Torn from My Heart: The True Story of a Mother's Desperate Search for Her Stolen Children

by Patsy Heymans, William Hoffer, Marilyn Hoffer

Patsy Heymans was an innocent teenager when she met Chaim Yarden. The cocky, handsome Israeli soldier immediately swept her off her feet, and almost before she knew it, Heymans was married to him, living in Israel, and the mother of three young children. But her life was far from idyllic. Her charismatic husband had a dark side that included a criminal record and a violent temper. Finally, after years of physical and emotional abuse, Heymans and her children fled to her parents' home in Belgium - her husband's warning ringing in her ears: "Whatever it takes, whatever it will cost, I will destroy your life." He proved as good as his word. After their separation, her formerly nonreligious spouse joined the Satmar Hasidim, one of the most insular groups within the cloistered world of Hasidic Jews. With the help of his new confederates, he kidnapped his children, shuttling them through a self-contained and sprawling religious community. To get them back, Heymans would begin a tireless, heart-wrenching search across Europe and, ultimately, through the streets and suburbs of New York City. Shunned by the Satmars, yet armed with a mother's fierce desperation, Heymans singlehandedly and painstakingly marshalled the forces of American and international law enforcement. Battling impossible odds, she finally found herself at the moment that would bring her to the end of her odyssey and to the turning point of her entire life: a closed door suddenly open, a hand on her hand, gently nudging her forward...

Genres: Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[SaraGalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuando la realidad supera la ficción.

No tengo claro cómo expresar lo que he sentido leyendo esta historia.

He llorado, me he desesperado, he sufrido y me he sentido desgarrada con Patsy y con su lucha.

Creo que este tipo de historias dejan ver situaciones que, por desgracia, son más comunes de lo que pensamos. Historias de vidas que serán totalmente desconocidas envueltas de injusticia y fanatismo.

Sin duda recomiendo esta lectura, creo que da un buen golpe de realidad.

Tan desgarradora como conmovedora.

[Oana Crâmpeie de suflet · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Răpiți”, roman scris în colaborare de către Betty Mahmoody și William și Marilyn Hoffer, este o carte care sensibilizează teribil, care te revoltă, te face să îți dorești să urli din toți rărunchii în fața nedreptăților ce se petrec în lume și a neputinței de a îndrepta lucrurile, însă, în același timp, îți oferă acel semnal de alarmă atât de necesar într-o lume profund globalizată, care îți arată că trebuie să te încrezi în tine și în instinctele tale, fără a lăsa sentimentele să îți acapareze rațiunea. Este nevoie de astfel de povești, pentru că astăzi este despre Patsy Heymans, mâine este despre Betty Mahmoody, dar poimâine poate fi chiar despre tine dacă nu te aperi suficient de tare, dacă nu te străduiești să previi mai degrabă decât să fii nevoită mai apoi să iei măsuri pentru a reveni la o anumită stare de normalitate.
http://sufletsicrampeie.blogspot.com/...

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is definitely worth reading. One of the facts I enjoyed was an absence of interminable accounts of trials. The tale was well told and gave me a real feel for life in Israel with Yemenite Jews, plus the day to day existence of Hasidim in America. Of course, it also illustrated what life is like with a sociopath, the hallmark of just about every true crime book in existence.

I did find myself appalled (as I often do) at the utter passivity of not only the author but her parents, once they realized what sort of a person her boyfriend/husband was. But, in many true crime accounts, one is struck by the fact that many victims and their families do not seem to have an "alarm button" that functions very well.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredible true story of a mother's desperate search for her stolen children. The introduction of this book was written by Betty Mahmoody author of "Not Without My Daughter". Excellent, excellent book!!

(This book is also Hardcover).

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Title says it all. The strength and persistence of The Mother to protect her children from their abusive father is admirable. My heart broke as she struggled to keep them safe.

[Yurimayra Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mucho Dolor pero muy bueno

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desgarrador, humano.... Desde el minuto uno me tuvo enganchada, emocionada.... Viví con los ojos de Patsy. Super recomendado

[Paula Menendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

mi libro favorito. llore leyendolo. me parece una lectura increible

[Santi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I was so captivated by a story and this is one of those, I have read 65 pages so fa and I take the book everywhere, because the story has me totally hooked , that I can't stop reading it. I also like how the author writes, and the story is, and promises to be, not to be forgotten. For now I can only say that it is a captivating reading.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patsy Heymans makes you feel as though you are right there going through her six and a half year ordeal with her. Her husband Chaim Yarden promised her that he would ruin her life and he kept that promise. He is the true epitome of evil.
I was apalled to find that the US was allowing strangers to keep Patsy Heymans children from her. When Chaim was arrested the Jewish community kept the children from Patsy hiding the children in New York. With this turn of events Patsy's case went from a parental abduction to stranger abduction.
I'm telling you this book will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

[Joel Perron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally have known the characters of this book except the Dad .. and I don't regret to not have known him, more precisely I have past 3 of my best years with the oldest of the children and this is a true big heart family. I would recommend this book to anybody !

[Elizabeth (Lizzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro para mí fue el que hizo que me gustara la lectura, lo leí cuando tenía 13 años y si no lo hubiera leído no sé qué sería de mí.