In the Shadow of the Most High: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors’ Perilous Journey Through History: Received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
In the Shadow of the Most High: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors’ Perilous Journey Through History: Received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.Following find an interview with author Doug Einfeld:
1. What is the name of the book and when was it published? In the Shadow of the Most High: Uncovering My Jewish Ancestors’ Perilous Journey Through History, published May 2026.
2. What’s the book’s first line? About 40 years ago, my Aunt Clara showed me a photograph that would change how I understood my family forever.
3. What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”. This book traces my family’s journey across centuries of Jewish history—from the biblical world of Abraham through exile, persecution, and migration into Europe—while exploring how faith, identity, and survival were preserved against extraordinary odds. It blends personal discovery with historical analysis to connect ancient events to the enduring questions of identity and belonging today.
4. What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event? The journey began with a surprising discovery later in life—that my ancestry included Jewish roots I had never known. As a retired pastor, that revelation set me on a path of both historical and spiritual exploration. What started as a personal search quickly expanded into a much larger story about faith, resilience, and the hidden journeys carried within families across generations.
5. What’s the main reason someone should really read this book? It offers both understanding and perspective. At a time when Jewish identity and history are again under scrutiny, this book helps readers see the long arc of that story—how it formed, how it endured, and why it still matters. It’s not just history; it’s a lens for understanding the present.
6. When did you first decide to become an author? Writing this book wasn’t a lifelong plan—it emerged out of necessity. Once I uncovered my family’s history, I felt compelled to document and make sense of it, both for myself and for others who may be on similar journeys of discovery.
7. Is this the first book you’ve written? Yes, this is my first book, though it draws on a lifetime of study, teaching, and pastoral experience.
8. What do you do for work when you’re not writing? I’m a retired minister and hospice chaplain. Much of my life’s work has centered on walking with people through questions of faith, meaning, and identity—themes that deeply inform this book.
9. What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie? The best part is creative control and the ability to bring an important story to life exactly as it needs to be told. The hardest part is navigating the many roles beyond writing—marketing, outreach, and building visibility in a crowded space.
10. Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? Why or why not? I would certainly be open to the conversation. The goal is to reach as many readers as possible, and a strong publishing partnership can help extend that reach.
11. Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire? Writers who can bring history to life with both clarity and depth—those who make complex ideas accessible while preserving their weight and significance.
12. Which book do you wish you could have written? Any work that successfully bridges personal narrative with sweeping historical context—books that help readers see themselves within the larger story of humanity.