The Cage

Ruth Minsky Sender

Jun 2008 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

A testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit, family, and, above all, hope, this “vivid memoir of a woman who lost her youth and family to the Nazis” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) is a Holocaust survival story that will be remembered for generations.

As long as there is life, there is hope…

After Riva’s mother was taken away by the Nazis, Riva and her younger brothers were left to cling to their mother’s brave words to help them endure life in the Lodz ghetto. Then the family is rounded up, deported to Auschwitz, and separated. Now Riva is alone.

At Auschwitz, and later in the work camps at Mittlesteine and Grafenort, Riva vows to live, and to hope—for Mama, for her brothers, for the millions of other victims of the nightmare of the Holocaust. And through determination and courage, and unexpected small acts of kindness, she does live. And this unforgettable memoir of love, strength, and survival is her story.

Ratings and reviews

Not only did this book touch my heart, but reflect on how inhumane the Holocaust was. I never imagined that these cruel things in these Holocaust books would be in real life. Riva really suffered, after being separated from her family. She has to find a way to move on in life. I wanted to cry while reading this book,

This book is amazing. Once you start reading it you can't put it down. I usually never get emotional with books, but throughout the entire read, I seemed to cry so much. The words are so strong and powerful, they will never leave your mind. "If there is life, there is hope."

I have such a heart for Jewish people. My Jewish friends tell me I must have Jewish blood in my family tree. I cried so much as I read this book. But no matter how many tears, it must be read and re-read. We must never forget. Must not let it ever happen again, to Jews or anyone else.

About the author

Ruth Minsky Sender (1926–2024) was a Holocaust survivor who went on to become an author and teacher of Jewish culture and history specializing in the Holocaust. The Cage was her first memoir; she was also the author of To LifeandThe Holocaust Lady.