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Incredible portraits of American Holocaust survivors

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A harrowing new book charts the lives of Holocaust survivors who fled Europe for the US after surviving the genocide that saw 11 million murdered.  

Photographer B.A. Van Sise spent seven years traveling the US interviewing and photographing survivors.

He then compiled their stories and pictures into what he described as a '224-page prose poem' about the experience.

The book, 'Invited to Life: Finding Hope after the Holocaust,' was released several months before Yom HaShoah, the annual Holocaust remembrance days which fall on April 17 and 18 this year. 

This year marks the 82nd year since the Holocaust began en-masse in 1941. It saw around six million Jews exterminated - many at concentration camps - with the Nazis murdering another five million, including prisoners of war, Romany gypsies and homosexuals. 

Van Sise wrote that though the book may appear to be about the Holocaust, in fact it was not. Rather, he wrote it was 'a story of overcoming.'

Survivors in the book include a man who learned to drum using spoons in Oskar Schindler's factory before making it to America and starting the 'Holocaust Survivor Band.'

Also featured is a Manhattan-born Catholic who was captured by the Gestapo while visiting Italy and sent to Auschwitz on false espionage accusations.

Sam Silberberg, 91, survived Auschwitz and then escaped the death march that followed the camp's liquidation by the Nazis as the Soviet Army closed in. In the US he first settled in a small town in Ohio that had no other immigrants so he would be forced to learn English. Today he lives near Los Angeles, where he goes for hikes every day

Sam Silberberg, 91, survived Auschwitz and then escaped the death march that followed the camp's liquidation by the Nazis as the Soviet Army closed in. In the US he first settled in a small town in Ohio that had no other immigrants so he would be forced to learn English. Today he lives near Los Angeles, where he goes for hikes every day

Saul Dreier was sent to the Płaszów concentration camp where he wound up becoming one of the lucky prisoners who worked in Oskar Schindler's factory and survived the war. While there he picked up a pair of spoons and used them to practice drumming wherever he could. After being liberated Dreier spent five years playing drums with a band at a displaced persons camp, then immigrated to the US and didn't play again for seventy years. One day he went to a music shop, bought a set of drums, and picked up where he left off. Together with another Holocaust survivor he started the 'Holocaust Survivor Band,' and have since played weddings, bar mitzvahs, and countless social events

Saul Dreier was sent to the Płaszów concentration camp where he wound up becoming one of the lucky prisoners who worked in Oskar Schindler's factory and survived the war. While there he picked up a pair of spoons and used them to practice drumming wherever he could. After being liberated Dreier spent five years playing drums with a band at a displaced persons camp, then immigrated to the US and didn't play again for seventy years. One day he went to a music shop, bought a set of drums, and picked up where he left off. Together with another Holocaust survivor he started the 'Holocaust Survivor Band,' and have since played weddings, bar mitzvahs, and countless social events  

Lyubov Abramovich returned home one day after the Nazis had invaded Belarus to find that her husband and children were gone. After accepting a posting working for German security forces in the area, she began working for resistance forces and sabotaged Nazi troop transports and attacked garrisons

Lyubov Abramovich returned home one day after the Nazis had invaded Belarus to find that her husband and children were gone. After accepting a posting working for German security forces in the area, she began working for resistance forces and sabotaged Nazi troop transports and attacked garrisons

While Gabriella Karin and her family were hiding from the Nazis, a seamstress was also hunkered down with them. The relationship sparked Karin's interest in the craft, and after the war she immigrated to the US where she went to school for fashion design. She specialized in making clothing that women could wear in their everyday lives, and relished seeing her designs on people out in the streets

While Gabriella Karin and her family were hiding from the Nazis, a seamstress was also hunkered down with them. The relationship sparked Karin's interest in the craft, and after the war she immigrated to the US where she went to school for fashion design. She specialized in making clothing that women could wear in their everyday lives, and relished seeing her designs on people out in the streets 

Tova Friedman said she considers her liberation from Auschwitz in January, 1945, to be her birthday. She and her mother had hidden in a pile of bodies for two days before Russian forces arrived, and then immigrated to the US to start life anew. There she became a psychologist in New York City and then New Jersey. In her old age, she started practicing stand-up comedy

Tova Friedman said she considers her liberation from Auschwitz in January, 1945, to be her birthday. She and her mother had hidden in a pile of bodies for two days before Russian forces arrived, and then immigrated to the US to start life anew. There she became a psychologist in New York City and then New Jersey. In her old age, she started practicing stand-up comedy

Jack Rennert and his mother were hidden by a sympathetic Belgian family throughout the war, and then immigrated to the US. There Rennert earned a degree from Columbia University, and has stayed in NYC ever since. He opened a poster gallery in Union Square in 1964, and from there became a renowned dealer and collector

Jack Rennert and his mother were hidden by a sympathetic Belgian family throughout the war, and then immigrated to the US. There Rennert earned a degree from Columbia University, and has stayed in NYC ever since. He opened a poster gallery in Union Square in 1964, and from there became a renowned dealer and collector

Elsie Ragusin was born in Manhattan, and as a teenager took a trip to Italy with her family. There they were captured by the Gestapo and accused of being spies. Her father died in captivity, and Ragusin was sent to Auschwitz. She managed to survive and returned home after the war ended

Elsie Ragusin was born in Manhattan, and as a teenager took a trip to Italy with her family. There they were captured by the Gestapo and accused of being spies. Her father died in captivity, and Ragusin was sent to Auschwitz. She managed to survive and returned home after the war ended

John and Toni Rinde were both born in Poland in Poland, but did not know each other while both of their families hid from the Nazi invaders. After the war both of their families immigrated to New York City, where the pair met and were married. John earned an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and they later moved to Arkansas where John earned a medical degree, then finally settled in Florida

John and Toni Rinde were both born in Poland in Poland, but did not know each other while both of their families hid from the Nazi invaders. After the war both of their families immigrated to New York City, where the pair met and were married. John earned an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and they later moved to Arkansas where John earned a medical degree, then finally settled in Florida 

Photographer B.A. Van Sise's said the book was not about the Holocaust, but was 'a story of overcoming' the tragedy

Photographer B.A. Van Sise's said the book was not about the Holocaust, but was 'a story of overcoming' the tragedy 

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