Returning
A story of memory and redemption
By Yael Shahar
Published: 2018
How far will one man go to attain forgiveness?
Alex died in Auschwitz, having betrayed his faith and his people. Now he’s been given a single miraculous chance to put things right—but his fate is in the hands of a woman who only wants to forget, and a rabbi who isn’t sure whether to be Alex’s teacher or his judge. This unforgettable, breathtakingly powerful book follows Alex’s journey from the flames of Birkenau to atonement, transformation, and redemption.
Returning is a haunting and compelling exploration of the choices we make in a choiceless time, the terrifying strength and burden of the will to survive, and the power of the human spirit to transcend even its own destruction. This book will leave you changed forever.
Yael Shahar
Yael Shahar spent most of her career in intelligence and security studies, with side trips into physics, graphic design, and digital layout.
She has lectured worldwide on a variety of topics, from Jewish education to security studies and threat assessment. Her research on the Internet as an enabler of political and social change led her to a deeper study of Jewish society over the ages.
Her writing on Jewish education and philosophy can be found at www.yaelshahar.com.