Title: Heirs of Auschwitz
Description: "Even longer than he can remember, Jack was plagued by anxiety which was completely out of proportion to the experiences of his young life and upbringing. Throughout his early childhood and adolescence, not one child psychologist could give his parents an answer as to its cause. After bouncing around from one therapist to another he eventually gave up and figured out ways to cope with it on his own. His parents would tell him half-jokingly that Hitler was the reason for his anxiety and that everyone in our family suffers from it in one form or another. He accepted this answer, but not completely. Other than classes in world history or the occasional documentary on the Third Reich, Adolph Hitler or the Final Solution, this was about as close to Hitler as he got. Or was it? Fast forward 25 years, Jack found himself back in therapy. This is where he first learned of the research being done in the field of epigenetics, specifically on inter-generational trauma. For the first time in his

life he was aware of a scientifically plausible connection which existed between the trauma suffered by his grandparents and his anxiety. He was determined to sever that connection if he could. In October 2007 equipped with his video camera, his uncle Akiva a/k/a the family historian, and a local guide, he went back to Poland and began digging for roots. Perhaps the answer to his severe anxiety was back in Poland. He knew that in order to conquer it, he needed to understand the nature of his beast. Where it was coming from and why it was there. His search for answers were met with even more questions. Questions of a more existential nature. Specifically about a G-d that can allow this to happen. How can a person change their mindset? Assuming that it is even possible to re-wire our brains. By retracing the steps of his grandparents and the horrors they faced, in effect connecting their past to his present, would he be able to effectively and permanently transform his mind set?"--Provi

ded by publisher.
Subjects: Grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, Psychology, Biography, Psychic trauma, Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), Psychological aspects, Holocaust survivors, Family relationships, Influence, Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.)
People: Jack Fried