The Grand Mosque Of Paris: A Story Of How Muslims Saved Jews During The Holocaust (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust is just as the title describes it. It tells the story of the selfless actions of Muslims and the Grand Mosque of Paris during the Holocaust. It highlights the untold story of their efforts to hide Jews and help them escape during the Nazi occupation of Paris from 1940 to 1944. The Kabyles and those of the Grand Mosque risked their own lives to save not only Jews, but Allied soldiers and prisoners of war from around the world. Those that sought refuge found it in the temporary hiding places throughout the mosque. It was not only a place of worship but also a community center that allowed for enough activity to distract from the resistance working behind the scenes, led by rector Si Kaddour Benghabrit. With the aid of doctors and deliverymen from the mosque, peniches and others a part of the Kabyle Resistance many lives were saved. It gives a new and unknown perspective of the courage and bravery shown during a time of destruction. Because the French tend to be more tight-lipped about the Holocaust in France than the Germans, themselves, it can be difficult to know what actually happened there during that time. This book is an intriguing account, though even the author herself mentions that much of the information is second, or third-hand. Still, it's a wonderful account of one group of people risking their lives for another.However, I'm not sure to whom this book is directed. The illustrations are nice, but the amount of words on single pages is too much for any kind of lap-reading with children. Both of my children (ages 9 and 12)approached this book in the same way. They noticed the vibrant blue cover, picked it up and then quickly looked through the illustrations, not interested enough to read it.
What do You think about The Grand Mosque Of Paris: A Story Of How Muslims Saved Jews During The Holocaust (2009)?
Beautiful nonfiction picture book highlighting a little-known story from the holocaust.
—paola
