The Lucky One

A Memoir of Life, Loss and Survival in Eastern Europe

Ita was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The place was the former Pale of Settlement, which was a large swath of land in Western Russia where Jews were forced to live for centuries. The year was 1918 and Russia was in the midst of two revolutions. The first occurred with the abdication of the last tsar of Russia, culminating in his execution. The second was the bloody civil war that ensued for control of the country.

Ita was caught in the middle during this time of great political and social upheaval. Wave after wave of murderous anti-Jewish riots, or pogroms, descended upon Jewish shtetls, and the only chance for her survival was to escape. Escape was not easy. In fact, it could be deadly.

In Ita's own words, along with her daughter's (Sherry V. Ostroff) historical and cultural background information, she describes her privileged life in Russia, the bloody pogroms, and her harrowing escape. Ita faces each roadblock with resolve, including a new country that doesn't want her, and proves why she is, indeed, the lucky one.

©2016 Sherry Ostroff (P)2022 Sherry Ostroff

A heartwarming story of survival

A heartwarming story of survival told by the author’s mother and supplemented by historical details that fill out the already compelling story even further. Narrated by the delightful Savanna Sinead Kenny, it was a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end.