straight through: it is too painful. But it is also full of tales of remembering, of connections that stretch across generations, of family love, of stranger-stranger love, of generosity. It is the story of a child saved by his brother, saved by his family's history and strength. I can't count how many times I had to stop to wipe my eyes, or just to put the book down and distract myself with somethign mundane.
But I also had to push on, through Rabbi Lau's healthy ego and list of accomplishments to see how he made his place in Eretz Israel, and helped others find and make their places. I certainly am more sympathetic to the Orthodox branch of Judaism, to which I have no personal ties. I wish I could speak with him now (days after the passage [July 19th?] of a Jews-Only law in the Knesset)
I couldn't read it straight through: it is too painful. But it is also full of tales of remembering, of connections that stretch across generations, of family love, of stranger-stranger love, of generosity. It is the story of a child saved by his brother, saved by his family's history and strength. I can't count how many times I had to stop to wipe my eyes, or just to put the book down and distract myself with somethign mundane.
But I also had to push on, through Rabbi Lau's healthy ego and list of accomplishments to see how he made his place in Eretz Israel, and helped others find and make their places. I certainly am more sympathetic to the Orthodox branch of Judaism, to which I have no personal ties. I wish I could speak with him now (days after the passage [July 19th?] of a Jews-Only law in the Knesset)
February 5, 2024
A very moving story giving an insight into the resilience of the former chief Rabbi of Israel. I have been told, that when you read his (big) brother's autobiography, you realize that some of the miraculous escapes young Yisrael Meir had can be directl attributed to his brother looking out for him....which doesn't diminish the story in any way, just gives a very interesting extra perspective
January 18, 2016
As chief rabbi of Israel, Meir Lau traveled the globe to meet not just heads of state but the luminaries of our times. In Brooklyn Rabbi Lau recounts a midnight meeting with Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in which the Rebbe admits a problem that had been perplexing him for some time: why was it that the Jewish people who are so often at the helm of change and revolution in the Diaspora, so resistant to changes in leadership now that they have their own nation, Eretz Yisrael?
Rabbi Meir Lau's answer spokes volumes about his own journey: Having been through so much, perhaps its because Jews are tired and just want a little peace.
Lau speaks from experience --for himself and the nation he headed for many years as chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel. He was one of the youngest survivors of the Buchenwald concentration camp, freed at age 8 by US soldiers, among the first of Holocaust survivors to emigrate to Israel in 1945, when it became sadly clear that his parents, siblings, grandparents and dozens of other relatives had perished in murderous Nazi concentration camps.
In Israel, Rabbi Vogelman, his last surviving uncle, adopts him and sees to it that the young boy attends Yeshiva so that he can fulfill his parents' dying wishes--that an esteemed 38 dynasty rabbinical lineage continue through him. Meir Lau is youngest son of one of Poland's greatest prewar Jewish orators and Torah scholars, the Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau.
Years later when the young Yeshiva graduate is being introduced to his future father-in-law, Rabbi Yitzhak Frankel shocked him with the admission of concern about what kind of husband and father would become of a boy whose memories of family life ended abruptly -through no fault of his own--at age five. Lau takes this as a personal challenge, to prove that going through such hardships was no handicap, and in fact made him more compassionate toward all whom he met.
Perhaps this is why encounters in his book with the great spiritual leaders of our times the Dali Lama, Karol Wojtyla--Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, to name a few, make for such a fascinating read into a meeting of minds of world luminaries who either endured profound hardships or have dedicated their lives to speak out on behalf of suffering masses .
To be a rabbinic leader of Israel in a post-Holocaust world comes with a responsibility to speak out for the voices that were silenced. To speak from his own Holocaust memories, created a revolution in dialogue. Whereas his own much loved father, the Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau was a very much at the center of Jewish life in Poland, the author's work in this life would be unimaginable to those of his father's generation--bringing the Jewish way of life, the dialogue about healing ourselves, healing the world, to the farthest corners of the gentile world. Even at the top of Mount Hiei in Japan, a meeting with the Most Venerable Etai Yamada, head of the Tendai Sect of Mahayana Buddhism culminates in an apology for his nation's alliance with Germany, thereby prolonging the war and reducing the number of US soldiers available to fight on the European front against Naziism. But is Rabbi Lau in a position to grant forgiveness? Citations directly from Torah, Psalms, and Talmud deliver a divine response on every page. Through humility and self-reflection, Rabbi Lau is a a brilliant teacher. I couldn't put this book of profound life lessons down.
Rabbi Meir Lau's answer spokes volumes about his own journey: Having been through so much, perhaps its because Jews are tired and just want a little peace.
Lau speaks from experience --for himself and the nation he headed for many years as chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel. He was one of the youngest survivors of the Buchenwald concentration camp, freed at age 8 by US soldiers, among the first of Holocaust survivors to emigrate to Israel in 1945, when it became sadly clear that his parents, siblings, grandparents and dozens of other relatives had perished in murderous Nazi concentration camps.
In Israel, Rabbi Vogelman, his last surviving uncle, adopts him and sees to it that the young boy attends Yeshiva so that he can fulfill his parents' dying wishes--that an esteemed 38 dynasty rabbinical lineage continue through him. Meir Lau is youngest son of one of Poland's greatest prewar Jewish orators and Torah scholars, the Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau.
Years later when the young Yeshiva graduate is being introduced to his future father-in-law, Rabbi Yitzhak Frankel shocked him with the admission of concern about what kind of husband and father would become of a boy whose memories of family life ended abruptly -through no fault of his own--at age five. Lau takes this as a personal challenge, to prove that going through such hardships was no handicap, and in fact made him more compassionate toward all whom he met.
Perhaps this is why encounters in his book with the great spiritual leaders of our times the Dali Lama, Karol Wojtyla--Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, to name a few, make for such a fascinating read into a meeting of minds of world luminaries who either endured profound hardships or have dedicated their lives to speak out on behalf of suffering masses .
To be a rabbinic leader of Israel in a post-Holocaust world comes with a responsibility to speak out for the voices that were silenced. To speak from his own Holocaust memories, created a revolution in dialogue. Whereas his own much loved father, the Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau was a very much at the center of Jewish life in Poland, the author's work in this life would be unimaginable to those of his father's generation--bringing the Jewish way of life, the dialogue about healing ourselves, healing the world, to the farthest corners of the gentile world. Even at the top of Mount Hiei in Japan, a meeting with the Most Venerable Etai Yamada, head of the Tendai Sect of Mahayana Buddhism culminates in an apology for his nation's alliance with Germany, thereby prolonging the war and reducing the number of US soldiers available to fight on the European front against Naziism. But is Rabbi Lau in a position to grant forgiveness? Citations directly from Torah, Psalms, and Talmud deliver a divine response on every page. Through humility and self-reflection, Rabbi Lau is a a brilliant teacher. I couldn't put this book of profound life lessons down.
November 12, 2016
The experiences of Rabbi Lau during the holocaust before he was 8 years old and how he came out was emotional and powerful reading including odd stories that come up during his life afterwards told by others about him and his family that he had no recollection or no knowledge of. However this is only a fraction of the book. His brother especially and others who helped him not just during the holocaust but bringing him up and supporting him afterwards are heroes. The book gives a strong message for remembrance and that you have a choice in life how to live it no matter what has been in the past and not to let Hitler win spiritually as well as physically in killing jews. Lau went through some horrific mind-numbing experiences but he had an amazingly positive and assertive attitude and was fortunate in having a lot of support once he got out.
I didn't give it 5 stars because there was a lot of confusing name-dropping in the yeshiva world which I thought was unnecessary and the details of all his meetings with dignitaries although interesting to read seemed sometimes like an almost self-congratulatory political memoir.
I admire and respect Lau immensely even more after reading this book. I am glad he gave credit to others where it was due. One incident though grated on me: he's talking to a rabbi whose daughter he wishes to marry and the rabbi has done lots of research on Lau including talking to his teachers, mentors and peers but he is concerned that Lau is an orphan and how this will affect bringing up a family of his own since he has little experience of a family with parents himself. At the end of the meeting the rabbi gives his blessing and they get married later. What bugs me is that Lau *did* have a happy and stable family experience for 5 years with his aunt and uncle after he arrived in Israel and before he went to yeshiva ie between 8 and 13 years and he went and visited them for years afterwards for shabbat but he makes no mention of this to his future father-in-law in this conversation and that bugged me.
I didn't give it 5 stars because there was a lot of confusing name-dropping in the yeshiva world which I thought was unnecessary and the details of all his meetings with dignitaries although interesting to read seemed sometimes like an almost self-congratulatory political memoir.
I admire and respect Lau immensely even more after reading this book. I am glad he gave credit to others where it was due. One incident though grated on me: he's talking to a rabbi whose daughter he wishes to marry and the rabbi has done lots of research on Lau including talking to his teachers, mentors and peers but he is concerned that Lau is an orphan and how this will affect bringing up a family of his own since he has little experience of a family with parents himself. At the end of the meeting the rabbi gives his blessing and they get married later. What bugs me is that Lau *did* have a happy and stable family experience for 5 years with his aunt and uncle after he arrived in Israel and before he went to yeshiva ie between 8 and 13 years and he went and visited them for years afterwards for shabbat but he makes no mention of this to his future father-in-law in this conversation and that bugged me.
August 22, 2011
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I really did make a strong effort with this book given that I won an advance copy from the publisher. I normally don’t just stop reading a book, but I just couldn’t get through this. I made it to page 110 and could not justify going any further. By that point, the child had already gotten out of Buchenwald and returned back to Israel. It’s only a quarter of the way through the book!
Thus far it has read more as a who’s who (as a previous review by Berry states) kind of way with little to no relationship/character development. Seeing as how I am not familiar with the major players in Israel or recent Israeli history, I find myself lost when the author starts name dropping all the key Israeli players.
I was hoping this book would give more of an in-depth description of Buchenwald from a fresh perspective (that of a child) than it did. I love reading accounts of concentration camp experiences, but I felt like the author didn’t really want to talk about his experience during the war at all. Rather, he just wanted to write a book about himself and being the head rabbi of Israel. He just couldn’t find a publisher to buy into his book unless he included his account at Buchenwald.
I really appreciate winning this advance book from Goodreads. I think someone else could really enjoy this book; the subject matter just didn't pique my interest. If you have an interest in modern day Judaism in Israel, then this is for you.
I really did make a strong effort with this book given that I won an advance copy from the publisher. I normally don’t just stop reading a book, but I just couldn’t get through this. I made it to page 110 and could not justify going any further. By that point, the child had already gotten out of Buchenwald and returned back to Israel. It’s only a quarter of the way through the book!
Thus far it has read more as a who’s who (as a previous review by Berry states) kind of way with little to no relationship/character development. Seeing as how I am not familiar with the major players in Israel or recent Israeli history, I find myself lost when the author starts name dropping all the key Israeli players.
I was hoping this book would give more of an in-depth description of Buchenwald from a fresh perspective (that of a child) than it did. I love reading accounts of concentration camp experiences, but I felt like the author didn’t really want to talk about his experience during the war at all. Rather, he just wanted to write a book about himself and being the head rabbi of Israel. He just couldn’t find a publisher to buy into his book unless he included his account at Buchenwald.
I really appreciate winning this advance book from Goodreads. I think someone else could really enjoy this book; the subject matter just didn't pique my interest. If you have an interest in modern day Judaism in Israel, then this is for you.
December 27, 2011
This book was really amazing. I've read a lot of Holocaust stories, and this one had a lot of similarities to others I've read--I'm almost used to the recounting of what happened. Not used to it, perhaps, but expect it. What sets this book apart is what happened AFTER the war--how this young child managed to grow into a healthy, religious adult who became Chief Rabbi in Israel. He speaks frankly of his experiences, his debt to those who helped him, his difficulties at times in handling what happened to European Jewry and the attitudes of others in the world today. The book is fiercely pro-Israel, not really even entertaining the idea that the Palestinians have a real grievance too. It's impossible not to be impressed, however, with his intellectual and spiritual depth and his faith. The later part of the book is full of fascinating experiences he had with others, including even Fidel Castro. The one thing I found odd, however, is that he married and had eight children, yet he discusses Castro more than his children, and his father-in-law more than his wife. He talks about when they married, but mostly about his interactions with his father-in-law, who doubted his ability to have a normal family life after his childhood experiences. What happened? What was his family life like? We have little idea. One omission in an otherwise fascinating and enlightening story.
December 29, 2011
I did not get too far with this book only reaching page page 52 before I stopped. The author is a rabbi in Israel and he is descended from thirty-seven generations of rabbis on both sides of his family. Most of them were killed in the Holocaust but the author is a survivor. I thought that most of the book was going to be about his experience in the camps and how he did survive but that is only a very small part of the book. I found the writing to be plodding and loaded with name-dropping.
March 10, 2012
This is a tough one. The story is, undoubtedly, amazing. However, I didn't love the book itself. It was poorly edited, felt disjointed, didn't flow well, and was quite repetitive. It's hard to be critical of Rav Lau, but there were parts where I didn't like his 'voice' and telling of events. I've heard that the original Hebrew version is better. Having said all that, it's compulsive reading and very inspiring for the story that it tells.
October 15, 2013
I read the first half on rosh hashonah and Yom Kippur. Totally appropriate. The story of his survival from buchenwald is gripping. But it took me another three weeks to finish because after the camp come strings of names, who he met where and how he impressed them. It became wearying to read. I feel like I'm being a traitor by not thinking that this makes a book, but it doesn't. It is a string of vingettes, some better than others. Nevertheless, for a holocaust memoir, it is better than most.
March 29, 2017
Very honest and moving. Really captures the feeling of what it must have felt like for a little boy to be separated from his parents and sent to a Nazi concentration camp. The part where he describes building a new life in Israel is also fascinating. The last few chapters were not as good - it's just him listing all the famous people he met and the conversations he had with them, but there were some interesting tidbits.
October 22, 2012
Amazing story - from being one of the youngest survivors of Buchenwald to the Chief Rabbi of Israel, this book tells the story of Rabbi Israel Meir Lau. He lived through both the darkest & brightest moments in recent Jewish history - and in his studies and career he crossed paths with some of this century's greatest minds & personalities. Very much a "can't put down" kind of book.
August 1, 2013
I concur with those who also had difficulty getting past the first 100 pages. It just fell apart as an effective narrative after that point. It is very interesting up to that point though and I was moved deeply by his experiences and resilience as a triumphant survivor.
August 14, 2024
A somewhat reluctant 5 stars. The structure and writing style are likely to turn some people off, but it's so full of amazing stories and insights that I'm inclined to round up.
The book is divided into two parts that should be three. Part 1 is the Holocaust, which only takes up a few chapters; Part 1.5 is Lau's life in Israel; and Part 2 is mostly him as Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi. The Holocaust actually becomes a bit more focal in this part, as Lau explores its relationship to his own worldview and the issues he faced, especially with regard to terrorism. I should note, however, that he tends to jump around the timeline, especially early on; for example, he'll describe someone from Buchenwald, then interrupt the narrative to describe a meeting he had with this person years later, etc.
As far as I can tell, most of the people who didn't like this book stop in Part 1.5, which does kind of drag. It largely consists of Lau describing important people that he met, most of whom are some flavor of eminent, inspiring Orthodox rabbi. It's easy for them to all blend together, but again, there's a lot of fascinating insights and anecdotes here; surviving Buchenwald as a child was only the beginning of Lau's fascinating life. The book feels a bit like a bunch of articles stitched together, but they're good articles, even if the result is awkward.
The writing style can also be somewhat distant at times; the child Lau often feels like a silent observer, until Lau offhandedly mentions that he was, understandably, freaking out and crying during this scene. But then, this is him looking back from decades later. By his own admission, some of the stories from the early chapters are things that he wasn't present for or doesn't remember, but was told about later by others.
So the book is very good, if a bit uneven. It's not just about the Holocaust, but about Judaism and Israel, and the connections between them all. There are some fascinating insights and perspectives on things, and Lau comes off as both serene and determined, and somehow humble as he describes a lifetime of impressive achievements. Not always an easy read, but definitely one that's worth it.
The book is divided into two parts that should be three. Part 1 is the Holocaust, which only takes up a few chapters; Part 1.5 is Lau's life in Israel; and Part 2 is mostly him as Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi. The Holocaust actually becomes a bit more focal in this part, as Lau explores its relationship to his own worldview and the issues he faced, especially with regard to terrorism. I should note, however, that he tends to jump around the timeline, especially early on; for example, he'll describe someone from Buchenwald, then interrupt the narrative to describe a meeting he had with this person years later, etc.
As far as I can tell, most of the people who didn't like this book stop in Part 1.5, which does kind of drag. It largely consists of Lau describing important people that he met, most of whom are some flavor of eminent, inspiring Orthodox rabbi. It's easy for them to all blend together, but again, there's a lot of fascinating insights and anecdotes here; surviving Buchenwald as a child was only the beginning of Lau's fascinating life. The book feels a bit like a bunch of articles stitched together, but they're good articles, even if the result is awkward.
The writing style can also be somewhat distant at times; the child Lau often feels like a silent observer, until Lau offhandedly mentions that he was, understandably, freaking out and crying during this scene. But then, this is him looking back from decades later. By his own admission, some of the stories from the early chapters are things that he wasn't present for or doesn't remember, but was told about later by others.
So the book is very good, if a bit uneven. It's not just about the Holocaust, but about Judaism and Israel, and the connections between them all. There are some fascinating insights and perspectives on things, and Lau comes off as both serene and determined, and somehow humble as he describes a lifetime of impressive achievements. Not always an easy read, but definitely one that's worth it.
July 26, 2018
Out of the Depths tells a story of the Holocaust, but more than just a retelling of a Holocaust experience, it explores the way in which the events between 1939 and 1945 affected the psyche of both an individual and a nation, with the future of both Rabbi Lau and Israel constantly influenced by what has taken place, a destiny which as the story unfolds, is inextricably tied together.
Rabbi Lau’s story is remarkable at every turn. The story is almost unbelievable both in the content but also the sheer breadth of it. But beyond the story itself, Rabbi Lau’s writing, here translated into English, is remarkable due to its structure. Although it is an autobiography, when Rabbi Lau introduces a topic, he will follow that topic to its conclusion, leading to whole chapters surrounding Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach or his parents in law, for instance. It’s structure is unforgettable and the fact that a true story containing both crawling under a train in order to survive the Nazi atrocities and a several hour meeting with Fidel Castro are contained within the same story, and are presented with such kindness and heart makes this book essential.
Its understanding of the Holocaust is acute, but the insight it gave me more than everything else is its impact on the early state of Israel - how the new state proved both a welcoming place but also sometimes a rejecting one, of tensions that Rabbi Lau finds himself in the centre of. For he is equally of the Holocaust and of Israel. The image of him landing in Haifa wearing an oversized Hitler Youth uniform resonates so strongly. The way in which religious messages are weaved into the book further shows it to be more than just ‘autobiography’. Rabbi Lau develops intricate patterns and one is left with more than just the remarkability of the circumstances he faced - but with the remarkability of the man, who pulled himself and so many other out of the depths. And now, with the weight of experience and knowledge, he takes a masterful look back within them.
Rabbi Lau’s story is remarkable at every turn. The story is almost unbelievable both in the content but also the sheer breadth of it. But beyond the story itself, Rabbi Lau’s writing, here translated into English, is remarkable due to its structure. Although it is an autobiography, when Rabbi Lau introduces a topic, he will follow that topic to its conclusion, leading to whole chapters surrounding Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach or his parents in law, for instance. It’s structure is unforgettable and the fact that a true story containing both crawling under a train in order to survive the Nazi atrocities and a several hour meeting with Fidel Castro are contained within the same story, and are presented with such kindness and heart makes this book essential.
Its understanding of the Holocaust is acute, but the insight it gave me more than everything else is its impact on the early state of Israel - how the new state proved both a welcoming place but also sometimes a rejecting one, of tensions that Rabbi Lau finds himself in the centre of. For he is equally of the Holocaust and of Israel. The image of him landing in Haifa wearing an oversized Hitler Youth uniform resonates so strongly. The way in which religious messages are weaved into the book further shows it to be more than just ‘autobiography’. Rabbi Lau develops intricate patterns and one is left with more than just the remarkability of the circumstances he faced - but with the remarkability of the man, who pulled himself and so many other out of the depths. And now, with the weight of experience and knowledge, he takes a masterful look back within them.
May 18, 2022
The most interesting part of this book is the first quarter or so, which focuses on Lau's Holocaust experiences. When Lau was only seven, his brother snuck him into the Buchenwald concentration camp by wrapping him up in a pillow. Since Jewish children ordinarily were not allowed to survive in the camps, another prisoner removed a P (for Polish) from the corpse of another prisoner and pinned it to Lau's uniform, thus deceiving the guards into believing he was not Jewish. Lau was then transferred to a block full of non-Jews, where he was able to stay until liberation.
The rest of Lau's life seems to have been far less dramatic. After the war, his brother took him to Israel. And because his father (who was murdered by the Nazis) was a well-known rabbi in Poland, he was able to meet rabbis who ensured that he was well-educated in Israeli yeshivot; fortunately, he was talented enough to take advantage of his opportunities. So most of the memoir is a not-overly-dramatic story of a pleasant, talented young man who was educated by pleasant, talented teachers and rose through the rabbinic ranks. As a result, most of the book is pleasant but not always exciting.
The rest of Lau's life seems to have been far less dramatic. After the war, his brother took him to Israel. And because his father (who was murdered by the Nazis) was a well-known rabbi in Poland, he was able to meet rabbis who ensured that he was well-educated in Israeli yeshivot; fortunately, he was talented enough to take advantage of his opportunities. So most of the memoir is a not-overly-dramatic story of a pleasant, talented young man who was educated by pleasant, talented teachers and rose through the rabbinic ranks. As a result, most of the book is pleasant but not always exciting.
October 4, 2023
A very sad tale of a young boy who was separated from his parents, who both died in German concentration camps. He, and his older brother, managed to survive Buchenwald. After the war, they were able to get to Palestine where he lived with his uncle. The first half of this book was very captivating. Israel showed a level of perseverance and resilience rarely seen in children. The second half of the book was still a very good story but something was lost in the telling. It was not presented in chronological order, but he jumped back and forth between time periods in his life. Most of the time I can follow this method with no problems but not this time. He has a great story to tell of not letting your past define your present. He was able to carry on the tradition of 1,000 of unbroken rabbis in his family line and ultimately became Chief Rabbi of Israel. He was able to visit with many religious and political leaders all over the world. He had a lot of interesting tales to tell, he just lost me somewhat in the telling.
March 1, 2019
I could not get past page 140. His description of his childhood read like a story and was quite enjoyable. Once they were liberated it became a totally different book. Very disjointed and jumped around a lot. I am not familiar with rabbis and who was who but at points it felt like I was just reading lists of names. I was hoping to learn more but I just can’t keep going. I don’t already know enough to follow along well. I have had this in my to read list for a long time but now I will go on to my next.
August 17, 2019
Rabbi Lau has led a fascinating life, met many famous and influential people, and triumphed over his challenges. What struck me most was how confident, yet humble Lau remained - depending on his father-in-law for advice, and eternally grateful and respectful of his brother Naftali who saved his life during the Holocaust.
I know many people "loved" this memoir and thought it was amazing. I enjoyed reading it. I learned about the history of Israel.
I know many people "loved" this memoir and thought it was amazing. I enjoyed reading it. I learned about the history of Israel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2019
So Much More... From So Much Less
When I heard my pastor say he was reading this book, I took it up as special Shabbat reading. But I could not out it down. It is the story of an eight year old Holocaust survivor who became the Chief Rabbi of Israel. It is the story of every Jewish man and woman who has survived the pains of living as a Jew amongst zoo much neglect and hatred.
When I heard my pastor say he was reading this book, I took it up as special Shabbat reading. But I could not out it down. It is the story of an eight year old Holocaust survivor who became the Chief Rabbi of Israel. It is the story of every Jewish man and woman who has survived the pains of living as a Jew amongst zoo much neglect and hatred.
May 12, 2020
I found the first half of this book, the part about how he survived the holocaust, incredible. The second half, about how he rose to Chief Rabbi and his life as Chief Rabbi, I found less interesting. A great Autobiography though from a fascinating person.
February 3, 2024
Very interesting autobiography of the upper rabbi of Israel who was there youngest boy liberated from Buchenwald. How he started off in Israel as an analphabet and became the highest religious authority of Israel.
August 7, 2017
Excellent book, really recommended.
December 12, 2017
A must read about the horrors and victorious survivors of the Holocaust. I cried at times. Having met Rabbi Lau in person, his live storytelling is as extraordinary as the book.
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