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Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Boas, Jacob
Other names: BOAS, Jacob
Birthdate: 1943
Gender: male
Education: McGill University
University of California, Riverside
Occupations: historian
writer
translator
Short biography: Jacob Boas was born to a Jewish family in the Westerbork transit camp in The Netherlands, the same Nazi camp to which Anne Frank was sent before she was deported to Bergen-Belsen. He survived World War II to emigrate with his family to Canada in 1957. He received his B.A. from McGill University in 1965, and his M.A. in modern European history from the University of California, Riverside in 1969, followed by his Ph.D. in 1977. Dr. Boas has spent many years studying and writing about the Holocaust. He has served as the director of education and research at the Holocaust Center of Northern California in San Francisco.
Nationality: Netherlands (birth)
Canada
Birthplace: Westerbork, Netherlands
Places of residence: Westerbork Concentration Camp, Netherlands
Portland, Oregon, USA
Associated Place (for map): Netherlands

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4 reviews

bnbookgirl 612 reviews

We are witnesses : five diaries of teenagers who died in the Holocaust by Jacob Boas

This book consists of five diaries of teenagers who were killed in the Holocaust: David Rubinowicz, Yitzhak Rudashevski, Moshe Flinker, Eva Heyman and Anne Frank. It is so very interesting to read how each of the teens viewed what was happening around them and to them. The five diaries are compared in the final chapter and that is really quite compelling. These children all started keeping diaries in the early or mid-teens until they were brought to an extermination camp and killed. It is show more also very intriguing to know what these teens were thinking about, what kept them going, how their thought process worked during this difficult time. I have read Anne Frank's diary, but this book compares her situation and her entries to the other teens and that sheds some different perspectives on it. These teens seem much older than their years and of course their final entries are very sad indeed as we know what those final entries mean. show less

Jan 13, 2014 (Edited)3 other reviews

MerryMary 985 reviews

We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries Of Teenagers Who Died In The Holocaust by Jacob Boas

An examination of the Holocaust through the eys of 5 teenagers who kept diaries before their deaths at the hands of the Nazis. Anne Frank is, of course, one of these, but her experiences are compared and contrasted with the other 4 teens who saw different sides of the Death Machine that was Hitler's Germany. This is the first time I have seen Anne put into context with others of her generation. I found the whole book to be riveting.

Sep 23, 20083 other reviews

sandeepkm 71 reviews

We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust by Jacob Boas

In quite a few ways, it is better than Anne Frank's famous diary. Anne's diary was more introspective and ongoing war and persecutions of Jews was bit in background. This book does not produce the diaries verbatim, instead it is mostly presented as notes and background information along with excerpts from the diary. Five teenagers also had different circumstances, so it provides bit more perspective.

At less than 200 pages and large print, it is pretty easy and good read. In many respect show more better than Anne Frank's diary, if one wants to know how Holocaust was seen by Jew teenagers. show less

Nov 19, 20143 other reviews

Gabrielisbeast 2 reviews

We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust by Jacob Boas

Decent book, im reading it in school for information on the Holocaust and its perdy good. By the way Go to youtube and look up RayWilliamJohnsen HE IS BEAST!! =3 you will love him.
When i first saw him i was sitting in class pertending to be working... it was so funny that i was crying, my tummy hurt and i was on the floor... I got in so much troble ;) have fun!!!

Mar 1, 20113 other reviews