Izrael Zachariah Deutsch was born on March 15; 1934; in Komjata; Czechoslovakia. The second youngest child; Izrael lived a bucolic existence with nine brothers and sisters on a farm; differing from them only in that he was deaf. When he was six; his mother took him to Budapest; Hungary; and enrolled him in a Jewish school for deaf children; where he thrived. Soon; however; the Nazi regime in Germany and the Arrow Cross fascists in Hungary destroyed Izrael’s world forever. Izrael realized that by being both Jewish and deaf; he faced a double threat of being exported to the gas chambers in Poland. But at every lethal junction; he found a way to survive; first by buying and reselling pastries for extra money that later saved his life in the Budapest ghetto. Still; Izrael was close to death from starvation when he was liberated by Russian soldiers on January 18; 1945. ? Izrael survived the war only to learn that his parents and two brothers had been murdered by the Nazis. The rest of his brothers and sisters scattered to distant parts of the world. Forced to remain in Budapest; Izrael finished school and became an accomplished machinist. He avoided any part in the Hungarian uprising in 1956 so that he could secure a visa to leave for Sweden. From Sweden he traveled throughout Europe and Israel; using an amazing network of Holocaust survivors; relatives; and deaf friends to ease his journey. He finally settled in Los Angeles; where he married a deaf Jewish woman he had met years before. Along the way; he changed his name from Izrael Deutsch to Harry Dunai.
#2732506 in Books Smithsonian 1996-06-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .61 x 10.03 x 9.24l; #File Name: 1560986913208 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book had the potential to be something greatBy VESI purchased this book based mainly on its cover. I was looking for photographic evidence of the success of African-American culture and architecture. And I found it in this book; to some extent; but with all of Deborah Willis’ books I have seen in libraries (and books similar to this from various other authors); it is seasoned with an equal dose of pain; misery; and struggle. That’s too bad- and tragic. It would be nice to see her come out with a book just once documenting pictorial history of our accomplishments of black people; our hopes and dreams without the constant reminder that you are black; and your history is peppered plenty of pain. We are strong people and have the magnificent architecture in our HBCU campuses; affluent enclaves on the outer banks of islands up and down the eastern coast; fabulous cuisine; some of the most dominate music genres in the world; and artists of all kinds to boot. I am fully cognizant of what it is to be black and don’t need the constant reminder if it. If you are looking for positive black history that does not beat you down the reminder you are black; purchase Nichelle Gainer's Vintage Black Glamour and Gentleman's Quarters books instead; and then look at the many Pinterest and Tumblr boards with the name Vintage Black Glamour and you will see just how vibrant our people are and how thirsty we are for forward-thinking black history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy C. HillA true Harlemite has to have this book of great photos and history.
