Story of survival and of success

A mound of contracts from book publishers occupies the kitchen table of Flory Van Beek’s Newport Beach home, some still waiting to be signed.

“I wish I was more organized with all of this stuff,” she said. “I need a secretary.”

She might also need a press agent.

Van Beek, who with her husband Felix founded Newport’s Temple Isaiah, wrote a memoir titled “Flory: Survival in the Valley of Death,” which tells the story of the kindness shown to her when she was a Jewish teenager hiding out in Holland during World War II.

First published by Seven Locks Press of Santa Ana in 1998, the book gained recent attention from international publishers after Mel Gibson’s production company decided to film it as a four-hour miniseries for ABC.

In 2005, Van Beek said, television producer Daniel Sladek called with a proposal for turning her book into a miniseries.

“It came out of the clear blue sky. I swear,” she said. “He was very enthusiastic.”

The Newport Beach resident cares only that the story of the Holocaust continues to be told.

“My mother was murdered by the Germans. My family was destroyed,” Van Beek said. “This should never be forgotten.”

Publishers are in the process of translating the book into Italian, German, Dutch and Flemish, Van Beek said, and it should be available soon in Australia and New Zealand.

“If I had known the story would be this big, I could have done a better job writing it,” she said. “But I am glad because now it will help this generation understand the Holocaust.”

Amid all the buzz of television and book deals, Van Beek has not forgotten the two loves of her life: her husband, Felix, and Temple Isaiah.

She was honored Friday evening for her years of service to the synagogue at the monthly Shabbat dinner.

The Van Beeks founded the temple in 1974 after their son died of a brain tumor at age 16.

“We wanted to do something positive in honor of our son,” she said.

Rabbi Mark Rubenstein had nothing but praise for the woman he said was long overdue for recognition.

“She is resilient, always sees the best in people,” Rubenstein said. “And she has been dedicated to the temple and her husband for years.”

Due to the success of the book, Flory Van Beek decided to stop her volunteer work, spend more time with her husband and focus on the book and the upcoming television production.

“Thirty-two years is enough,” she said. “And now I have the book, producers and literary agencies to deal with. This is just crazy.”

The miniseries is due for release in 2007. The script for the first half has been written, but it has not yet been cast. dpt.20-boomer-2-BPhotoInfoU21R55C420060520izjd0cncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Above, Flory Van Beek holds a copy of a book she wrote about living through he Holocaust. A production company is planning a TV miniseries. At right, Van Beek is photographed before boarding a ship in 1939. dpt.20-boomer-CPhotoInfoU21R55A520060520izjczjncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT