Random Memory

About the Book

This book is a survival story, typical of many, during the centuries of the Jewish nation. Born to a well-to-do textile industrialist family in Łódz, Poland, the author describes his family life before WWII; their struggle to stay alive in the Warsaw Ghetto; their escape; the daily struggles of survival getting by with falsified Aryan papers all through the German occupation and the Warsaw Uprising; and their attempt to reestablish themselves in Łódz once the War ended.

The author, enchanted by early Communist ideas, but having learned of the true nature of Stalinism, immigrates with his new family to Israel without money, language or connections. But due to hard work and an innate problem-solving capacity, he achieves success and raises a happy family.

However, Deva his beloved wife develops debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, and life stops being so easy. The family disperses, and the author, struggling with cancer, recalls the lights and shadows of his fascinating life.

About the Author

Tal Avidan was born as Tadeusz (Tadek) Jan Fuks in Lódz, Poland in 1931 to a well-to-do family. As a child, he survived the Warsaw Ghetto and later worked his way on false ?Aryan? papers in Warsaw until Soviet liberation. Enchanted by communist theory, Tadek served with the Polish communist youth organization until hearing about Khrushchev?s revelations about Stalin. He completed an economics degree at Lódz University and immigrated to Israel in 1957 with two small children, a Polish wife and no money. After several difficult years of struggling with the language as well as a lack of resources and connections, Tadek finally landed a decent job with Israel Aircraft Industries where he served for 32 years in various, increasingly demanding, assignments in Israel and abroad. Thereafter, he spent a few more years working for Clalit, the largest health insurer in Israel.