At the Mercy of Strangers is an important addition to Holocaust literature for a number of reasons. It is a document about the survival of individual and her two children. As a first hand account about survival during the Holocaut, it is worth reading. It also documents how Polish friends, acquantances and even strangers helped to ensure the survival of one Jewish family during the bleak days of teh Holocaust. These acts of bravery by individuals and families, at grave risk to themselves, is fully documented here, with names, incidents and places.

Gitel Hopfeld's profile page

Simcha Simchovitch's profile page

The translator and editor of this book, Simcha Simchovitch, is an award-winning Canadian Jewish poet, novelist, teacher and scholar. He was the librarian and curator at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto, Ontario. Among his previous publications are Selected Poems (Mosaic Press, 1990), The Remnant, poems (Mosaic Press, 1999), and The Song that Never Died: The Poetry of Mordecai Gebirtig (Mosaic Press, 2001). He has recieved numerous awards, most recently the prestigious J.I.Segal Award in 2004 and the Canadian Jewish Book Award in 2004.