Escape from India is the amazing true story of Ronen D., an Israeli, who like many of his peers was drawn to the free and relaxed atmoshphere of India. Ronen becomes entangled in a world he wished he had never known. He is tempted to stray from the path of a newly observant Jew committing a crime to cover debts from his struggling business. The act he performs, "one last time", lands him in prison in India.Incarcerated in a Bombay jail built for 800, Ronen is crammed in with 3500 prisoners, many waiting years just to stand trial, without knowing when their ordeal will end. The terrible overcrowding, the constant hunger, and the presence of thousands of hardened criminals, in a prison lacking the most basic hygienic standards and where filth and disease are rampant, caused most prisoners to lose their human dignity.
While in this living hell, Ronen is further tortured by loneliness and longing for his wife, daughters, and loving family. But Ronen's imprisonment serves as the impetus to rise above the prison walls and finally escape from his own evil inclination. With his powerful wellspring of faith, Ronen dedicates every waking hour to learning Torah and immersing himself in prayer; he repents from the depths of his heart, and attains freedom, even behind bars. Trusting only in God to help him, Ronen miraculously succeeds in escaping, seemingly accompanied by angels, all the way back to Tel Aviv.
The book is translated from the original Hebrew, in Ronen's own straightforward touching style. You will journey through Ronen's fascinating and unique inner struggle. It is a journey that will take you from despair to hope; from a broken heart and body, to a spiritual and physical triumph. It is a journey that will never leave you!
This book is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzin Rivka Holtzberg Hy"d, who were viciously murdered in the Mumbai Massacre of 2008. The many generous acts of kindness they bestowed upon me, Ronen, and so many others, will be remembered forever.
