Historian Abraham Rosen Reveals Jewish Struggle to Preserve Time During the Holocaust

Historian Abraham Rosen's new book, "Sanctifying Time: Jewish Calendars During the Holocaust," published by Yad Vashem, sheds light on the lesser-known Jewish effort to maintain their religious calendar under Nazi oppression. While many studies have focused on the Nazis' cruel exploitation of Jewish holidays to carry out deportations and massacres, Rosen shifts the focus to the victims' resilience in preserving the Jewish sense of time.

The book examines Hebrew calendars created in ghettos, camps, and hiding places, often made from scraps of paper, packaging, or even metal engravings. These calendars served a vital role in helping Jews determine the Sabbath, fast days, and festivals despite the absence of clocks, calendars, or clear day-night distinctions. Rosen argues that these calendars were more than practical tools; they were anchors of identity and hope amid the collapse of human order.

Through six chapters, Rosen analyzes these artifacts and testimonies, revealing how maintaining the Jewish calendar was a spiritual form of resistance. Knowing when the Sabbath or holidays occurred reminded Jews of their heritage and continuity despite the surrounding horror. This theme is also central to an exhibition at Yad Vashem’s synagogue, displaying items such as a Megillat Esther, a Passover Haggadah, and a prayer book bound with tobacco carton, all illustrating the struggle to sanctify time during the Holocaust.