Jerry Elman is an American author, educator, and advocate, best known for his work addressing Jew hate, Holocaust education, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He is the author of Miracles Through Hell (2022) and the upcoming book Promised, Betrayed and Lost: How The Past Disrupts a Palestinian Future(2025). Elman is also the founder of Waterview Books.
Early Life and Education
Jerry Elman is a second-generation Holocaust survivor. His parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland—his father from a city and his mother from a small village—whose experiences profoundly influenced his later work. In 1967, he visited Israel for his Bar Mitzvah, which was part of a reunion for Holocaust survivors from his parents’ hometowns who had settled in Israel. This trip, which occurred shortly after the Six-Day War, further deepened his connection to Jewish history and resilience.
Career
Elman spent 26 years as an engineer and technical manager at Eastman Kodak Company. After leaving Kodak, he owned an automotive business where he was locally and nationally recognized for ethics, innovation, and being a nationally certified women-friendly business, supporting numerous women’s causes. He was also the first male to serve on the board of two Rochester-area women’s organizations. Later, he transitioned to working in the non-profit sector. Upon retiring, Elman became an author and advocate, focusing on educating diverse audiences about Jewish history, Jew hate, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Authorship and Advocacy
In 2022, Elman published his memoir, Miracles Through Hell, which recounts his parents’ survival during the Holocaust and his journey to understanding their experiences. His second book, Promised, Betrayed and Lost: How the Past Disrupts a Palestinian Future, scheduled for publication in 2025, explores the historical context of British policies in the Middle East and their impact on modern Jew hate and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Elman frequently visits community groups, libraries, and schools, where he gives presentations on his work. His notable presentations include Eternal Prejudice: The Unbroken History of Jew Hate and Britain’s Legacy: The Scapegoating of Israel. These presentations aim to educate non-Jewish audiences and foster dialogue about complex historical and contemporary issues.
Community Involvement
Elman serves as the board president of the Little Lakes Community Center, which fosters regional identity and sustainability in the Little Finger Lakes Region of New York. He is also a board member of the Honeoye Valley Association and the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force, both of which focus on protecting and improving the quality of Honeoye Lake and its watershed.
Waterview Books
Elman is the founder and owner of Waterview Books, which published Miracles Through Hell and will publish Promised, Betrayed and Lost in the spring of 2025. The company is launching a consulting service to assist first-time and inexperienced self-publishing authors.
Publications
Miracles Through Hell (2022)
Promised, Betrayed and Lost (Spring 2025)