Embracing Auschwitz: Forging a Vibrant, Life-Affirming Judaism that Takes the Holocaust Seriously

Embracing Auschwitz makes a bold claim: We should not try to get over the Holocaust and not to become desensitized to what took place at Auschwitz, but rather we should fully incorporate its lessons into our souls. It is time to recognize that in fact the Holocaust is not only part of our Jewish story, it frames our story; it is our story-and our greatest Jewish responsibility and honor is to bear witness and to share that story.

Judaism must be flexible enough to save itself, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman argues. In so doing, it can lend a shining example of how to regenerate when the world is spinning out of control. 

Embracing Auschwitz outlines a Torah of Auschwitz, a complement to the Torah we received at Sinai, with new commandments and new commitments. In the face of the thundering repudiation Judaism’s theological underpinnings that took place during the Holocaust, a new Judaism is taking shape, and Embracing Auschwitz tells its story.

"Compelling and provocative."-Yossi Klein Halevi, author, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor

"Hammerman’s brave new vision challenges us and demands our attention."

- Gary Rosenblatt, Editor At Large, The Jewish Week

"Should be read by every Jew who cares about Judaism."

- Rabbi Dr. Irving "Yitz" Greenberg, author, The Jewish Way

"Eye opening and thought provoking."-U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal

"A powerful meditation on what Judaism could be in this time."- Peter Beinart, author, The Crisis of Zionism