Dual Identities: Living in Meier’s Shadow

A Glimpse Inside The Book

Seeking to swipe a few bucks from his mother’s wallet, Arthur Myron Horwitz discovers the iconic Holocaust image of a terrified boy. “Who’s this?” he demands to know. She insists it’s her little brother Meier, murdered by the Germans. But Arthur knows it isn’t, and challenges her. As punishment for his adolescent insolence, Arthur is saddled with the responsibility of living two lives – his and the one Meier never had. It’s a burden that shapes Arthur’s life, family and media career.

With warmth and candor, Dual Identities: Living in Meier’s Shadow boldly fills a void in Holocaust literature while removing filters previously inhibiting children of survivors from sharing their own, unvarnished growing-up-in-America stories. It also provides new insights on the impact of intergenerational trauma and timeless lessons for combating an alarming rise in national and global antisemitism.

“An amazing book. Emotionally moving. Beautifully rendered. Deeply personal.”
– Peter Salovey, President Emeritus, Yale University

Meet the Author

Arthur M. Horwitz is a nationally respected journalist, publisher and civic leader whose career is recognized by enshrinement in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, establishment of the Arthur M. Horwitz Collection at the University of Michigan and awarding of publisher emeritus status for the Detroit Jewish News, where he served as publisher and executive editor for more than 30 years. The child of a survivor mother and American-born father, Arthur has sensitively and effectively shared his “dual identities” story with thousands of students during their visits to the Zekelman Holocaust Center.

Arthur’s writing has appeared in secular and ethnic publications and academic journals. A persuasive and sought-after speaker, he is a frequent panelist on affiliate news programs of ABC, NBC, PBS and NPR. A convener and bridge builder, Arthur chaired the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and the board of Detroit/PBS. He co- founded New Michigan Media, a consortium of more than 100 minority media outlets. A former paperboy and copyboy for New Haven’s daily newspapers, Arthur is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the Yale School of Management.

Advance Praise

“Arthur Horwitz has written an amazing book. A child of a survivor, this could be called a Holocaust memoir. And it is, but it is so much else as well. Horwitz also survived the destruction of a distinctly Jewish neighborhood – due to misguided urban renewal and highway construction in his hometown of New Haven. It is an American Dream, immigrant family drama, but one of multiple identities: Eastern European and American, town and gown, son and family historian, assimilation and preservation. I was emotionally moved many times while reading this beautifully rendered and deeply personal narrative.”

Peter Salovey, President Emeritus, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Yale University

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"A compelling and gripping exploration of intergenerational trauma. Using the iconic photograph of a little boy raising his hands in the air, an image of his murdered uncle that both was and wasn't really him—as a lens, the author captures how the Holocaust's trauma rippled through generations, shaping relationships between survivors, their children, and grandchildren, while molding each generation's self-perception and expectations. More than a family memoir, this beautifully written book explores universal themes of intergenerational trauma, remembrance, and renewal that will resonate with anyone grappling with inherited grief and the search for meaning in trauma's wake."

Dan Porat, author, The Boy: A Holocaust Story

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“I’m a tough man to please when it comes to memoirs, but Arthur Horwitz’s touching, searching new book left me pleased—very pleased. With warmth and candor, he tells his story of growing up in a loving family in New Haven, then spreading his wings throughout the media world from Baltimore to Detroit. Along the way, we meet a murderer’s row of athletes, politicians, cigar-chomping editors, and other lovable eccentrics. I can honestly say the book made me homesick for his home, and nostalgic for memories that aren’t even mine. A thoroughly compelling read!”

Mark Oppenheimer, former Beliefs Columnist, The New York Times; creator and founding host, “Unorthodox” podcast; author, Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood, Judy Blume: A Life

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“Arthur Horwitz is a great story teller. The riveting narrative of Dual Identities illuminates his journey toward becoming a leading Jewish journalist who strives to strengthen the community after the Holocaust.”

Eva Fogelman, PhD, psychologist, filmmaker and author of the Pulitzer Prize nominee, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust, and the award-winning Breaking the Silence: The Generation After the Holocaust

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"Once I started reading Dual Identities, I could not put it down. Moving, memorable and so very interesting.”

Michael Berenbaum, former project director, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; former CEO, Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation; Academy Award-winning producer; author and editor of 18 books

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