Laura Beth Bakst is a lawyer and an especially proud granddaughter. Her grandparents’ experiences influenced her decision to pursue a career in law. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, where much of her coursework focused on anti-discrimination studies, and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. Laura spent years researching her family history, interviewing survivors, and writing The Shoemaker’s Son so that her ancestors’ heroic acts—and the horrors inflicted on them—are documented and preserved for future generations.