Keeping the Promise

I went to see Tami Lehman-Wilzig read this book and talk about the process she went through to create the book. As she read the story, I began to sob and then I cried. I waited until the very last word and then I went to the bathroom and really cried for about 5 minutes. My tears reflected my feelings about this extraordinary story. She has captured not only an incredible story from the Holocaust, but also the story of a nation. The first Israeli astronaut and the impact he had on people around the world. This is a book for older children who can understand the gravity and enormity encompassing this story.

This story of a tiny Torah scroll that survives the Nazis to accompany Ilan Ramon on the doomed Columbia mission is one that all children, especially Jewish children should hear. The themes of hope and promise are universal. There are true heros in this world and Rabbi Dasberg (z"l) and Ilan Ramon (z"l) are two of them.