Leon Leyson (1929–2013)
Author of The Boy on the Wooden Box
About the Author
Leon Leyson was born in Narewka, Poland on September 15, 1929. He was almost ten when German forces invaded Poland in 1939. He was one of the youngest members of Schindler's List. He emigrated to the United States in 1949. He graduated from Los Angeles City College; California State University, Los show more Angeles; and Pepperdine University. He taught at Huntington Park High School in Huntington Park, California, for 39 years. Believing that no one would be interested in his story, he rarely spoke about his experiences until after the film Schindler's List was released. His children's book, The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible... on Schindler's List, was published after his death. He died in January 2013 at the age of 83. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Leon Leyson
The Boy On The Box 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Leyson, Leon
- Other names
- Lejzon, Leib (birth name)
- Birthdate
- 1929-09-15
- Date of death
- 2013-01-12
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Los Angeles City College
California State University
Pepperdine University (MA) - Occupations
- high school industrial arts teacher
Holocaust survivor
public speaker
memoirist - Relationships
- Schindler, Oskar (employer)
- Short biography
- Leon Leyson was born Leib Lejzon to a Jewish family in the small rural town of Narewka, Poland. The family sought better living conditions in Krakow, where his father worked in a glass factory. He was nearly 10 years old when Nazi Germany invaded his homeland in World War II. In 1940, the Leysons were forced into the Jewish ghetto at Podgorze, a suburb of Krakow. Two of Leon's older brothers were killed. Leon, his parents, and his surviving siblings were sent to the forced labor camp at nearby Plaszow, where they managed to be included on the list of Oskar Schindler's workers at his enamel factory DEF. Leon was so little that he couldn't reach the handles on the machines and had to stand on an upside-down box. Later, Leon was moved with others to the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in Germany, then to Schindler's munitions factor in Brinlitz, Czechoslovakia. Leon survived the war, and in 1949, at the age of 20, emigrated to the USA. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, then studied industrial arts at Los Angeles City College and California State University. He earned a master's degree in education from Pepperdine University in 1970, and taught at Huntington Park High School in Los Angeles for 40 years. After his retirement in 1997, he continued to give talks about his Holocaust experiences. His memoir The Boy on the Wooden Box, published in 2013, became a bestseller.
- Nationality
- USA (naturalized)
- Birthplace
- Narewka, Poland
- Places of residence
- Krakow, Poland
Germany
Los Angeles, California, USA - Place of death
- Whittier, California, USA
Members
Reviews
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson
I wish I could just say what it is about this book that moved me so much. The subject matter, of course, and the youth of the author when the events were taking place but I think it was the simplicity of the writing that did it. There was no fancy prose, just the author telling his story. He never paints Oskar Schindler as a saint but as a man with a deep sense of compassion. I'm grateful that I never read portions of this book in a public place because I broke down in tears more than once. show more This is an absolute must-read for anyone who studies Holocaust literature. show less
Oskar Schindler has been called many names: scoundrel, womanizer, war profiteer, drunk. When Schindler gave my father a job, I didn't know any of those names, and I wouldn't have cared if I had. Kraków was filled with Germans who wanted to make a profit from the war. Schindler's name meant something to me only because he had hired my father.
Leib Lejzon, later anglicized to Leon Leyson, grew up in a village in eastern Poland with his mother, four siblings, and large extended family. His show more father, a skilled machinist, was working in Kraków, but saved enough money to bring his wife and children to the city in the late 1930s. In 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and the Nazis occupied Kraków, life for the city's Jews became untenable very quickly. Even his father's status as skilled labor was insufficient in the face of blind brutality. Then in early 1940, he did a favor for Oskar Schindler, a favor which would prove to be the key to survival in the years to come. To Leon, Schindler was a hero.
From a happy childhood, Leon would survive increasingly difficult situations, including Plaszow concentration camp, before becoming one of the youngest Jews protected by Schindler. The book's title comes from the fact that he was so small that he had to stand on a box to run the machine in Schindler's factory. After some harrowing close calls, Leon survives the war and eventually makes his way to the US. His story, told here for young adults, has been written in a narrative style with the help of a professional writer and his wife. More of his Leon's story can be found in an award-winning documentary, A Child on Schindler's List and in a USC Shoah Foundation video testimony. show less
Leib Lejzon, later anglicized to Leon Leyson, grew up in a village in eastern Poland with his mother, four siblings, and large extended family. His show more father, a skilled machinist, was working in Kraków, but saved enough money to bring his wife and children to the city in the late 1930s. In 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and the Nazis occupied Kraków, life for the city's Jews became untenable very quickly. Even his father's status as skilled labor was insufficient in the face of blind brutality. Then in early 1940, he did a favor for Oskar Schindler, a favor which would prove to be the key to survival in the years to come. To Leon, Schindler was a hero.
From a happy childhood, Leon would survive increasingly difficult situations, including Plaszow concentration camp, before becoming one of the youngest Jews protected by Schindler. The book's title comes from the fact that he was so small that he had to stand on a box to run the machine in Schindler's factory. After some harrowing close calls, Leon survives the war and eventually makes his way to the US. His story, told here for young adults, has been written in a narrative style with the help of a professional writer and his wife. More of his Leon's story can be found in an award-winning documentary, A Child on Schindler's List and in a USC Shoah Foundation video testimony. show less
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson
Consistently, as intelligent people, we struggle with the concept of evil, and of good, the night and day of the human condition. Oskar Schindler, hero to 1,200 Jews saved by his tenacity and indomitable spirit, was a complex man who was a Nazi. He made millions, and through his wheeling and dealing, he soon found a way to manufacture what Germany needed to continue their war effort.
Using Jews on the assembly lines was a real bargain because their labor, unlike their right to live show more peacefully, was free. A snappy dresser overseeing those who wore rags, a married man who fathered three illegitimate children, a drinker with a love of excitement and parties, somehow experienced a sea change.
Using his money to bride Hitler's henchmen, consistently he went above and beyond, at the risk of his own peril, to do the right thing in a difficult situation.
Placing his own life in a vulnerable position, he continued to save as many as possible from certain death.
Leon Leyson died in 2013, not knowing if this book would be published. He held the unique distinction of being the youngest person who worked in his factory and, despite incredible odds, survived to tell the story.
As Hitler's intentions became clear, those who did not flee beforehand, now witnessed unspeakable, non understandable terror. Through Leon's eyes, his remarkable story unfolds. Living in the squalor of the ghetto, watching helpless as his brother was taken away and his father beaten, listening to gun shots day after day, while hearing second hand tales of just how far Hitler would go to rid Germany of the Jews, his good fortune was to have his name, and family members on Schlindler's list.
Malnourished, his skeletal frame was placed on the top of a box, allowing him to perform duties assigned. While there was never enough food for all, and living with the realization that at any point in time the Nazi's could collect him, incredibly he survived because of one man who cared to make a difference.
As Germany was losing and Russia was advancing, Schindler was in danger. Before escaping he gave each worker a bottle of vodka and a bolt of material to use as bargaining tools to help get to freedom.
Eventually Leon and some of his remaining family members came to America. His sister and a brother settled in Israel. He became a successful teacher and years after the horror, Leon spoke of Schindler to all who would listen.
Highly Recommended. Four Stars show less
Using Jews on the assembly lines was a real bargain because their labor, unlike their right to live show more peacefully, was free. A snappy dresser overseeing those who wore rags, a married man who fathered three illegitimate children, a drinker with a love of excitement and parties, somehow experienced a sea change.
Using his money to bride Hitler's henchmen, consistently he went above and beyond, at the risk of his own peril, to do the right thing in a difficult situation.
Placing his own life in a vulnerable position, he continued to save as many as possible from certain death.
Leon Leyson died in 2013, not knowing if this book would be published. He held the unique distinction of being the youngest person who worked in his factory and, despite incredible odds, survived to tell the story.
As Hitler's intentions became clear, those who did not flee beforehand, now witnessed unspeakable, non understandable terror. Through Leon's eyes, his remarkable story unfolds. Living in the squalor of the ghetto, watching helpless as his brother was taken away and his father beaten, listening to gun shots day after day, while hearing second hand tales of just how far Hitler would go to rid Germany of the Jews, his good fortune was to have his name, and family members on Schlindler's list.
Malnourished, his skeletal frame was placed on the top of a box, allowing him to perform duties assigned. While there was never enough food for all, and living with the realization that at any point in time the Nazi's could collect him, incredibly he survived because of one man who cared to make a difference.
As Germany was losing and Russia was advancing, Schindler was in danger. Before escaping he gave each worker a bottle of vodka and a bolt of material to use as bargaining tools to help get to freedom.
Eventually Leon and some of his remaining family members came to America. His sister and a brother settled in Israel. He became a successful teacher and years after the horror, Leon spoke of Schindler to all who would listen.
Highly Recommended. Four Stars show less
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson
In this vivid, moving memoir Leyson chronicles how he and much of his immediate family survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler. A great addition to Holocaust literature for young people.
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Statistics
- Works
- 2
- Members
- 1,401
- Popularity
- #18,325
- Rating
- 4.3
- Reviews
- 72
- ISBNs
- 40
- Languages
- 9