Accolades and Praise

“Ben Lesser, Living a Life that Matter is classic in structure: Before, During and After. His life before the Holocaust was a life of privilege in two of the most important Jewish cities of Eastern Europe Krakow and Munkacs, in Poland and Hungary. His life during the Holocaust includes ghettoization and escape into Hungary where in 1944 he is transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and from there on the death marches to Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. His life after the Holocaust includes a sojourn in Germany and then training for aliyah to Israel and finally life in the United States. As many survivors, his first years in the golden medina were marked by hard work and beginning a family. It is a important rags to riches story, but his last years have been his most significant for Ben, as many survivors, has become a teacher, bearing witness to the past and teaching students of all ages from elementary school to college the important values of tolerance, democracy, respect for human dignity and decency. He has truly lived a life that matters and has shown us all that while suffering may not confer meaning, how one deals withs suffering can make all the difference in the world, conferring meaning on the life of the witness and in the lives of those of us who have become witnesses to the witness. One is privileged to know such a man and honored to read his work.” ~ Michael Berenbaum. American Jewish University, Los Angeles, California 

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“Here is a most unusual book by a most unusual person that leads us to change our thinking about the Holocaust with its millions killed not as a matter of statistics but as the fates of individual human beings who might, like the author, have lived meaningful, and productive lives; and who deserve to be remembered lest there be a repetition.”~ Gerhard L. Weinberg, William Rand Kenan, Jr. Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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“Mr. Lesser is an incredible role model for people of any culture.  His resilience and courage to acknowledge the past and share his vision for a brighter future after his time in concentration camps is empowering.  His dedication to ensuring the world never forgets these dark periods in our collective history is a testament to his strength and character.” ~ Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Legislative Assembly of the NWT

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“Among the myriad of Holocaust autobiographies currently available, Living a Life that Matters by Ben Lesser is especially well suited to K-12 age pupils…Lesser writes prose in a conversational tone that neither puts off young readers with strident overtones nor sends them scampering to a dictionary. It is appropriate for adults as well, but it is especially useful for introducing middle and high school pupils to Holocaust studies.” ~ Dr. Nancy E,. Rupprecht, Chair, MTSU Holocaust Studies Program

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“Ben Lesser’s amazing and lasting gift to humanity shines on every page of his book. He lights our way from the darkest pages of a child’s sudden plunge into the despairs of Nazi Germany to his stunning transformation (rebirth) to new life in America.”~ Leona Merrin, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“…{Ben’s book} serves as a precious gift, making us question who we are, who we can become, and how we can live a meaningful life – all against the backdrop of a man who survived the Holocaust and found the American Dream— and so much more.” ~ Ann T. Raskin, M.S. Ed, Teacher, Molasky Jr. High School, Las Vegas Nevada

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“{Ben’s} survival instincts, determina- tion, strength, quickness, industry, intel- ligence—all come through in LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS…”~ Mayer Jacobovitz, Child of Holocaust Survivors, New York City, New York

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Through his book, Ben Lesser shows us that the truest meaning of human heroism is not only physical survival, but the survival of humanity.”~ Stephen D. Moore, DDS, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“…an extraordinary story—an excel- lent learning tool for young adults— and everyone else…Ben’s tenacity, strength and ambition are to be ad- mired…they provide a great example for our children…”~Lola Kohn, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“{This} is an enthralling tale from start to finish. Mr. Lesser clearly exemplifies courage and bravery, from his survival of the Holocaust to his pursuance of the American dream. It provides the explanations needed for students beginning to study World War II and the Holocaust. ~ Shannon Gougar, Teacher, Arbor View High School, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“As a Survivor of the Holocaust, Ben Lesser’s book, I found that A Life That Matters vividly brought me back to the brutal experiences we went through during the war years, and the trauma suffered over the losses of our beautiful families. ~ Martin Kohn, Holocaust Survivor, Las Vegas, Nevada

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“Your story helps us to “Remember” not only the pain man inflicted on man, but also man’s resilience and resistance, and finally, man’s determination to live—and to live “a life that matters,” as you so eloquently have shown.”~ Michael Botermans, Teacher, Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School, Behchoko, Northwest Territories, Canada

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