Happiness

 I just finished a good book. It’s called The Happiest Man on Earth - The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor. Written by Eddie Jaku. (c. 2021)

I knew this book would be difficult to read due to its subject matter. The title though? How could he be the happiest man on earth after the atrocities he saw and suffered? It is actually because of that that he’s labeled himself as such.

Jaku was born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany in 1920.  He’s Jewish. Beginning in the late 1930’s and over the next several years, through no fault of his own, he was beaten, starved, frozen and hated to within an inch of his life. His survival depended on his wits, his intelligence, and his sincere hope that he couldn’t give up no matter what. Giving up would mean that his Nazi captors would win, and he would lose the only thing they couldn’t take from him - his spirit. He was determined to get through it all. 

Obviously, since he wrote this book (at 100 years old) survive he did. With everything he’d lost - family, possessions, dignity - after his rescue, he vowed to smile and be happier with everything he gained. He met and married, had children, found a job, a home. Living a life which was (several times over) almost taken from him. 

Yes, this book was hard to read but the fact he survived hell on earth is an inspiration to always keeping moving forward and look for happier todays and better tomorrows. 

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