Alex Grobman
Encyclopedia
Alex Grobman is an American historian.
Grobman grew up in Camden, New Jersey
, the son of a pharmacist and a synagogue secretary. He earned his PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
Grobman's book Denying History has been described as serving to "remind us the past is not entirely negotiable" that, "Good historians can uncover and explain the past with provisional certainty - if they account for personal and cultural bias, and that it can be established beyong any reasonable doubt that the holocaust was real.
Grobman has written three books dealing with the issue of scholarly work that denies reality, Denying History, nations United, and the Palestinian Right to Israel. In Denying History, co-authors Michael Shermer
and Grobman note that "Sociologists are aware of the problem of a researcher's 'co-option' by a group–a cult or New Age religion, perhaps– whereby the scholar, in entering a group and spending considerable time with its members, publishes a paper or book that is not as objective as he or she may believe." They cite the work of sociologists Stephen Kent
and Theresa Krebs who have identified "numerous cases of 'when scholars know sin,' where allegedly nonpartisan, unbiased scholars find themselves the unwitting tools of religious groups striving for social acceptance and in need of the imprimatur of an academic."
According to CNN
". . . Shermer and Grobman do more than just refute ridiculous allegations. They also use the example of Holocaust denial literature to examine free speech issues, the psychology of right-wing extremists, and the role of biases in historical research."
Grobman grew up in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, the son of a pharmacist and a synagogue secretary. He earned his PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.
Grobman's book Denying History has been described as serving to "remind us the past is not entirely negotiable" that, "Good historians can uncover and explain the past with provisional certainty - if they account for personal and cultural bias, and that it can be established beyong any reasonable doubt that the holocaust was real.
Grobman has written three books dealing with the issue of scholarly work that denies reality, Denying History, nations United, and the Palestinian Right to Israel. In Denying History, co-authors Michael Shermer
Michael Shermer
Michael Brant Shermer is an American science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic, which is largely devoted to investigating pseudoscientific and supernatural claims. The Skeptics Society currently has over 55,000 members...
and Grobman note that "Sociologists are aware of the problem of a researcher's 'co-option' by a group–a cult or New Age religion, perhaps– whereby the scholar, in entering a group and spending considerable time with its members, publishes a paper or book that is not as objective as he or she may believe." They cite the work of sociologists Stephen Kent
Stephen Kent
Stephen Kent, Steven Kent, or Steve Kent may refer to:* Stephen Kent , didgeridoo/ambient musician* Stephen A. Kent, Canadian religious scholar* Stephen Kent , University of Chicago chemist...
and Theresa Krebs who have identified "numerous cases of 'when scholars know sin,' where allegedly nonpartisan, unbiased scholars find themselves the unwitting tools of religious groups striving for social acceptance and in need of the imprimatur of an academic."
According to CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
". . . Shermer and Grobman do more than just refute ridiculous allegations. They also use the example of Holocaust denial literature to examine free speech issues, the psychology of right-wing extremists, and the role of biases in historical research."
Books
- Rekindling the Flame: American Jewish Chaplains and the Survivors of European Jewry, 1944-1948. 1993
- Denying HistoryDenying HistoryDenying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened and Why Do They Say It? is a 2000 book by Michael Shermer and Alex Grobman about Holocaust denial.-Reviews:...
: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened, and Why Do Thec Say It?, with Michael Shermer, 2000 - Battling For Souls: The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee in Post-War Europe, 2004
- Nations United: How The UN Undermines Israel and the West 2006
- The Palestinian Right to Israel, 2010