The Prayer for the Last Resort

A Child's Memoir of the Holocaust

by Mordecai Popovtzer

The Prayer for the Last Resort
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The Prayer for the Last Resort

A Child's Memoir of the Holocaust

by Mordecai Popovtzer

Published Sep 18, 2020
91 Pages
6 x 9 Black & White Paperback
Genre: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs


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Book Details

The Prayer for the Last Resort recounts the wartime story of Mordecai Popovtzer, a child survivor of the Holocaust. Originally from Lwow, Poland. Popovtzer lived with his family under the Soviet rule until the Nazi invasion of their hometown. After losing his father, he—along with his mother and sister—went into hiding as they continually evaded apprehension by the Nazis. Throughout the war, they were forced to move between different hiding places and joined a group of partisans fighting against the Nazis. Shortly after the war, Popovtzer made aliyah with his family, and succeeded to live a rich life filled with many professional accomplishments and a loving family.

 

About the Author

Mordecai Popovtzer

Returning from Slovakia after liberation by the Red Army Mordecai Popovtzer, his sister and mother spent a brief time in Sanok but found no family survivors. In Krakow, Mordecai attended the Agudath Israel Yeshiva (Talmud Torah). He received multiple financial awards for scoring high scholarly grades. In 1950 Mordecai and his family moved to Israel. After graduation from High School he enlisted to the Givati combat Brigade and participated in several fire-shooting skirmishes staying alive. After discharge from military duty he was admitted to the Medical School of Hadassah-Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He was granted full scholarship fees and monthly stipends for outstanding reports in exams. He graduated in 1963 with Folkoffs Award for excellence. In 1966 Mordecai married the love of his life, Bathsheva, a descendant of the famous Talmudical Scholar, Chaim Joseph David Azulay (HIDA). He was drafted at the onset of 6th Day War and embedded into his Super-Sherman’s Tanks Corps Regiment. Subsequently, following discharge from the military duty and completing medical residency at Tel-Hashomer Hospital, he moved to Los Angeles, for a Renal Fellowship training at the Cedar Sinai Hospital. In LA, Bathsheva gave birth to 2 kids, a girl Einath and a boy Aron. From there he moved to Colorado University Medical Center to serve as Director of hemodialysis at the Research Transplant Unit. In Denver Bathsheva gave birth to a girl named Rinath. At the age of 38 he was recruited by the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia to Head the Section of Nephrology and was promoted to full Professor of Medicine. At that time he was elected to membership of the American Society of Clinical Investigation in recognition of outstanding contributions as a Physician-Scientist. In 1977, he was recruited to The Hadassah Medical Centers of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem as the Chief of Nephrology and Director of Osteoporosis Center. In Jerusalem, Bathsheva gave birth to 2 children, a girl Ayala and a boy Baruch. Mordecai was elected to be Chairman of Israel Society of Nephrology and Hypertension, Secretary of Israel Society of Calcified Tissues and was awarded with the Rothschild Prize for Innovation. In 2000, he was honored with the Millennium Award of the Israeli Society of Nephrology and Hypertension. In 2001 he was honored with the Citation of Outstanding Teacher at the Faculty of Medicine. After retirement from Hadassah he was recruited by the University of Arizona and promoted to Chief of Nephrology at the South Arizona Veterans Health Care System, and Professor of Medicine. In Tucson, he was an active member of the local Jewish Orthodox Society (Chofetz Chayim) and served as a cantor during High Holidays and Torah reader (Ba’al kore). At the University of Arizona he was honored with 3 Golden Star awards. In 2017, Mordecai retired from the South AZ VA Health Care System, with Service Award in appreciation of dedicated service to US Government, distinguished by thoughtful and compassionate care, remarkable scholarship , generous mentoring, continuous scientific research drive, and inspiring commitment to the VA mission.