Overview

In 1940, the historian Emanuel Ringelblum established a clandestine organization, code named Oyneg Shabes, in Nazi-occupied Warsaw to study and document all facets of Jewish life in wartime Poland and to compile an archive that would preserve this history for posterity. As the Final Solution unfolded, although decimated by murders and deportations, the group persevered in its work until the spring of 1943. Of its more than 60 members, only three survived. Ringelblum and his family perished in March 1944. But before he died, he managed to hide thousands of documents in milk cans and tin boxes. Searchers found two of these buried caches in 1946 and 1950. Who Will Write Our History tells the gripping story of Ringelblum and his determination to use historical scholarship and the collection of documents to resist Nazi oppression.

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If there is any book that should be read this year (or any year) about the Holocaust it is Who Will Write Our History?Fall 2008 * Jewish Book World * A stunning revelation of the enduring spirit of the decimated residents of the Warsaw Ghetto. -- Rita Kohn * NUVO Weekly * In this book, Kassow adheres to Ringelblum's inclusive philosophy, painting an exceedingly comprehensive picture of Jewish life in Warsaw before and during the war.October 2008 * Zachor * Together, Emanuel Ringelblum and Samuel Kassow help us remember why history matters. Winter 2009 * Slavic Review * . . . Trinity College professor Kassow's work is well researched, written, and documented. . . . Recommended. * Choice * If there is one book that should be read about the Holocaust, it is Who Will Write Our History?November 13, 2008 -- Jack Fischel * New Jersey Jewish News * Kassow has made a major contribution to our understanding of the depth of dedication that librarians and archivists should share toward the preservation of their materials.2008 -- Matthew Z. Heintzelman * Libraries & Cultural Record Vol. 43 * This is a book that comes to us at enormous human cost. It deserves to be read and studied by us all. July 14, 2010 * Palm Beach Jewish Journal * [T]he critical success of Kassow's book is perhaps best explained by the fact that it is far more than a straightforward presentation of the archives. It allows us to relive the daily lives of men and women who were brought together by one man's mad undertaking. * booksandideas.net * The query that gives the book its title is more than answered by the painful text of the book itself. The martyred historians achieved their purpose. It is they who wrote the history that Kassow has transformed into a compelling and significant narrative, a tribute to the courage and determination of the doomed archivists. May 2010 * Hadassah Magazine * [A] highly readable, well-grounded study on a fascinating secret undertaking under the boot of National Socialist occupation in Poland. * POLIN: Jrnl Pol-Jew Studies * Kassow provides a comprehensive overview and interpretation of the value of Ringelblum's determination to keep alive in memory the ordeal of his fellow Jews. * Forward.com * This may well be the most important book about history that anyone will ever read. * The New Republic * . . . one of the most important books I've ever read . . . Kassow has created a stunning and brilliant social history of Polish Jews . . . -- Bonny V. Fetterman * Reform Judaism * Samuel Kassow deserves great credit for bringing the history of the Oyneg Shabes and several of its towering figures to the attention of a broader, international audience. Meticulously researched and consistently objective in its account, Who Will Write Our History? is an important scholarly achievement. * World Socialist Web Site *

[A] highly readable, well-grounded study on a fascinating secret undertaking under the boot of National Socialist occupation in Poland. * POLIN: Jrnl Pol-Jew Studies * A stunning revelation of the enduring spirit of the decimated residents of the Warsaw Ghetto. -- Rita Kohn * NUVO Weekly * The query that gives the book its title is more than answered by the painful text of the book itself. The martyred historians achieved their purpose. It is they who wrote the history that Kassow has transformed into a compelling and significant narrative, a tribute to the courage and determination of the doomed archivists. May 2010 * Hadassah Magazine * [T]he critical success of Kassow's book is perhaps best explained by the fact that it is far more than a straightforward presentation of the archives. It allows us to relive the daily lives of men and women who were brought together by one man's mad undertaking. * booksandideas.net * . . . Trinity College professor Kassow's work is well researched, written, and documented. . . . Recommended. * Choice * Kassow provides a comprehensive overview and interpretation of the value of Ringelblum's determination to keep alive in memory the ordeal of his fellow Jews. * Forward.com * This may well be the most important book about history that anyone will ever read. * The New Republic * If there is any book that should be read this year (or any year) about the Holocaust it is Who Will Write Our History?Fall 2008 * Jewish Book World * Samuel Kassow deserves great credit for bringing the history of the Oyneg Shabes and several of its towering figures to the attention of a broader, international audience. Meticulously researched and consistently objective in its account, Who Will Write Our History? is an important scholarly achievement. * World Socialist Web Site * This is a book that comes to us at enormous human cost. It deserves to be read and studied by us all. July 14, 2010 * Palm Beach Jewish Journal * . . . one of the most important books I've ever read . . . Kassow has created a stunning and brilliant social history of Polish Jews . . . -- Bonny V. Fetterman * Reform Judaism * Kassow has made a major contribution to our understanding of the depth of dedication that librarians and archivists should share toward the preservation of their materials. -- Matthew Z. Heintzelman * Libraries & Cultural Record Vol. 43 * Together, Emanuel Ringelblum and Samuel Kassow help us remember why history matters. * Slavic Review * In this book, Kassow adheres to Ringelblum's inclusive philosophy, painting an exceedingly comprehensive picture of Jewish life in Warsaw before and during the war. * Zachor *

If there is any book that should be read this year (or any year) about the Holocaust it is Who Will Write Our History?Fall 2008 * Jewish Book World * A stunning revelation of the enduring spirit of the decimated residents of the Warsaw Ghetto. -- Rita Kohn * NUVO Weekly * . . . Trinity College professor Kassow's work is well researched, written, and documented. . . . Recommended. * Choice * If there is one book that should be read about the Holocaust, it is Who Will Write Our History?November 13, 2008 -- Jack Fischel * New Jersey Jewish News * Kassow has made a major contribution to our understanding of the depth of dedication that librarians and archivists should share toward the preservation of their materials. -- Matthew Z. Heintzelman * Libraries & Cultural Record Vol. 43 * This is a book that comes to us at enormous human cost. It deserves to be read and studied by us all. July 14, 2010 * Palm Beach Jewish Journal * [T]he critical success of Kassow's book is perhaps best explained by the fact that it is far more than a straightforward presentation of the archives. It allows us to relive the daily lives of men and women who were brought together by one man's mad undertaking. * booksandideas.net * In this book, Kassow adheres to Ringelblum's inclusive philosophy, painting an exceedingly comprehensive picture of Jewish life in Warsaw before and during the war. * Zachor * The query that gives the book its title is more than answered by the painful text of the book itself. The martyred historians achieved their purpose. It is they who wrote the history that Kassow has transformed into a compelling and significant narrative, a tribute to the courage and determination of the doomed archivists. May 2010 * Hadassah Magazine * [A] highly readable, well-grounded study on a fascinating secret undertaking under the boot of National Socialist occupation in Poland. * POLIN: Jrnl Pol-Jew Studies * Kassow provides a comprehensive overview and interpretation of the value of Ringelblum's determination to keep alive in memory the ordeal of his fellow Jews. * Forward.com * This may well be the most important book about history that anyone will ever read. * The New Republic * . . . one of the most important books I've ever read . . . Kassow has created a stunning and brilliant social history of Polish Jews . . . -- Bonny V. Fetterman * Reform Judaism * Samuel Kassow deserves great credit for bringing the history of the Oyneg Shabes and several of its towering figures to the attention of a broader, international audience. Meticulously researched and consistently objective in its account, Who Will Write Our History? is an important scholarly achievement. * World Socialist Web Site * Together, Emanuel Ringelblum and Samuel Kassow help us remember why history matters. * Slavic Review *

Samuel Kassow's book Who Will Write Our History? highlights how much we still have to learn about everyday life in the Warsaw ghetto.  It sheds light on a number of overlooked events, individuals, and organizations that characterized the tragic, yet vibrant world of Polish Jewry destroyed by the Nazis. -- Alison Rose - Ohio Wesleyan University * Reading Religion * In this book, Kassow adheres to Ringelblum's inclusive philosophy, painting an exceedingly comprehensive picture of Jewish life in Warsaw before and during the war. * Zachor * Kassow has made a major contribution to our understanding of the depth of dedication that librarians and archivists should share toward the preservation of their materials. -- Matthew Z. Heintzelman * Libraries & Cultural Record Vol. 43 * If there is any book that should be read this year (or any year) about the Holocaust it is Who Will Write Our History?Fall 2008 * Jewish Book World * Together, Emanuel Ringelblum and Samuel Kassow help us remember why history matters. * Slavic Review * A stunning revelation of the enduring spirit of the decimated residents of the Warsaw Ghetto. -- Rita Kohn * NUVO Weekly * . . . one of the most important books I've ever read . . . Kassow has created a stunning and brilliant social history of Polish Jews . . . -- Bonny V. Fetterman * Reform Judaism * This may well be the most important book about history that anyone will ever read. * The New Republic * . . . Trinity College professor Kassow's work is well researched, written, and documented. . . . Recommended. * Choice * [A] highly readable, well-grounded study on a fascinating secret undertaking under the boot of National Socialist occupation in Poland. * POLIN: Jrnl Pol-Jew Studies * Samuel Kassow deserves great credit for bringing the history of the Oyneg Shabes and several of its towering figures to the attention of a broader, international audience. Meticulously researched and consistently objective in its account, Who Will Write Our History? is an important scholarly achievement. * World Socialist Web Site * [T]he critical success of Kassow's book is perhaps best explained by the fact that it is far more than a straightforward presentation of the archives. It allows us to relive the daily lives of men and women who were brought together by one man's mad undertaking. * booksandideas.net * The query that gives the book its title is more than answered by the painful text of the book itself. The martyred historians achieved their purpose. It is they who wrote the history that Kassow has transformed into a compelling and significant narrative, a tribute to the courage and determination of the doomed archivists. May 2010 * Hadassah Magazine * This is a book that comes to us at enormous human cost. It deserves to be read and studied by us all. July 14, 2010 * Palm Beach Jewish Journal * Kassow provides a comprehensive overview and interpretation of the value of Ringelblum's determination to keep alive in memory the ordeal of his fellow Jews. * Forward.com *

Author Information

Samuel D. Kassow is the Charles Northam Professor of History at Trinity College. He is author of Students, Professors, and the State in Tsarist Russia, 1884–1917 and editor (with Edith W. Clowes) of Between Tsar and People: The Search for a Public Identity in Tsarist Russia. He lives in Hartford, Connecticut.

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