Book Talk: Burning Psalms – Menachem Rosensaft in Conversation with [...]

This event is part of our programme for the exhibition Traces of Belsen.

Join us for an evening with Menachem Rosensaft, author of Burning Psalms: Confronting Adonai after Auschwitz, who will discuss his book in conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. This event will explore Rosensaft’s reflections on faith, memory, and resilience in the aftermath of the trauma of the Shoah.

The discussion will explore themes of Jewish identity, post-Holocaust theology, and the potential of liturgy to confront loss and rebuild hope. Drawing on his personal and scholarly insights, Rosensaft will illuminate how ancient psalms resonate in modern contexts of mourning and renewal.

About the Book

Psalms after Adonai examines the interplay between traditional Jewish liturgy and the lived experiences of survivors and their descendants. Rosensaft’s work bridges exploration of historical trauma and spiritual reflection, offering a meditation on pain and healing.

This event will include a Q&A session and a book signing with light refreshments. Copies of Burning Psalms will be available for purchase.

About the Speakers

Menachem Rosensaft was born on May 1, 1948, in the Displaced Persons camp of Bergen-Belsen. His father, Josef, led the community of Jewish displaced persons in the camp. A celebrated author and Adjunct Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, Rosensaft is co-founder of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, teaches and speaks widely, including on Radio 4’s Thought for the Day and Prayer for the Day. His publications include The Eternal Journey: Meditations on the Jewish Year (2001); The Silence of Dark Water, An Inner Journey (2008); Walking with the Light (2013) and My Dear Ones: One family and The Final Solution (2016).