Aron Hirt-Manheimer

Aron Hirt-Manheimer (he/him) is the Union for Reform Judaism's former editor-at-large, the former editor of Reform Judaism magazine (1976-2014) and founding editor of Davka magazine (1970-1976), a West Coast Jewish quarterly. His books include Jagendorf’s Foundry: A Memoir of the Romanian Holocaust (HarperCollins, 1991) and Jews: The Essence and Character of a People (HarperCollins, 1998) with Arthur Hertzberg. (Photo credit: Rose Eichenbaum)

Black and white image of the authors parents on their wedding day
Yom HaShoah

On Yom HaShoah, Hear the Message of the Saved Remnant

Aron Hirt-Manheimer
My mother’s answer to hate is love. When I asked her what she wishes for herself and for the world, she said, “For myself good health, so I can be good to others. For the world, peace not war. No bad person wins in the end. What did Hitler achieve?”
Katie Klein and TJ Shanoff posing together in front of a URJ Biennial banner
Jewish Values

What Do You Get When You Mix Music, Improv, and Judaism?

Aron Hirt-Manheimer
Comedians Katie Klein and T.J. Shanoff met when they worked for The Second City. Performing for the Union for Reform Judaism was so rewarding for them that they now specialize in creating customized, collaborative, virtual comedy shows for Jewish organizations.
Professional close up portrait of the author and his wife in the 1970s
Experiencing Israel

A Jerusalem Love Story

Aron Hirt-Manheimer
It has been almost 50 years since I met my wife Judy in Jerusalem. She came into my life like the Sabbath queen about to enter the synagogue, with everyone rising and turning toward the door to welcome her in.