# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it proves that if you keep looking forward and persevering through the hard times, things WILL get better. Although, Michael’s family was still treated poorly due to their odd religion and ways of life, they still ‘went towards the light’. When Michael went to PS6 he always felt invisible and like a misfit due to his numbered arm and small exterior, but [spoiler alert] when his reunion came around he received a very welcoming feeling. Michael was even able to get a job and read the Torah for his bar mitzvah. I chose this quote because it represents a saying I choose to always remember when the going gets tough. ‘Einstein didn’t become Einstein in a day.’. Although the stories in Survivors Club were sad, they were also enjoyable to finally understand the impacts the Holocaust had on a small child. In summary, when something gets in your way, push through it; that’s was the Bornstein family did.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it represents how their were many different types of torture devices during the Holocaust. Most Jews were initially put in ghettos, some being open and some being heavily guarded, but some went to labor camps or the horrifying concentration camps. The town of Zarki (Michael’s birthplace) was placed into an open ghetto atmosphere. Open ghettos were not fenced with high voltage fences, although their were some guards, meaning that Jews could escape. The consequence, if they were caught, was death. Disgustingly, the Nazis found killing Jews a fun game and laughed and joked while they harmed these innocent people. I chose this quote because many people my age, and some older, do not understand the impacts the Holocaust had on innocent people like us. Although, the Jews of Zarki were in the safest type of persecution, they still endured cruel punishments such as long work hours or digging their own grave. In summary, many Jews were mistreated because the Nazis did not believe they fit into their Aryan race.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it exhibits how horrible things stay in your memory longer than others. During this quote, Michael portrays his memories of the barracks at Auschwitz. He explains how depleted and mortifying they were, including facts about the beds. The beds were wooden shelves; each shelf was for three people. Unfortunately, many Jews were crammed into these barracks and many caught respiratory diseases from one another and other illnesses that could be genocidal. I chose this quote because I was interested in how Michael remembered the horrible parts, but other parts of his journey are fuzzy. It is very important to understand that actions speak louder than words. This phrase can be seen throughout the book because Michael was mistreated (which he remembers), but did not remember all the things that the SS guards said to him. In summary, European Jews went through hard times that they would/will remember for the rest of their lives.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it shows how when someone you love is anxious it takes some lighthearted fun to ‘bring them back’. When Israel Bornstein became anxious about his family and the rest of the Jews being expelled from the ghetto and taken to concentration camps, his wife, Sophie, chose to become the calmer spouse (this did not happen often). Usually Israel takes charge and comforts Sophie to the best of his powers when the going gets tough, but when Israel had enough built up stress to create a reaction Sophie took charge. Sophie kidded around about how her skin would make a wonderful perfume, when Israel mentioned how Jews were being made into toiletries. I chose this quote because it represents how powerful a family can be when working together. Michael’s family became a joint force when the Nazis first invaded their hometown, and now, even though Israel and Samuel are no longer with them, they still work together and “keep moving forward”. In summary, family can be a very powerful factor on any situation.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because this proves that many Jews did not know where they were headed and what they were about to endure. When Jews were instructed by the SS guards to report to the train station, it was an immediate order that was required to be followed. The penalty was death. Many Jews tried to escape, some were successful, but many were not. Michael’s parents did not understand that they would most likely never see each other again. Michael’s family had a very uncommon, but miracle instance... almost the entire family was reunited after they were liberated. I chose this quote because this type of reaction to an announcement like this, was extremely common. Although many are sad, they also felt hopeful they would see their friends and families again. In summary, many Jews did not know about the happenings of the Holocaust.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because Mamishu has the opposite emotion of most Jewish women during this time period. When Mamishu is chosen to work at another ammunitions factory she feels overwhelmed because she believes that her son will not last in the camp without her. Mamishu was very worried that Bobeshi could not take care of Michael proficiently and protect him from the evils of the Holocaust and the Nazis. When the SS guards give a Jew an assignment, like Sophia’s, they are only given 15 minutes to get presentable and report to the pickup stop. This being said, Mamishu had to tell Michael that she was leaving, but she gave him hope that she would be back. I chose this quote because Sophia’s reaction to these news is very uncommon. Although her reaction was uncommon, she reacted the way any mother trying to protect her child would. In summary, this quote presents an unprecedented behavior.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it shows a very important moment for Michael’s family. This type of moment was very uncommon during this epoch. Cecia, Sam, and Eli were devastated when they found out that the family they had entrusted Kristina Ruth with was taken to the doorstep of the Catholic Church. Kristina Ruth has been through many hands, but the nuns at the Catholic Church were the only people who truly kept her safe from the evil war happening around her. When the nuns found her, they raised her with Catholicism. Unfortunately, many children were left at the doorstep of this church, so the nuns were overjoyed to see that Cecia was clearly Kristina Ruth’s mother. I chose this quote because I enjoyed reading this part of the book... it brought me to tears. When I read the previous passage of how Ruth was taken away, I thought she would for sure pass away, but fortunately the nuns chose to take care of the little girl. It shows how much people truly cared and were saddened by the events of the 1930s/1940s. In summary, this quote had a deep meaning for the reader and the family.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it marks an important moment for the Jews because they did not know where they would be headed... for most it would be death. After Adolf Hitler and the Nazis took over Germany and Poland many innocent people were mistreated and harmed. Many Jews did enjoy the fact that they received classified information from Jews in other countries that had heard of the horrible things coming their way because they would have time to prepare and say goodbye to their families. Although, they would rather have lived peacefully in their once fair countries, than the awful ghettos and/or concentration camps. I chose this quote because the outcome of this report on the Bornstein family is interesting. [Spoiler Alert] Since Israel Bornstein was the president of the Zarki Judenrat he received a particular benefit from Officer Schmitt. The Bornstein family was sent to a ammunitions factory in Pionki due to the quality of their work. In summary, these types of news were common back then, leaving an everlasting affect on many families.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it demonstrates how life did not fully change once the war was ended for the fact that many lives were still lost, homes destroyed, and people’s opinions were still similar. After the Soviet Union and the rest of the allies (including the United States) liberated Auschwitz, many Jews were able to return home... eventually. But when the Jews arrived many Polish catholic people had taken over their homes and were still uninterested in living among them. Unfortunately, some Jews that did make it home were pushed out of their homes into the streets; and in Michael’s case, chicken coops. I chose this quote because this was a key emotion exhibited. This moment sent his grandma into a state of shock and sorrow because she believed that the rest of her family and her town had died during the war. Luckily, [spoiler alert] another member of the family returned home later on in the book allowing happy emotions to appear. In summary, this quote exemplifies how the war stole many emotions, people, and homes from the Jewish people.

# data[].attributes.body
This quote is significant because it represents a difficult time that was shared among many Jewish families during the Holocaust. When Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany he made ‘destroying all Jews’ his final solution to Germany’s problems. Unfortunately, many innocent people perished, families were separated, and homes were destroyed under Hitler’s reign. I chose this quote because this moment was a key point of the story. This moment inhibited  Michael from seeing his family, but [spoiler alert] eventually he was back with his Mamishu and Grandma. Being separated from his family was a very depressing moment for young Michael, but Michael was lucky enough to have older boys to support him in the barracks. In summary, this quote exhibits major importance for the rest of Michael’s life and story.