The Last Jew of Rotterdam

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Little Tale...
Review: "Last Jew of Rotterdam" tells the compelling tale of Ernie Casutto, a young man caught up in the Netherlands during Nazi rule. It's a far cry from his childhood, growing up in the tropical paradise of the Dutch East Indies. His sweetheart is taken from him, he lives in fear and doubt. Why are the jews being persecuted, he asks himself? Why do they have to be set apart? Why does he have to go through with this? Where is it leading him? What is the world coming to?

This book is as much about Ernie's coming to Christ as it is about surviving persucution in Holland. Whether he is hiding in an attic, being questioned by Gestapo agents or sitting in the darkness of his jail cell, his ever growing belief in Jesus as his people's messiah is what keeps him going, what gives him strength. It even saves his life a few times, believe it or not. It's what guides his life post-war, it takes him to New York to minister to his fellow Jews.

As well as his story, "The Last Jew of Rotterdam" contains the tale of his wife, Elly (who was a friend of Anne Frank) and an account of his years of ministry, including his battle with glaucoma and blindness, which mysteriously disappears, thanks to what appears to be a miracle.

It's a short book, and very easy to read. Casutto's writing style is simple and concise, while remaining compelling all the way through. I read in a few hours. I'd say its a good book for children (10-12) to read on the subject, actually. It deals honestly with what happened in Europe at the time without being overly graphic. A great testament of God's power, too. A good faith builder and an inspiration for all us christians out there.

Rating:
Summary: Love and forgiveness in World War Two.
Review: The author and his wife are converted Jews who discover love, faith, and forgiveness during World War Two. This is a religious book and much of the content is religious in nature, so if the reader is looking for a human interest story, then plan on reading material debating some aspects of the Bible. Anne Frank also makes a brief appearance in this book. In this book, there is also great sorrow as people are sent to the death camps. Hetty and Elly's parents are sent to the death camps. Despite all this, Ernest has the ability to forgive his captors and tormentors. For this he is commended, because I don't think I could forgive them.
As I said, this is a religious publication. It is a short and easy read, and the personal stories propel the book forward. However, there is a lot of quotations from Bible passages, so for those that are not interested in that, this might be a trying book. Also, the author cannot see why other Jews don't believe as he does, so there is a certain amount of moralizing in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Love and forgiveness in World War Two.
Review: The author and his wife are converted Jews who discover love, faith, and forgiveness during World War Two. This is a religious book and much of the content is religious in nature, so if the reader is looking for a human interest story, then plan on reading material debating some aspects of the Bible. Anne Frank also makes a brief appearance in this book. In this book, there is also great sorrow as people are sent to the death camps. Hetty and Elly's parents are sent to the death camps. Despite all this, Ernest has the ability to forgive his captors and tormentors. For this he is commended, because I don't think I could forgive them.
As I said, this is a religious publication. It is a short and easy read, and the personal stories propel the book forward. However, there is a lot of quotations from Bible passages, so for those that are not interested in that, this might be a trying book. Also, the author cannot see why other Jews don't believe as he does, so there is a certain amount of moralizing in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Inspirational!
Review: What a phenomenal story this is! It begins when the Nazis begin to take power in Europe and tells how the lives of individuals, particularly one family was affected by hiding, relying on God, and coming out victoriously. The mysterious ways of God is an underlying theme throughout all the events that are recorded. Portions of this book will cause you to realize the treasure of just setting with your family to eat a meal without fear of being raided.

The spiritual struggle faced during this nightmare is discussed throughout the book also. Seasons of danger cause a person to make those "life choices" rather quickly. If you're not sure how much longer you have to live, you have to decide what you believe and fast! There are incidences of answers to silent prayers of deperation. In one situation a matters of minutes determined whether a man was going to be saved or executed. This is the kind of book that makes you ask yourself the eternally significant questions.