Michelle Friedman in Conversation with Eva Fogelman and 92NY's Rabbi David Ingber

In the wake of trauma, we often turn to stories. We tell them to remember, to make sense of what has happened, to connect with others, and to preserve what might otherwise be lost. But is storytelling enough? Can narrative alone help us process grief, suffering, and inherited wounds, or does healing require something more?

In the week following Kristallnacht, Rabbi David Ingber sits down with renowned psychiatrist, educator, and author Michelle Friedman, author of Divine Corners, for a thoughtful exploration of trauma, memory, and meaning-making. Drawing on her clinical experience and personal reflections as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Friedman examines the role stories play in shaping identity, transmitting memory across generations, and helping individuals and communities navigate painful histories. Joining them is Eva Fogelman, licensed psychologist, author and filmmaker. A resident of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, she is also a pioneer in developing groups for the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — generations who are living with the legacy and psychological impact of their inherited trauma.

What can stories reveal that science cannot? What experiences resist language altogether? And how do ritual, relationships, spirituality, and community help carry us where words alone cannot? At a moment when questions of memory, resilience, and inherited trauma remain deeply relevant, this conversation invites us to reflect on the stories we tell, the stories we inherit, and the stories that continue to shape who we become.