The Pessimist’s Son

Kimel Alexander :

Alexander Kimel was born in Podhajce, Poland (now Pidhaitsi, Ukraine) in 1926. After the war, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering at the Wrocław Polytechnic University in Poland. In the U.S., he started and ran his own consulting engineering firm. Poems from his award-winning website on the Holocaust have been used in schools, universities and exhibits, widely reprinted, and recited on YouTube. He also contributed a chapter to the anthology, Life in the Ghettos during the Holocaust. He died in 2018.Kimel Martin :

Martin Kimel, the son of Alexander and Eva Kimel, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law School. He is a securities lawyer in Washington, D.C. and lives in Maryland. He has written on the Holocaust and other topics for the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Wall Street Journal, Times of Israel, Forward, Chicago Tribune and many other publications.

Alexander Kimel was born in Podhajce, Poland (now Pidhaitsi, Ukraine) in 1926. After the war, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering at the Wrocław Polytechnic University in Poland. In the U.S., he started and ran his own consulting engineering firm. Poems from his award-winning website on the Holocaust have been used in schools, universities and exhibits, widely reprinted, and recited on YouTube. He also contributed a chapter to the anthology, Life in the Ghettos during the Holocaust. He died in 2018.

Martin Kimel, the son of Alexander and Eva Kimel, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law School. He is a securities lawyer in Washington, D.C. and lives in Maryland. He has written on the Holocaust and other topics for the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Wall Street Journal, Times of Israel, Forward, Chicago Tribune and many other publications.

“The Pessimist’s Son: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope is a moving chronicle of Polish Jewry that belongs in every archive, in every library, indeed, in every home. But it is much more than that. In this powerful volume Martin Kimel brings together two extraordinary tales woven into a third inspiring testimony. The stories of his father and mother are told in the aftermath of the radical assault on the soul that defined the Holocaust. And they are tales of a kind of healing that each soul offers to the other. The Pessimist’s Son is a memorial and a testimony not only to what happened during those days of destruction but, above all, to why it matters—something that is often forgotten. That is what makes this book a memoir of hope, a remembrance for the sake of the future. That is what makes it so urgent to the world we live in today.”

— David Patterson , Hillel A. Feinberg Distinguished Chair in Holocaust Studies , University of Texas at Dallas

“A compelling memoir of Jewish life in Russian occupied Poland in World War 2, the German invasion of Russia and life underground during the ensuing Holocaust of bullets. Alexander Kimel's story is interwoven at every step with his son Martin's magnificent work of narrative nonfiction to provide a wide-angle view with other first-hand accounts and the larger historical context, including the parallel survivor journey of Alexander’s wife, Eva. Beautifully written and deeply researched, The Pessimist’s Son is a riveting testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit when faced with impossible circumstances. Everyone should read it.”

— Scott Lenga, Author of The Watchmakers

“This manuscript bridges the past and present, weaving a profound dialogue across generations. Authored by the son of Holocaust survivors, it delves into the harrowing experiences of his parents during one of history's darkest periods. The narrative, rich with personal anecdotes and historical context, offers a unique lens into the lives of survivors and the enduring impact of their stories on their descendants. It's a moving testament to resilience and the unbreakable bonds of family, providing invaluable insights into the collective memory of the Holocaust and its lasting legacy.”

— Dr. Daniela Ozacky Stern, Western Galilee College, Israel

“This remarkable book is an account of the lives of two holocaust survivors, Alexander Kimel and Ewa Najnudel…. The book is based on a memoir by Alexander, edited by his son Martin, who has written an account of Ewa’s survival and the subsequent history of the couple. It provides a moving analysis of the Nazi mass murder of the Jews of Poland and of the situation of Jews under the Polish communist regime from liberation until 1956. It is essential reading for all interested in the fate of the Jews in East-Central Europe under Nazism and Communism.”

— Antony Polonsky, Emeritus Professor of Holocaust Studies, Brandeis University, Chief Historian, Global Education Outreach Project, Museum of Polish Jews in Warsaw

“The Pessimist's Son is a profoundly moving account of the Kimel family's experiences during World War II. Alexander Kimel's narrative spans his childhood in Russian-occupied Poland, his time in the Rohatyn ghetto, and his survival of the ghetto’s liquidation. Meanwhile, his wife Eva's remarkable story of perseverance under Nazi occupation, including her hiding in the Ukrainian forests, is equally powerful. Their son Martin thoughtfully edited this history to breathe life into their stories, offering a poignant tribute to the human spirit's capacity for resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. As the last remaining Holocaust survivors pass away, their stories become increasingly precious, and this account serves as a vital link to the past. The Kimel family's story is a testament to the rich Jewish heritage of Eastern Europe, which the Holocaust and its aftermath tragically ravaged. Through a dialogue between generations, this testimony is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving the memories of those who lived through this dark period and the enduring legacy of the Holocaust.”

— Prof. Daniel Blatman, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Chief Historian, Warsaw Ghetto Museum, Poland

“In combining his father Alexander’s difficult to comprehend memoir of his harrowing and courageous experience during the Second World War as a teenager, together with the riveting story of his mother, Eva, then a young girl, and her remarkable survival in the Ludwipol ghetto and then in an adjacent forest, Martin Kimel has produced another significant and poignant account of the Holocaust. Demonstrating an extensive knowledge of primary and secondary sources, Kimel knows firsthand the Eastern European setting where these tragic stories unfold. The result is a compelling book that deserves a large audience.”

— Allan Levine, Author of Fugitives of the Forest

“This poignant book is a full-length memoir, meticulously annotated and enriched with research by the son of Holocaust survivors. It offers an inspiring tool for Holocaust education and beyond.”

— Françoise Ouzan, Author of How Young Holocaust Survivors Rebuilt Their Lives and True to My God and Country.

“Alexander Kimel’s Holocaust writings have been widely reprinted, used by educators and cited by scholars. Indeed, Alex contributed gripping and powerful autobiographical notes for my book on Nazi ghettos, Life in the Ghetto during the Holocaust. We are fortunate that we now have his full-length memoir, thoughtfully edited and annotated by his son. In addition, Martin Kimel has extended Alex’s story past liberation to include his time in Communist Poland and written his mother’s own harrowing story of hiding in the forests of the Ukraine. In its excellent 35 chapters, Martin Kimel has done justice to the poignant accounts of Alex and Eva Kimel. Alex and Eva's voices come through distinctly and powerfully as they relate their harrowing experiences before, during, and after the Holocaust. Both are excellent storytellers who relate their accounts in a clear and vivid way. They relate their experiences under both Nazi and Soviet rule and the horrible anti-Semitism they experienced in post-war Poland. Martin Kimel has done extensive research and has provided very helpful annotations and explanatory notes so that even readers who are not experts on the Holocaust can understand his parents' experiences. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Holocaust in Poland.”

— Eric Sterling, Professor of English, Auburn University at Montgomery