Aaron's Journey From Slave to Master

Videos

Through hours of videotape, Aaron Herskowitz’s son Howard captured the horror and triumph of his father’s extraordinary life during and after World War II. A gifted storyteller who frequently impersonated his captors and friends, Aaron Herskowitz’s genuine and captivating delivery, modest personality and the telling of both heroic and horrific acts enraptures his audience. Much of the filming was done during a family trip, when Aaron was 75 years old, to Eastern Europe and Bilke, the site of Aaron’s family farm. In these clips, Aaron describes his survival and the deep questioning of his faith. In a pivotal scene, Aaron wonders how his friend Sachs became a monster of revenge. He recounts the killing of a Nazi soldier who’d planned to murder

him; Aaron denounces the rabbis who failed their people; finally, he illustrates his survival during the Russian bombings that wiped out his comrades and captors. From these videos, plus interviews and historical research, Howard Herskowitz wrote his father’s story.

The video, "We Had Too Much Power!", tells the story of Aaron and Sachs as the masters of Geryen, a captured enemy town, in 1944. They had virtually unlimited power as Russian-sponsored rulers, and they took their revenge. But Sachs goes too far, brutally torturing and killing Germans hiding or spying in the town. At first, Aaron participates but then he begins to question their actions. His loyalty to Sachs and their friendship is jeopardized.

Author Howard Herskowitz giving a TV interview (JLTV) "Aaron's Journey From Slave to Master"

Videos JLTV interview - Howard Herskowitz - "Aaron's Journey From Slave To Master"

Left picture:
Howard gesturing instructions while editing a video of his father, Aaron.

Right picture:
Aaron and equine friends 1980s.

More Videos

"Why did God abandon the Jews?" In one of the most emotional passages of the story, Aaron condemns those orthodox rabbis of Europe, who quashed efforts to resist, and refused emigration to Palestine. After a Russian bombing of the Axis positions which massacred all his fellow Jewish slaves, Aaron gave up on God, just as God had given up on the Jews.

In "It's Time For A Kill!" Aaron knows he must take action, after surreptitiously overhearing a Nazi SS officer confide to a comrade about Aaron: "That Jew has been getting fat enough, it’s time for a kill!" The Nazis didn't realize that Aaron understood German.

"Escape from the Nazis and Hungarians." In a classic exciting adventure tale, Aaron realizes he has no choice but to escape from his Nazi captors and join the Russian Army. But the Russians present him with a surprising challenge. Combining wit, deadly action and even humor, Aaron overcomes it all and emerges as the hero of the Russians.