Iysh

Book excerpt: In 1940, Leo Butlion, a young Jew studying for his doctorate in Koblenz, Germany, has his future plans disrupted when Nazi forces destroy his family and their business. His heroic escape and commitment to survive drive him to overcome the greatest test man could ever encounter. Ivy Jacobson, a deformed yet highly talented fashion designer, works in a textile factory in Liege, Belgium, that is ransacked by Nazi invaders. She escapes their brutality and meets Leo. Leo explains the Hebrew word iysh, which means “champion,” and together they agree to persevere and champion the cause no matter how difficult it becomes. Their heroism and tenacity unfold in dramatic fashion as they are captured, separated and sent to concentration camps where their future survival is unclear.