Kempner-Kovner, Vitka, Fighter for Life — Association of Jews of Vilna and vicinity in Israel

"Vitka Fighter for Life": Vitka Kampner-Kovner 2012-1920

Editors: Yigal Wilfand, "Bichktav" Publishing Documentation and Biographical Writing, Ein Hashofet, Moreshet- Mordechai Anielewicz Memorial Education & Research Center.

"The daring to touch fire is perhaps its most important feature," writes Michael Kovner about his mother Vitka Kempner-Kovner (1920-2012) in the book before us.

The book tells the story of Vitka Kovner's life, from her happy childhood and adolescence in Kalisz, her hometown in Poland, and her struggles during World War II. She was the first to leave Vilna Ghetto, blow up a German train, command the patrol of a partisan battalion in the Rudniki forests, and was among the leaders of the "Bricha"(Escape) Movement  - evacuation of the survivors to Eretz Israel - and an activist in Nakam (Revenge) operations, and her sixty-six years in Israel at Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh.

In the kibbutz, she was able to found a family and a loving home with her husband Abba Kovner and her children, and develop a unique psychological path, in light of the teachings of Dr. Stern. The book contains letters written to her by Abba Kovner, during the period when she was lying sick with tuberculosis, by friends who accompanied her on the way, as well as letters written by Vitka to her son. These letters express love and warmth, thoughts about the meaning of the world, about family, kibbutz and state, about war and peace, about art and literature and about all that is human."