Abstract
Biographer John Rosengren interviewed by Rabbi David Wirtschafter
According to John Rosengren, "one man modeled assimilation for a generation of Jews struggling to find their way in the New World: Hank Greenberg." The Hall of Fame ballplayer with the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s and 1940s "transformed the way Gentiles viewed Jews and the way Jews saw themselves." In an interview with Rabbi David Wirtschafter, visiting scholar in Jewish studies with the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning, Rosengren will discuss the subject of his new book,Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes, which explores religious and moral dilemmas faced by Greenberg and how he "stood tall as a beacon of hope for Jews and, ultimately, became a hero to all Americans."
John Rosengren is an award-winning journalist and author of seven books, including Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes, Blades of Glory: The True Story of a Young Team Bred to Win, and Hammerin' Hank, George Almighty and the Say Hey Kid. His articles have appeared in more than 100 publications, including Sports Illustrated, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, Runner's World, Utne Reader, U.S. Catholic, and Saint John's Magazine. He is a member of the Society of Journalists & Authors and the Society for American Baseball Research. He earned his master's degree in creative writing at Boston University, where he studied with Saul Bellow and Derek Walcott, and his bachelor's degree with an English major at Saint John's University. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and their two children.
Sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center in collaboration with the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of St. Thomas To make an accessibility request, call Disability Resources at (651) 962-6315