“As antisemitism rises and October 7 reshapes Jewish life, Wisdom in the House of Mourning shows what resilience looks like in practice, grounded in memory, carried forward through continuity, and defined by responsibility. A timely guide for a Jewish community navigating a dangerous and defining moment.”
William C. Daroff
Chief Executive Officer, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
“Mark Isakowitz’s riveting book is a story of Jewish faith, family, and a son’s journey of discovery. Through his deep exploration of his father’s remarkable life — and his own mourning of his father’s death — Mark inspires each of us to reflect on who we are, what we value, and to cherish our many blessings.”
The Honorable Dave McCormick
United States Senator (PA)
“In this moving and thoughtful book, Mark Isakowitz honors his father’s journey from the horrors of the Holocaust to a life rebuilt with dignity, purpose, and deep Jewish commitment. Along the way, he captures the enduring strength of a people whose story has been shaped by loss, renewal, and an unwavering dedication to learning, faith, and responsibility to one another.”
The Honorable Ted Deutch
President, the American Jewish Committee
“Mark Isakowitz, a friend and mentor for over 30 years, has guided some of the most important leaders in American government and business. This beautiful and personal book is a moving tribute to his father and an exploration of the questions Mark never had a chance to ask him. I learned so much about how the Jewish laws of mourning can turn sadness and sorrow into renewal and discovery.”
Dina Powell McCormick
President and Vice Chairman, Meta
“Isakowitz’s exploration of family history and personal faith is both absorbing and moving. These pages are filled with learning, emotion, honesty, and, above all, gratitude. Everyone who reads them will benefit.”
Matthew Continetti
Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
“In a beautifully written love letter to his late father, Mark Isakowitz opens up about his deeply personal journey not just through grief but family history. As a friend of over 30 years, I learned things about Mark that deepened my immense respect for him, challenged me to explore my own faith, and helped me recognize the lessons from my own father.”
The Honorable Rob Portman
United States Senator (2010–2022)
“Part memoir, part spiritual confession, part mystery, Wisdom in the House of Mourning shows how the very tragedies and obligations of Jewish life — from a father’s memory to the colorful, beloved characters of a living synagogue in Washington, D.C. — can be mined for redemption, meaning, and surprising joy.”
Rabbi Hyim Shafner
Kesher Israel, The Georgetown Synagogue
“A remarkable meditation on one of the foundational obligations of Jewish life, Mark Isakowitz’s journey of mourning and discovery affirms the greatest teachings of the Jewish sages and the unparalleled bounty of America.”
Kenneth R. Weinstein, Ph.D.
Former President, The Hudson Institute
“With remarkable fluidity, Mark Isakowitz carries the reader from his father’s harrowing Auschwitz experience to the life and community his parents built in working-class Cleveland—and his own spiritual search within Judaism. For anyone seeking to really understand the long arc of Jewish history, this book is a must.”
Wendy Singer
Head of Global Affairs and Digital Innovation, National Library of Israel
“Isakowitz’s book is a journey of reflection, inspiration, and awakening; a tale of ancient Judaism; and a lesson in how it intersects with the modern world. Above all it shows how out of the horrors of the Holocaust and the pain of loss a spiritual awakening can take place.”
Matthew Brooks
CEO, Republican Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Policy Center
“The moving story of one man’s search to discover the hair-raising truth about his father’s survival in World War II ends in a discovery of self and the importance of Jewish continuity. Every Jew and friend of the Jewish people should read this book — and every enemy should take note of what it says about our will to survive and thrive.”
Eliana Johnson
Editor-in-Chief, Washington Free Beacon
“At the Passover seder, the youngest child asks Mah nishtanah—‘Why is this night different?’—and with that single question, we unlock memory, identity, and the work of every generation. Wisdom in the House of Mourning opens not with an answer but with a shock — a discovery at Yad Vashem that his father’s story of surviving the Holocaust contained a hidden chapter. For anyone wrestling with what we owe our parents, our history, and ourselves, this is essential reading.”
Jonathan Greenblatt
CEO and National Director, ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
