Dena Schusterman Published Memoir Stories Carry
The Atlanta author and preschool director released a new book documenting her family history and global travels.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Judaism
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Dena Schusterman, the executive director of the Intown Jewish Preschool, has released a memoir titled Stories Carry. The book details her family history across multiple countries and cities, including a memorable 1970s incident in Berkeley.
Why it matters
Schusterman wrote the memoir to ensure her family stories were preserved after realizing her father had been omitted from a public account of his work. It serves as a personal archive for her descendants and the community.
The memoir features more than 30 stories compiled over an eight-year writing process. It covers a diverse geographic scope including Russia, Poland, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Berkeley, Albuquerque, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
The players
Dena Schusterman
She is an author and the executive director of the Intown Jewish Preschool in Atlanta.
Mercer University Press
This is the academic publishing house that vetted and published the memoir.
The details
The narrative includes a notable 1970s incident involving police at a Chabad house in Berkeley regarding cannabis plants, witnessed by the author's then 5-year-old sister. Published by Mercer University Press, the book was accepted following a full vetting process.
Timeline
The 1970s saw police discover cannabis plants at the Berkeley Chabad house.
Dena Schusterman arrived in Atlanta in 2020.
The memoir Stories Carry was published in September 2026.
Culture Shift
The memoir aligns with the Jewish genealogical storytelling tradition that emphasizes preserving oral history for future generations. This release follows a pattern of individuals documenting personal narratives to protect family heritage against potential institutional erasure.
Local readers can find copies of the memoir at area bookstores starting this month. The book offers the Atlanta community an opportunity to engage with a personal perspective on history that spans several decades and international borders.
The takeaway
Preserving family history is a proactive way to ensure personal legacies remain intact despite gaps in official public records. Readers can consider starting their own archive by documenting stories from older relatives before those perspectives are lost.
What happens next
Dena Schusterman will appear at the Book Festival of the MJCCA to discuss her work and family history.
Further reading
For more on local community narratives, visit the Judaism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Atlanta Jewish Times.
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