David Rozenson

Born in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad), Russia, David Rozenson received a PhD in Russian Literature from Moscow State Humanitarian University for his in-depth study of writer Isaac Babel. In 2015, Rozenson’s book, “Babel: Person and Paradox” was published in Russia and landed on the best-sellers list for newly published biography. From 2000 to 2012, Rozenson founded and headed the Avi Chai Foundation’s offices in the former Soviet Union where new Jewish/Israeli cultural and literary programs were launched, including what has become the largest Russian-language publishing initiative, a café-based Jewish study program across Russia, and an online website on Jewish and Israeli themes that won accolades for success in attracting a young, well-educated mostly unaffiliated Jewish audience. In 2013, Rozenson moved to Israel to become the executive director of Beit Avi Chai. Author of articles and winner of various prizes, Rozenson resides in Jerusalem with his wife, Jenny, a psychologist, and six children and, alongside Beit Avi Chai continues his research in the life and work of Isaac Babel and other Russian writers.