Auschwitz #34207: The Joe Rubinstein Story

"A riveting, well-documented account of survival that’s harrowing, inspiring and unforgettable.” —Kirkus Reviews

Seventy years ago Joe Rubinstein walked out of a Nazi concentration camp.

Until now, his story has been hidden from the world.

Shortly before dawn on a frigid morning in Radom, Poland, German soldiers forced twenty-one year-old Icek “Joe” Rubinsztejn onto a crowded, open-air truck. The next day, several around him were dead. From there, things got worse for young Joe—much worse.

Joe arrived at Auschwitz on April 30, 1942. Only now, in his 90s, has he revealed how he survived when so many others perished. His is a remarkable narrative—a unique story of endurance and courage. Barefooted when he was seized by the Nazis, he became one of New York’s leading shoe designers.

Joe’s story bears witness to the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. While the Nazis took everything else, they were unable to take his unassailable joy. His is a story of discovering light in the darkest of places.