Parent Guide > A Holocaust Survivor, Spared from Gas Chamber by Twist of Fate

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson 2015

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "A Holocaust Survivor, Spared from Gas Chamber by Twist of Fate" by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson.

In 1942, a young Polish boy named Jack Mandelbaum was torn from the rest of his family - who were sent to the gas chambers of Auschwitz - to work in a labor camp. This article reports on the story of his survival.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Fate & Free Will and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How does a person overcome adversity?" and "Can we control our fate?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this informational text at home:
    • What was "A Holocaust Survivor, Spared from Gas Chamber by Twist of Fate" about?
    • What did you learn about Fate & Free Will?
    • What did you learn about Resilience & Success?
  • Watch Elie Wiesel on hope, compassion, and the power of youth at home with your child.