Edith Stein-Life in a Jewish Family

Life in a Jewish Family is the autobiography of Edith Stein which is a very gripping and heart-touching book that can be read like an interesting novel with no feelings of boredom or tiredness.When we know how her life has ended and how strong and unflappable was her faith, we realize the magnitude of the sacrifice she has made in her life for her love for Christ. Born and brought up in a big Jewish family, under the tutelage of a wise, caring as well as a talented mother , she boldly took the decision of becoming a Catholic after her studies and chose to join the Carmelite Convent, attracted by the Life of St.Teresa of Avila.Her religious name became from that time onwards Sr.Theresa Benedict of the Cross.
The Life gives us an  inkling into her studious nature,  pursuit of learning, mastering of differnt subjects, appearing for very tough exams with great preparations and  later, into becoming  a student of philosophy .She became a Phenomenologist, one of the star diciples of Husserl.At the time when she was doing her University studies, very few women went for doctoral studeis in Philosophy. It was hard  for her to get a University job and hence she went on lecture circuits.She was invited to speak to different Catholic organizatons.Hitler rose to power as she was finishing up  her Doctoral studies and the Jews were hounded out of all professions.She joined the Carmelite convent at Cologne and from there she was sent to Holland.From Holland, the sisters were planning to send her to Switzerland.She planned to take  her sister Rosa to Switzerland but as they ahd no place for two, she was forced to delay her trip.By the time, the Dutch bishops issued a Pastoral, denouncing  Hitler's policies and that provoked them very much. He retaliated by going  after the Jews who became Catholics or Chrsitstians.Edith Stein was thus taken out of the convent.
The  Life gives a very loving and devoted picture of her  mother who singlehandedly after the death of her husband at the infancy of Edith brought up her eight children in proper dignity and in dsicipline.Edith, her youngest, was her favorite.When Edith decided to become a Catholic, it broke her heart as it involved the renunciation of everything that was dear to her in the Jewish religion and faith.