MWSA Book Review

Hearing A Different Drummer: A Holocaust Survivor’s Search For Identity

Authors: Benjamin Hirsch

Publisher:  Mercer University Press

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

A Holocaust Survivor’s Story – A Child Separated From his Parents

There is something very special and moving in the telling of author Benjamin Hirsch’s life story that is much deeper than just his own memoirs; it is like he is here to remind all of us about events that happened long ago. In his well written and inspirational book, “Hearing A Different Drummer: A Holocaust Survivor’s Search For Identity,” he becomes another voice for the victims of the Nazi extermination camps. It is clear that his voice is needed in today’s world that tries to forget, hide or worse yet – to deny the holocaust ever happened.

Hirsch tells us about his childhood in Germany and how his father was arrested in his own home and taken away by the SS and put in a work camp.  His mother sends off her older children – three boys and two girls to France to remain in hiding and eventually to find their way to America.  His mother keeps her two youngest children with her so the family is broken apart in many ways and not just physically.  The author finds out after the war that both his parents and his little sister and brother have been killed in the Nazi Extermination Camps.

Hirsch ends up in Atlanta, Georgia joining the rest of his surviving siblings. He is raised in a supportive Jewish community but he is an orphan none the less and there is all the emotional pain and loss of not knowing what happened to his family. This story is heart wrenching even though the author himself understates the obvious emotions that must have troubled him in his youth or even today.

The bulk of the book focuses on the author’s U.S. Army experiences in Germany and his personal search for what happened to his family. In the course of discovering his family history, he reconnects with his Jewish roots and rediscovers his spiritual life. It is a touching account of a young man alone in Europe finding his old country of Germany. However, it is not a home coming since he remembers so little; having been just 6 years old when he was sent off by train before the out break of WWII.

There are some touching moments of reconnections with others from his past in almost miraculous ways and he reunites with the French couple that took him into their home so many long years before. There is so much more that I wanted to know about this man and his life that he left closed or veiled for public reading; it is my hope that his next book takes us on an inner journey to learn more about this most interesting man who also designed memorials to Jewish holocaust victims.

I found myself on a personal level with his story for two reasons. One reason is that I have a six year old grandson and wondered what life would be like if he was suddenly taken away and sent to another country never to see his parents or grandfather again. The other reason deals with my wonderful experiences in Atlanta in 1968 with an Army buddy from Fort Benning. He had relatives there and had asked me to join him for some Jewish holidays with them. I was accepted into their home and at their temple for services and ate at their table afterwards. I was emotionally made to feel so welcomed and loved. I felt like family. That memory still makes me feel warm inside remembering it.

The only negative note from that visit was when one of the relatives told me about some of the discrimination that they had to deal with even in the late 1960’s in the south. It seems socially there were still some major barriers to clubs, organizations and even employment. It blew me away because I never thought that was an issue before. It was never a part of my world. They seemed very surprised that I joined them in their temple as well. But to me, there is but one God and all temples and churches are places of worship so I saw no conflict. After all, didn’t Jesus go to the temple services.

This book will make you think, feel and have emotions. It also has some lighter moments and is an easy to read book. If you were only going to read one book this coming year make it this one!

The MWSA gives this book its top rating of FIVE STARS! I also give it my personal endorsement!