Rabbi Rena Rossner

To query me: /members/renarossner/ My books: /stores/author/B00BSSCV82?ingress=0&visitId=5d91af59-0263-4d19-899a-694855ae7816

I used to be very anti blind date with a book but I’m definitely changing my tune! I’m excited for this one, thank you to my dear friend Tamara for spotting it and thinking of me 🥰🥰🥰 #blinddatewithabook #jewishmysticism #jewishauthor #IAmUnapologeticallyJewish #thelightofthemidnightstars @renarossner

Lisa Sharkey at Harper Influence negotiated world rights to CONVERSATIONS WITH MY RABBI: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World by @nikkishoregoldstein and Rabbi Eli Schlanger z”l with DHA’s @renarossner . Schlanger, who moved to Bondi Beach as an emissary of the Chabad movement 18 years ago, was the father of five children. On December 14, Schlanger was hosting the @chabadbondi ’s Hanukkah celebration when two gunmen opened fire on the festivities, killing Schlanger as well as 14 others. CONVERSATIONS WITH MY RABBI is an unforgettable true story and a profound book of wisdom, offering timeless teachings for living well in an uncertain world. In September 2022, Nikki Goldstein was comatose, near death in a Sydney ICU when her daughter spotted Rabbi Eli Schlanger in the hallway. Nikki’s husband asked the rabbi to come pray for her. Standing beside her bed, he blew the shofar and whispered ancient prayers over Nikki. One day later, Nikki began recovering from the life-threatening infection. The doctors called it a miracle. As she regained her health, this secular Jewish woman and the devout rabbi formed an unlikely and beautiful friendship. Coming from profoundly different worlds – one grounded in religious tradition, the other in temporal modernity – they discovered they were seeking answers to the same essential questions. Together, they turned to ancient Jewish teachings for guidance on living more ethically, compassionately, and spiritually. In January 2025, they began to record their conversations as a book. But just weeks before they were to write the final chapter, Eli was murdered on Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Australia’s second deadliest mass-casualty shooting. Devastated by shock and grief, Nikki refused to be silenced by terror. She vowed that Eli’s legacy and his mission to bring light, love, and moral clarity to the world would not die, because his teachings were more necessary than ever. Simultaneous publication of CONVERSATIONS WITH MY RABBI with @harpercollinsaustralia and @harpercollinsuk is set for May. #ConversationsWithMyRabbi #RabbiEliSchlanger #NikkiGoldstein #RenaRossner #ChabadBondi

Today on #internationalholocaustremembranceday I offer these illustrations from my forthcoming picture book (4/14, preorder) with @abramsbooks @abramskids , THREE PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS, by @emilybarthisler , a beautiful story of family memories told with three pieces of glass saved from times of both sorrow and joy. . The Holocaust isn’t just something to be commemorated, as though something long ago and far away happened to “some people.” It was the peak of a 70-year cycle that goes back millennia. Hatred, suspicion, blame,and ultimately violence toward Jews is a spiritual disease of societies in decay. We are such a society. Hungry for a story of self-righteousness to deflect from our own choice to follow the Way of Cain—bitterness, resentment, refusal to look in the mirror—has resulted in appalling displays, protests, parades, vandalism, violence—but somehow never doing the simplest thing: asking real people, real Jewish people, who they are and what they think. About anything—joy, sorrow, family history. Always spoken *about* but never *with.* Thus, here we are. . I ask myself—for a decade now—can we do differently? Can we escape the cycle? Maybe. I’m pessimistic. But I think about what is in my power: I refuse to feed the rage machine that wants to swallow us. I choose to remember the Jewish victims of the Holocaust by filling my heart and home with real people, real relationships, children, stories; real food and art and listening. Visiting and loving Israel. Making more books. Wearing my star. Choosing love and beauty. And then, after this post, I’ll once again get instagram off my phone and go back to that reality, instead of the delusions in which it wants to trap us.

This Hanukkah: 8 nights of DHA books for kids! Here are 8 picks from the recent DHA kids’ catalogue for this year’s Hanukkah, for every age and every taste: joyous picture books, inspiring Middle Grade, spooky or funny Young Adult – we have it all, and all are represented by @renarossner . Happy Hanukkah to everyone who celebrates, a holiday of courage, hope, miracles – and, of course, reading together! #TheDeborahHarrisAgency #BookRecommendations #HanukkahBooks #TaliaBenamy #ChrisBaron #IsaacBlum #AllyMalinenko #DaraHenry #DanaKramaroff #SachaLamb #BenGuterson

OK, enough with the partial illustrations, here’s a whole one:) Next week I’m going to reveal the cover along with a link for pre-order! Happy Wednesday! #childrensbookillustration #picturebookart #kidlitart #illustratorsoninstagram #picturebookcommunity

The Deborah Harris Agency presents: 8 nights of books for this year’s Hanukkah! We are delighted to share book recommendations from our list for every night of the upcoming holiday of light. Today we are talking about books for adults, and there is something for everyone here: fiction and nonfiction, Israeli classics and international bestsellers, award winners, fan favorites and even a shtetl revenge tale. Dive in for last minute gift ideas for your loved ones or yourselves – and stay tuned for our recommendations for kids, coming up this week too. #TheDeborahHarrisAgency #BookRecommendations #HanukkahBooks #TehilaHakimi #IlanaKurshan #YossiYovel #MeirShalev #DavidGrossman #YanivIczkovits #MosheGersht #BenjaminResnick

Ally Malinenko’s long-awaited, Stephen King-praised, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selected new horror MG BROKEN DOLLS is finally out with @harpercollins (NA). Rights were also sold to @wydawnictwonowabasn in Poland; @allymalinenko is represented by @renarossner . Author of GHOST GIRL and THIS APPEARING HOUSE Ally Malinenko brings to life a terrifying middle grade novel about a girl learning to grieve her grandfather and the creepy antique dolls in his house that seem to come alive, perfect for fans of THE DOLL IN THE GARDEN. Stephen King summed it up best: “Scary dolls that multiply. A sinister magician. And an understated but moving subtext about how young people deal with grief. Put it on your list.” According to the starred Booklist review, “this thoughtful, profoundly compassionate exploration of anxiety and grief also serves up some serious scares. Malinenko portrays Kaye’s emotional journey in a way that feels real, relatable, and resonant, without ever sacrificing the story’s suspense. A perfect pick for fans of Katherine Arden’s SMALL SPACES and Lindsay Currie’s WHAT LIVES IN THE WOODS.” #AllyMalinenko #BrokenDolls #StephenKing

Talia Benamy’s TWINKLE, TWINKLE, HANUKKAH, illustrated by @auralewis , comes out today with @workmanpubkids (World English). Congratulations to @taliabenamy and agent @renarossner ! This charming lyrical picture book celebrates the history of Hanukkah while engaging little ones in a fun sing-song read aloud. From lighting the menorah and spinning the dreidel, to eating latkes and frying sufganiyot in oil, this book would be the perfect holiday gift to teach kids about the many traditions of Hanukkah. It’s sure to be a latke fun for the whole family! #TaliaBenamy #TwinkleTwinkleHanukkah

My new book, THE SHADOW OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS NINE, is out today in hardback, ebook, and audio. All thanks to super-agent Rena Bunder Rossner, editor-extraordinaire Christy Ottaviano, illustrators Kristina Kister and Chloe Bristol, audio book narrator Elise Arsenault, & the great folks at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers & Little Brown School, including Cheryl Lew, Leyla Erkan, Jen Graham, Olivia McKeon, and Jenny Kimura. I hope readers enjoy the book.  #theworldfamousnine #benguterson #littlebrownyoungreaders #christyottavianobooks #middlegrade #mgbooks #mgreads #mgbookstagram #middlegradebooks #mgfantasy #mglit

And just like that, the 2025 @bolognachildrensbookfair is over, and with it - DHA’s spring fairs season. Bologna is always a joy, vibrant and welcoming, and it’s been very exciting to share latests updates, discover new trends and even get an offer at the table! Thank you to everyone who met with us and to our clients for their wonderful thought-provoking books that make these trips so important and rewarding. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Frankfurt! #BolognaBookFair #BolognaBookFair2025