Review Of My Hands: Memoirs Of A Holocaust Rescuer

Purpose is said to be what drives humans, such as instinct is what drives a stork to migrate every first fall of snow. In My Hands: Memoirs of a Holocaust Rescuer details the found purpose of Irene Gut Opdyke, a young Polish woman regarded highly for her actions during the Holocaust and the savior of six Jews during her time as a maid for the Nazis. Irene’s story circumvents the idea that a person looks out for only themselves and their own kind, and instead pushes forward facts of selflessness and responsible use of power, which continue to be present in modern, young female leaders. During World War II, there were truly no bystanders. It was practically impossible to feign ignorance to the pervasive and overbearing power of the Nazi party,

International aid and related groups have come about after the horrors of the 1930s and 40s, such as the UN, yet basic human rights are repeatedly violated in nations where corruption is rampant. Consequently, the UN has been an extreme presence in Israel from its formation to the modern day, but the tension between the Israelis and Palestinians is still mounting at the cost of hundreds of lives. The failings of a seven decade old institution provide evidence that the greatest victories over unnecessary death come from the actions of individuals, however humble they may be. Take, for example, Malala Yousafzai, and teenager from Pakistan who has defied the Taliban, a strong political group comparable to the Nazi party, for the sake of defending girls’ right to become educated. In a 2013 speech to the UN, Malala said, “[The extremists] are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women scares them,” a statement comparable to Irene’s tone throughout the entirety of the memoir that speaks to the ultimate strength of femininity. She even remarks on how a flirtatious, “girly” attitude can be used, “[to] destroy your enemies” (Opdyke 246). Furthermore, both Malala and Irene suffered for others; a thirteen year old Yousafzai survived a bullet through the skull, and Gut prolonged separation from family