Never Forget To Lie

About the Book

As the Nazi SS troops stormed through the Warsaw ghetto apartment, five-year-old Felicia and her younger brother Yurek crouched alone in a coal box, hidden by their aunt. The pounding boots stopped right in front of the terrified children. Would Yurek cry and give them away? Felicia shoved her fist into Yurek's mouth and held him close. The boots went away.

Felicia's mother was dead of typhoid fever and her father, desperate to save his blonde daughter, arranged a new life for her with a Catholic family. Her aunt's parting words were, "Do you remember Shirley Temple? Be an actress like she is. Remember, from today, please, you must lie."

This memoir recounts the author's struggle, first to survive the Nazi onslaught as a hidden child and then to uncover her true self amid the lies, which had been essential to her survival. It is the story of a young girl always on the run, until she rediscovers her Jewish roots in emigrating to Israel and then settles in the United States where, at last, she no longer needs to act and she and Shirley Temple can part.

About the Author

Felicia Bryn was born in Poland. She emigrated to Israel in 1957, where she met her husband, an American tourist, Rabbi Nathan Bryn. She arrived in the United States in 1960, settling originally in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Bryn is well-known to the South Florida community. For 12 years, she was the Director of Russian Outreach, Inc., a non-profit organization initiated by her son, Rabbi David Bryn OBM, which aids Russian immigrants in resettling in the South Florida area. Since its inception, in June of 1993, she has helped hundreds of Russian immigrants with various needs. As an expression of gratitude for having herself been saved from the Holocaust, Mrs. Bryn has dedicated her life to helping others.

Felicia has an impressive educational and professional background. She obtained her BS in Computer Science from Florida International University, later to be followed by a MS in Computer Education from Barry University. Previously she attended universities in Poland and Israel.

In addition to all her wonderful talents, Mrs. Bryn is multi-lingual. This has facilitated her ability to communicate and teach various audiences, a talent especially needed in South Florida. She has graced many classrooms in Philadelphia, New York and Miami. Many of the most respected members of the South Florida community have been her students during her 17 years in one school alone-Landow Educational Center. She has been teaching for Neytz haChochma Exceptional Student Education school for 6 years, since the first day of its inception.

Mrs. Bryn not only stresses the importance of educating special children; she also puts her tremendous teaching expertise and loving dedication into this mission. Years ago, there was a stigma attached to children who had any unidentified learning or emotional problems. Mrs. Felicia Bryn has dedicated herself to the noble cause of removing this stigma by demonstrating to the larger community that these children can and should excel. Today, some of her Neytzkids, as our children are known, are already successful college students, while others have been among the top standardized test achievers statewide. Surviving the tragedy of the Holocaust has given Mrs. Bryn special strength and ability to address the needs of others. We are grateful to Mrs. Bryn for helping to prepare these children to become productive members of society.

Dr.Dolly Aizenman

Academic Director

Neytz haChochma ESE