Rena Kornreich’s Book: “Rena’s Promise – A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz”

“Rena’s Promise – A Story of Sisters in Auschwitz” is one of the most historically accurate and important books ever written on the women’s camp in Auschwitz I” – Irena Strzelecka, Director, Auschwitz Museum of Women, O?wi?cim, Poland.





Rena did not read from her book, I did, because to read from it made her cry uncontrollably. She could tell her story to you, but could not read the words I wrote for her. So here I am reading from the excerpt that brings her on the first transport of women into Auschwitz and then introducing her to the audience, of which there were six hundred! We had thought we would have a small student audience but the entire community of Winston-Salem seemed to show up for the event, even a few skinheads lurked in the back of the auditorium. Rena had to stand on a box, so having me next to her served a dual purpose: safety and security. She wanted to be able to reach out and hold my hand if she got overwhelmed. I wanted to do the same for her. We were a team, treading the paths of her story and memory together in order to render it into a literary form that was both compelling and beautiful. We did our best, especially considering she had never told her story to anyone in its entirety before and I had never written a book before. Heather Dune Macadam
THE 716th JEWISH WOMAN in AUSCHWITZ by Heather Dune Macadam, Co-author of Rena’s Promise

Wiki on Rena Kornreich