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New book, TV mini-series
document Ruth Gruber's
orts on behalf of European Jews
in World War II.

SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News

ournalist Ruth Gruber recently traveled to
Michigan with two important documents — a
proofreading copy of a book being updated for
new release and a script for a TV mini-series
based on the book.
In Troy to accept the Woman of Achievement Award at
the Midwest Area Cooperative Conference hosted by the
Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah, Gruber found
moments to pore over the literary works for edit checks as
she prepared to discuss the projects during her address and
private conversations.
Both entitled Haven, the book and the script show
Gruber's bravery in helping 1,000 Jewish refugees escape
from Europe to the United States during World War II.
The mission, at a time when the quota for those immi-
grants already had peaked, was secret.
The book, written by Gruber, comes to stores June 7,
while the mini-series,. starring Natasha Richardson as
Gruber, will air in February
"Both 'Havens' describe the defining Jewish moment of
my life," said Gruber, 89, who will be on the Jewish book
fair circuit in the fall to sign copies of Haven as well as a
revised edition of her book Raquela: A Woman of Israel
being released in September. "The experience made me
.
become dedicated to Jewish rescue and survival."
Gruber, who had earned bachelor's and master's degrees
by age 19, accepted a fellowship in 1931 to pursue doctor-
al study in Germany. While completing her degree, she
attended Nazi rallies and returned to America with first-
hand knowledge of the dangers facing Jews.
After starting her career as a journalist working for the
New York Herald Tribune, she traveled throughout Europe
to write a series about women under communism and fas-
cism. Harold Ickes, secretary of the interior in President
Franklin Roosevelt's cabinet, read Gruber's articles and
asked her to study the prospects of Alaska for home- •
steading military personnel after World War II.
Ickes, satisfied with the results of her assignment, gave
her the life-changing escort mission in 1944.

Famous journalist
unwittingly helped
shape American Jewry

through a dangerous
escort mission that
re-directed European
refugees from Hitler's
reach.

j

_

Ruth Gruber
with her new
book 'Haven.

5/26

2000