The latest book by Dr. Esther Gitman, “Alojzije Stepinac: Pillar of Human Rights” can now be purchased online from the publisher “Kršćanska sadašnjost” / Christian Contemporaneity
at www.ks.hr/alojzije-stepinac-pillar-of-human-rights
“The book Alojzije Stepinac, the Pillar of Human Rights examines how a young priest, in his thirties, from a rural Croatia region rose to become a hero of his people, of the Catholic Church and of many others, throughout the world. Like an Old-Testament Prophet Archbishop Stepinac remained relentlessly true to his Church and the natural laws by being the voice of conscience during three successive and contrasting dictatorial regimes. He defended the teachings of the Church, and in this way he showed how a religious man attuned to the universal laws can comprehend the unity of the world in its differences. In this manner and with authoritative tones he was one of very few men in Europe who zealously and openly defended these religious and civil rights of man. With even greater passion and authority he reiterated the theme: “all nations and all races have the right to lead the life worthy of man and to be treated with the dignity with which one treats man. Whether they belong to the so called race of Gypsies or whether they are from Africa, or considered civilized Europeans, whether they are detested Jews or proud Serb Orthodox all have the same right to say: Our Father, who art in Heaven! And if God has given this right to all, what is the human power that can deny it?” Stepinac set an example of courage that will live for ages within the hearts of all freedom loving people. In my travels around the word I have seen his statutes and words of hope, and in my city of New York a street is dedicated to him!!” Esther Gitman
Alojzije Viktor Stepinac, during his 1946 Trial set by Marshall Tito and his communist regime he declared: “For my convictions I am able to bear not only Ridicule, hatred, and humiliation, but – because my conscience is clear – I am ready to die at any moment”.
Dr. Esther Gitman was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. With her mother she survived World War II in the Italian zones of occupation and later on in Italy proper. In 1945 they returned to Sarajevo. In 1948, with the remnant of her family, they settled in Israel and later moved to Canada. In 1970 Esther earned her B.A. in History and Sociology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. In 1975 she earned an M.P.S. (master of professional studies) in criminal justice from Long Island University, C.W. Post. From 1978 to 1998 her energies were dedicated to her growing a business in NYC. In 1999 Esther enrolled into the Ph.D. program in the Department of History of the Graduate Center of the City University of NY. The ultimate objective was to understand the circumstances of the rescue and survival of Jews, including her own, in the Nazi occupied Yugoslavia. In 2001–03 Esther received a one year Fulbright fellowship to Zagreb, Croatia, where she researched the social and political environment on the conditions of rescuing Jews during the World War II, and in 2005, she earned her Ph.D. In 2007-08 she received a fellowship for her postdoctoral studies at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. She has written several scientific monographs, studies and research papers.
Croatia, the War, and the Future 
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