Dateline: Istanbul

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Officially neutral, Nazi-leaning Turkey during World War II -- a beehive of intrigue, espionage, diplomacy, bribery, and bureaucratic opposition to almost every attempt to save Jewish lives. Into this morass came Dr. Jacob Griffel, a Polish Jew whose young wife and children died in the blitzkrieg of Warsaw. He was an unusual combination: successful lawyer, astute businessman, devout chassidic Jew -- and a man who despised red tape, “office hours,” and “procedure.” His mission and obsession was to save lives during the war and bring back the survivors -- especially the children -- when it was over. He was a man possessed. He didn’t sleep. He didn’t eat. He didn’t tolerate small-minded opposition. He wouldn’t talk about himself, and because of him thousands of people are alive today. This stirring saga is an important contribution to the knowledge of the period and an inspiring lesson in how much one man can accomplish.