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Don't miss this one. For any of you who are not aware of the sheer bravery, the strength, the commitment, and the endurance of this band of heroes, you are in for a riveting, well written book. The Avengers may be out of print, but it's story will live on through those who are fortunate to read it. It is the true story of a small group that was part of the Jewish underground.
The book covers the life of Abba Kovner, a Jewish resistance fighter from Vilna, through World War II and its aftermath. The book is well written and easy to read.
One picture is that of many of the Jews in the Vilna Ghetto.one of fear and submission to the Nazi oppression. It gives you two different pictures of Jewish suffering during the war.
I have read many books about Jewish resistance during World War II and this one is among the best I have read. This is described in the book as well as Abba's participation in Israel's War of Independence.
The other picture is that of Abba and his group of partisans.one of resistance and hatred of the Nazi oppressors. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.
At the end of the war, Abba planned and executed acts of revenge against the Nazis.
It really is amazing how these individuals actually survived this horrible time, but they did in fact prevail and triumph against overwhelming odds. Rich Cohen has done an amazing and tremendous thing by writing this book, sharing with the world the incredible testimony of these three courageous individuals. Rich Cohen has written an extraordinary tale of heroism and survival during the most horrendous and brutal moment in mankind's history. Perhaps the greatest challenge that these people faced in the end was not to end up like the monsters who had persecuted them. After you finish reading this book, you will never think about the Holocaust in the same way. The tale of these three individuals, Abba Kovner, Ruzka Korczak and Vitka Kempner, shine through as living testimonies in the dark night of the Holocaust. You will not be able to put this book down as you race through the pages of "The Avengers." It is so well written and well documented that you wish you had 20 more books just like this one.
One is struck again and again by the brutality and sadism used by these Nazi animals. Although I think most people would have a tough time accepting what the avengers tried to do after the war, I cannot possibly judge them. I also cannot imagine living the horrors (which are spelled out in graphic detail) that these Jews went through. The Avengers follows the life of Abba Kovner and his associates, through the horror of Nazism through attempts at revenge, and to a life in Palestine. Although not a comforting book, I believe this book should be read by anyone with an interest in one of the most evil periods in history. Cohen's writing style is very engaging. Although I have read several books on the holocaust, I must admit, I could not bought this book down. Cohen makes no value judgements here; it is up to the reader to decide right and wrong.
While we all have to come to our own (hopefully consistent)conclusion in that regard, it takes someone like Cohen and his hero Kovener to make us realize that it is not a "cut and dry" issue. In other words, these Avengers are also terrorists (if you use the current definitions).By exposing the grey are of terrorism/ resistance, Cohen subtly places the reader in the uncomfortable position of acknowledging a double standard between hero, terrorist and freedom fighter. Cohen's story is brilliant and courageous in the way it forces the Reader to acknowledge their hypocracies with regard to terrorism. Specifically, he draws the reader to sympathize and care for Abba Kovner, but also notes that Kovner and his gang try (unsuccessfully) to poison the water supply of Germans, many innocent noncombatants, even children.
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