Defying caution, Beck and the other members of his Zionist youth group met in the streets of Berlin, wandering and singing, under the eye of the Nazis. Still in his teens, Beck was soon an important contact in Berlin for the Swiss-based Zionist organization Hechalutz and led a resistance group, Chug Chaluzi, that aided Jews with food, housing, and escape plans. But Manfred would not leave without his family, and so went back into the camp. Gad's love for Manfred gave him the courage to don a three-sizes-too-large Hitler Youth uniform, march into the assembly camp where the Lewins were being held, and demand- and obtain, to his astonishment- the release of his lover. Then the Nazis came for Manfred Lewin, Beck's first love, and for the Lewin family. As Jews began to be forced out of German social, political, and economic life, the young Gerhard embraced his Jewish heritage, joined Zionist youth groups, and took the Hebrew name Gad. Born Gerhard Beck in a Christian-Jewish household, he first experienced the growing power and influence of National Socialism only as an uncertain threat.

That Beck was a homosexual Jew during the Holocaust makes his survival all the more remarkable. Gad Beck has had his book translated into English and it is now called An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin (University of Wisconsin Press).Ī German Jew, Gad Beck managed to evade the Nazis, living in Berlin during World War II. Beck was the guest speaker at CBST's Pride Shabbat service in 1997, and proudly rode on the CBST float during the Gay Pride Parade that year. Gad Beck, a gay, Jewish Holocaust Survivor, will be speaking at CBST's Friday night service's ONEG. Location: Church of the Holy Apostles at Ninth Avenue and 28th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan

OctoFriday Night ONEG with GAD BECK, gay Jewish Holocaust Survivor at 10 pm. The text below is from the second time that Gad came to CBST to discuss his book. He was so happy not only be our guest speaker, but to be on the CBST float that Sunday for the Pride Parade. That was the first time that CBST moved the Pride Shabbat Service out from our shul to handle the larger crowd of people who wanted to hear Gad. Gad Beck was also the Keynote Speaker that year at CBST's Pride Shabbat Service held at NYU's Loeb Student Center. Photo of Gad Beck and Rick Landman (in his pink wig) and Yolanda on the CBST Gay Pride Float in 1997 in NYC's Pride Parade.

An Underground Life by Gad Beck