Never forget my soul​
In Never Forget My Soul, Dr. Milgraum, a psychologist and child of a Holocaust survivor, takes the reader on a riveting journey from trauma, loss and despair to hope, healing and renewed faith. The book examines the far-reaching effects of Nazi wartime atrocities, including the trauma, confusion and struggle experienced by the wartime generation and their descendants. Those who have brushed too closely with such indescribable evil are left profoundly doubtful about their own potency, the goodness in man and even God’s love and involvement in the world.
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In this book, Dr. Milgraum balances his compassion for the traumatized with the courage to find a new way of living, involving trust of self, others and God. Informing his work are 25 years of his own spiritual seeking, delving deeply into timeless Jewish teachings that inspire hope, even in the darkest of times.
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The fictionalized nature of the book gives the reader a vivid first-hand experience of its subject matter. But don’t be fooled—there is much more truth in this book than fiction, as Dr. Milgraum describes a way to reengage with life, even in the face of devastating loss.
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This second printing of the book contains a new foreword by Michael Berenbaum, who is a leading figure in Holocaust studies.
To seek a larger spirit
In this volume, psychologist and spiritual seeker Michael Milgraum takes his readers on a poetic journey exploring the human psyche and soul. Drawing on his lifelong study of Jewish philosophy, teachings, and tradition, as well as over 20 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, Milgraum explores how the path to self-understanding and the path to connection with God are inextricably linked.
These poems transport the reader to a great variety of psychological and spiritual spaces, including healing from trauma, the struggle to grow beyond fear and self-protection, the longing for human connection and warmth, the expansive beauty of the natural world, prayer, sacred times and places, encountering one’s own dark side, the limits of control, the power of choice, and the tension/dance between faith and reason.
Although many of these poems are deeply connected to Jewish teachings, the themes and reflections herein are universal and speak to the soul of all individuals who are interested in becoming whole by connecting to a higher power and a deeper truth.
Written in our souls
In this deep and stirring series of essays Michael Milgraum probes the heart of our eternal Torah, demonstrating how it is ultimately a window into our own souls. He draws from the teachings of our sages and his own insights to help us peer through that window. We discover a vista where good and evil, dark and light, truth and falsehood, self and other, and man and God encounter each other, and, in their interplay, speak of a universal harmony. But, more than this, this spiritual landscape places a charge upon each person to discover his or her individual mission and to strive to do the task in this world that he or she alone was meant to do.
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The author draws on his knowledge of Jewish wisdom and combines it with his experiences as a clinical psychologist to explore perennial themes, including:
How do we practically live with the apparent contradiction that God foresees the future, but that man is responsible for his choices?
Why is laughter emphasized in the earliest origins of the Jewish people?
What is the Torah’s definition of living a life of meaning?
Are religion and science compatible?
Do the ancient texts of Judaism still have relevance in a world that is so different from when they were written?
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Look within to find a penetrating discussion of these and many other themes…
