Ruta’s Closet by Keith Morgan, Ruth Kron Sigal, and Frank Myrakog is a powerful retelling of a Holocaust survival story, particularly from a young child’s perspective. The Kron family lived in the small town of Shavl, Lithuania, when the Nazi stormtroopers arrived. As Jews, they were always going to struggle to survive under the rule of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi henchmen. However, young Ruta Kron’s parents were nothing if not resourceful, and Meyer and Gita Kron were determined to ensure their family remained intact regardless of what may have been thrown at them. That they were only partly successful in this survival is no reflection on them or their many fellow Lithuanians who rallied to their support and assistance. Having survived the Holocaust, they were then faced with the horrors of Stalinist Russia and the deprivations of post-war Lithuania under the umbrella of the Soviet Union. This is more than just a story of survival and of escape from oppression; it is a record of family love, devotion, the power of faith, and the indomitability of the human spirit.

This powerful story is relevant in today’s fractured and increasingly anti-semitic world. The idea that “it can never happen again” has been severely tested over the decades since World War II. Ruta’s Closet is a beautifully written and deeply personal account of the Kron family’s survival and escape from Lithuania, following the war. Authors Keith Morgan, Ruth (Ruta) Kron Sigal, and Frank Myrskog have put together a story that, were it fiction, would push the bounds of credibility. We know, however, that it is true, and that makes it so powerful and moving for readers. I particularly appreciated that the authors took the time to revisit many of the amazing people in the Kron family’s story and chart their lives after the war. One thing that shines through is the element of serendipity (or was it just simply faith) that enabled them to escape from seemingly impossible situations or meet loving, generous people who helped them with no expectation of reward. I have read a lot of Holocaust accounts over the years, and this is one of the most enjoyable. I highly recommend this book.

The touching true story of a Lithuanian Jewish family, Meyer and Gita Kron, and their little daughter Ruta, is detailed in Keith Morgan's Ruta's Closet. As the family is incarcerated in Lithuania's Shavl ghetto, they face the true terror of the Nazi regime. While Ruta's traumatic incident and that of the Krons’ dominate the narrative, other members of their family, close friends, and ghetto residents are also subjected to the horrific events; some survived, and some did not. The horrific Nazi ban on births, forced abortions, and mass kidnappings of children for the Auschwitz gas chambers are all vividly described in the book. Furthermore, prisoners, young and old, faced public executions and hangings, deadly illnesses, and mass grave digging. Nevertheless, thanks to their ingenuity and selflessness, the Krons narrowly avoided extermination in the death camps. Despite the bleak misery, their tenacity and struggle for survival is an inspiring and miraculous story.

In Ruta's Closet, the survivors' testimonies are compellingly described, including dates, names, places, and names of German enemies and collaborators. Keith Morgan's account of unimaginable anguish will make you cry. Among the countless heartbreaking Holocaust testimonies and documentaries, Ruta's Closet struck a powerful chord with me. The book recreates the awareness of this historical era, which will never be forgotten and will be remembered for generations to come. This family's encounters will move, engross, and perhaps even unsettle you, as well as inspire you to admire their courage and perseverance. This book is a story of human resilience and survival in the face of adversity. Everyone should read this book at some point; it's not to be missed!