Michael Berenbaum

Michael Berenbaum is a Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the American Jewish University and Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust. He has authored or edited 24 books, served as Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica, and held leadership roles in major Holocaust institutions, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.

• PhD, Florida State University
• B.A., Philosophy, Queens College
• Rabbinic Ordination, Jewish Theological Seminary
• Hebrew University
• Boston University
• Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) — Denison University, College of Idaho, Gratz College
• Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) — Nazareth College

His research focuses on Holocaust studies, Jewish theology, and the ethical implications of historical trauma. He has curated major exhibitions, including Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away, and contributed to over 50,000 survivor testimonies through the Shoah Visual History Foundation. His academic work spans museum curation, comparative genocide studies, and ethical frameworks derived from Holocaust history.

His recent publications and media collaborations analyze Holocaust memory, Jewish identity, and moral responsibility. These works often intersect with historical documentation, museum development, and ethical education.

• Emmy Award (1995) and Academy Award (1995) for 'One Survivor Remembers'
• Simon Rockower Memorial Awards (1986, 1987) for editorial and journalistic excellence
• Honorary doctorates from Denison University, Nazareth College, and others

Berenbaum has advised and collaborated on numerous Holocaust museums and exhibitions globally, including projects in Mexico, Poland, and the United States. He has secured grants for Holocaust documentation and education, notably through the Shoah Visual History Foundation and museum curation initiatives.