Meet adena

Adena J. Bernstein is the grandchild of two Holocaust survivors. Her grandmother often spoke to her about her experiences during the Holocaust, which had a profound impact on Adena’s life. She continues to honor her grandmother’s legacy through her bestselling, multiple award–winning book, Living among the Dead: My Grandmother’s Holocaust Survival Story of Love and Strength, and by speaking about her grandmother’s survival and the enduring lessons from the Holocaust—lessons that remain profoundly relevant today in combating antisemitism, bullying, and hatred.

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Adena is a career prosecutor who has served with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for the past two years. She was honored with the Klein Guardians of Freedom Award for her work addressing the fentanyl crisis and helping to save lives. In her current role, she works with federal agencies to extradite fugitives from countries abroad. Earlier in her career, she prosecuted child sexual abuse and domestic violence cases, becoming a local expert on prosecuting domestic violence–related strangulation cases and training extensively on the subject.

Deeply involved in the Jewish community, Adena serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and is excited about the development of the Holocaust Education Center, expected to open in 2026. She is also a founding member of 3GAZ, a third-generation Holocaust descendants group. Adena taught Sunday School at her temple for eight years, co-teaching “Character Development Through the Studies of the Holocaust” during her final two years.

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Her work extends beyond the courtroom and classroom—she contributes articles to MASK (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) Magazine on topics including children’s safety, drugs, and law enforcement, and has chaired fundraising events for the Emily Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She has been recognized for her professional and philanthropic work with the Amazing Woman Award from the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona.

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In 2021, Adena traveled to her grandmother’s hometown in present-day Ukraine, documenting the experience with photos and stories that add depth to her presentations. In 2024, she was formally invited by the Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland to represent American Jewish institutions and communities on a study visit. She makes every effort to appear—either in person or virtually—at no cost to speak to students, organizations, congregations, and clubs about her book, her family’s history, and the importance of remembering.

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Adena’s greatest role, however, is as the proud mother of three exemplary young adults.