Over several years Israel Stern wrote down his memories, in longhand on jotting paper, on the backs of shopping lists, on writing pads. During this time he told his Grandson David Stern about the details. David Stern typed out the text, partly written in Yiddish, and clarified, in many conversations with his grandfather, specifics and open questions. Then the manuscript was edited cautiously, not changing the style of writing, only correcting spelling mistakes, harmonising the spelling of names of places and people – not necessarily to the ‘correct’ form but the one he used most often, dates were verified (as far as possible). The family trees at the end of the book were researched by his grandson with the help of the family. Israel Stern passed away shortly before the work was finished.