Karen Baum Gordon

This last month in the Jewish calender is Elul, a 40-day period of repentance. My father liberated Buchenwald, felt "rage" at the Germans, yet wrote: "I did a lot of soul searching...and reluctantly concluded that not every German could be held responsible for the heinous crimes..."

During this National Su***de Prevention Week, I'm thinking especially about my dad, and how important it is to continue to share his story.

I so thoroughly enjoyed speaking to the group last night at the Pierson Library/Town Hall. Thank you Rob Broder!

If you'll be anywhere near this beautiful area of VT, I'll be speaking and signing books at Shelburne Pierson Library's historic Town Hall on August 17 at 6:30 p.m. A big thank you to The Flying Pig Bookstore!

So grateful to the Worthen Library and librarian Kegan for hosting me for a book talk on Wednesday. It was a pleasure to speak with members of this community that we've been part of for 25+ years!

Courage. Fortitude. Honor. My dad is on my mind this weekend. He was a German Jewish refugee who returned to Germany 9 years later -- as an officer in General Patton's Third Army. Read about Rudy Baum in my new book, The Last Letter.

Thank you Good Morning America! What an honor!

‘The Last Letter’ by Karen Baum Gordon is this week’s ‘GMA’ Buzz Pick In her captivating memoir, Gordon examines her family’s painful experiences in Germany during the Holocaust, uncovering the deep psychological impact it cast across generations.

"On this Yom HaShoah, it is important to honor not just the victims, but their descendants, who carry their pain, and who still seek to understand and find ways to live with their inherited trauma." - Wes Hopper
Thank you Temple Emanu-El Dallas for inviting me to share my story.

New review of my book from ReformJudaism.org. "On this , it is important to honor not just the victims, but their descendants, who carry their pain, and who still seek to understand...":

Book Review: The Last Letter: A Daughter Explores Her Inherited Trauma from the Holocaust In The Last Letter: A Father’s Struggle, a Daughter’s Quest, and the Long Shadow of the Holocaust, Karen Baum Gordon explores not only her father’s life story, but also the stories and events that shaped the lives of her grandparents — two Holocaust victims.

Heartfelt thanks to and ! See you in Dallas on Sunday!

Shout out to Justin Vellucci and the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for covering my story.

‘The Last Letter’ looks at the generational trauma of the Holocaust The family of Rudy Baum lived for a time in Mt. Lebanon.

Karen Baum Gordon
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to 1960 when my brother, Dick, became a bar mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El Dallas. (Can you guess which girl is me?!) I'll be returning to my childhood synagogue on April 24 to talk about my book: https://bit.ly/3jkuxrp

Shout out to Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk! I'll be speaking with their younger crowd on Monday to tell them about my journey and book, The Last Letter.

Will you meet me in Dallas? I'll be back in my childhood synagogue to present my new book. Sign up for a virtual or in-person ticket: https://bit.ly/3JdUJ1D

I'm excited to be coming back to Dallas on 4/24! Many thanks to Deb Silverthorn and the Texas Jewish Post- TJP for covering my story.

Karen Baum Gordon’s book explores family history - Texas Jewish Post ‘The Last Letter’ wraps up Jewish Bookfest season, commemorates Yom HaShoah By Deb Silverthorn Karen Baum Gordon is coming home to Dallas to share her book — “The Last Letter: […]

What amazing histories! It was wonderful to participate in the International Center for MultiGenerational Legacies of Trauma’s author panel, ”Cohering Multigenerational Holocaust Histories to Repair the World,” alongside Professor Mikhal Dekel, Chair of the CCNY English Department, and Michel Kichka, the internationally known Israeli cartoonist and illustrator. So much of their stories resonated, and I was grateful for the thoughtful questions from the audience.

You can read about the authors and watch the discussion here https://icmglt.org/cohering-multigenerational-holocaust-histories-to-repair-the-world-2/

Cohering Multigenerational Holocaust Histories to Repair the World This International Center for MultiGenerational Legacies of Trauma multidisciplinary webinar is held in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Participants will present three dispar…

I was honored to be featured on the "Why Memory Matters" Panel, hosted by NY Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Senator Chuck Schumer opened the discussion before turning to panelists Roz Jacobs & Laurie Weisman (Co-Founders of The Memory Project), Rabbi Abraham Cooper (Associate Dean, Director of Global Social Action at The Simon Wiesenthal Center), and myself, Karen Baum Gordon (Author of The Last Letter: A Father's Struggle, a Daughter's Quest, and the Long Shadow of the Holocaust). We shared the stories of Holocaust survivors and discussed the antisemitic tropes, longstanding biases – and just plain hate – that have played a role in far too many attacks across the country.

Link to panel discussion video: youtu.be/fi6j6wTEMAc

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I think of this quote from Elie Wiesel, who was in Buchenwald when my father helped to liberate it: "I have tried to keep memory alive…I have tried to fight for those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices."

We remember.

"Here's to remembering the past and moving forward" is an inscription I use often when signing books. I think forgiveness is key for both the healing and progress we all seek.

Karen Baum Gordon updated their website address.