{"title":"Books That Capture the Spirit of Israel October 7 2023","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"israels-edge","title":"Israel's Edge","description":"\u003cp\u003eHow will Israel keep its strategic edge over an increasingly dangerous Iran? Israel has been preparing for this day by creating a special and secretive IDF unit called Talpiot. Instead of being trained to fight, the few soldiers each year selected for Talpiot are taught how to think. In order to join this unit they have to commit to being in the army for ten years, rather than the three years a normal soldier serves. Talpiots are taught advanced level physics, math and computer science as they train with soldiers from every other branch of the IDF. The result: young men and women become research and development machines. Talpiots have developed battle ready weapons that only Israel’s top military officers and political leaders know about. They have also dramatically improved much of the weapons already in Israel’s arsenal. Talpiot has been tasked with keeping Israel a generation ahead of a rapidly strengthening and technologically capable Iran. Talpiots contribute to all of the areas that will be most important to the IDF as Iran becomes even more powerful including missile technology, anti-missile defense, cyber-warfare, intelligence, satellite technology and high powered imaging. Talpiot soldiers have also been a major factor in the never ending fight against Israel’s other enemies and many have left the R\u0026amp;D lab to fly fighter planes, serve in the field as commanders of elite army ground units and at sea commanding Israel’s fleet of naval ships. After leaving the army, Talpiots have become a major force in the Israeli economy, developing some of Israel’s most famous and powerful companies. Israel’s Edge contains dozens of interviews with Talpiot graduates and some of the early founders of the program. It explains Talpiot's highly successful recruiting methods and discloses many of the secrets of the program's success. The book also profiles some of the most successful businesses founded by Talpiot graduates including CheckPoint, Compugen, Anobit, recently bought by Apple, and XIV, recently bought by IBM. No other military unit has had more of an impact on the State of Israel and no other unit will have more of an impact in the years ahead. The soldiers of Talpiot are truly unsung heroes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jason Gewirtz","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336689504566,"sku":"g713 \/ 713-6","price":17.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i12143.054083.jpg?v=1785311190"},{"product_id":"phantom-nation","title":"Phantom Nation (2 Volume Set)","description":"\u003cp\u003e“Meticulously researched.… These volumes are packed with more information than any single book on the history of Israel. Ben-Tekoa chronicles it all – from the early pre-state Zionists to the rebirth of the Jewish state, through the endless wars and terrorism to the present Holocaust denial and international anti-Semitism.…I highly recommend Ben-Tekoa’s work. Phantom Nation belongs in homes, libraries, and should be studied by all Israel support organizations.” Ruth King Board of Directors, Americans for a Safe Israel Who are the “Palestinians”? Why is there no book in any library on the planet narrating their history? Why are there no references in United Nations records to the “Palestinians” for the first quarter-century of UN resolutions of the Arab-Israeli conflict? Phantom Nation is an exhaustive survey of historical records and news accounts that demonstrates conclusively that the Arabs currently inhabiting the land of Israel have no indigenous ties to the area, and that “Palestinian” nationalism is verbal camouflage for belligerent Islam and functions as this generation’s politically correct, even fashionable mutation of the ageless fear, loathing and hatred of Jews.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sha’i Ben Tekoa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336751239478,"sku":"925-3 \/ g925","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i228140.63831.jpg?v=1785311766"},{"product_id":"snapshot","title":"Snapshot","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt age 70, Israel remains a military society. The Israel Defense Forces occupies a special place in the heart of the Israeli public. Surveys show that the IDF is Israel’s most beloved brand name – far above any other individual or institution. In its successes or failures, in wars and funerals, the IDF has been and remains the flag around which the country rallies. Israel calls its soldiers our sons and daughters – they protect us, and in return, they deserve our protection and support. In fact, the IDF is what enables Israel to be a sane, prosperous society. In a stormy, unstable region, in the face of rapidly intensifying threats, the IDF permits Israelis to live in the Middle East, but to feel like they’re in Europe. Without the stable security that the IDF achieves through its daily, Sisyphean efforts, today’s Israel would look very different – bloodier, more frightened, less secure. Snapshot is a unique project that offers us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the IDF and the other security forces, as they have never been viewed before. Commentator Yoav Limor and photographer Ziv Koren were given exclusive access, allowing them to bring us an unfiltered view of Israel’s real war over our homeland – from covert attacks in Syria and the battle against terror to defending the borders. Their work also reveals the real war of daily struggles – for the advancement of women in the military, to integrate the ultra-Orthodox, to absorb immigrants and disadvantaged youth. It documents the IDF’s humanitarian aid missions to disaster sites around the world, and the technological breakthroughs that have transformed Israel into the start-up nation. Snapshot presents an unprecedented, insider’s view of some of the most exclusive and secretive IDF units: Sayeret Matkal and Shaldag (general staff and air force commando units), technology units of the intelligence division, and the Shabak (Israel Security Agency). The book also offers previously unpublished stories and photos from the war on terror, and border operations against Hezbollah, Hamas, and ISIS. Yoav Limor is a veteran journalist who has covered Israel’s defense establishment for the last 30 years. He previously served as writer and defense analyst for Ma’ariv daily newspaper and as its London bureau chief. He was a commentator on military affairs for Channel 1 and in recent years has written for Yisrael Hayom daily. Recently he served as the host for the Channel 2 morning show. Today he appears on Keshet as host of the morning show and documentary presenter. He authored the best-seller Captives in Lebanon (with Ofer Shelach), and is a regular lecturer in many forums in Israel and around the world. Ziv Koren is Israel’s premier photo journalist. Previously he worked as a photographer for Yediot Aharonot, and recently he has photographed for Yisrael Hayom and leading global media outlets. He is also Israel representative for the Polaris photo agency. Koren has published 17 books and displayed his work in dozens of exhibitions. His photos are regularly featured on the covers of major magazines in Israel and abroad, and have won many international prizes. Koren is a popular lecturer on photography in Israel and around the world. Limor and Koren’s collaboration over many years has enabled the creation of this exceptional book.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ziv Koren (photography)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336755007798,"sku":"g938 \/ 938-3","price":43.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i229715.56957.jpg?v=1785311881"},{"product_id":"isresilience","title":"ISResilience","description":"\u003cp\u003ePart-history, part-biography, part-self-help manual, ISResilience is a study of a nation that has had to collectively and individually hang tough like no other country on earth. Each chapter comprises an interview with a compelling Israeli personality – some famous, some not, but all exceptional – profiles them, and traces the characteristic that unites them all – resilience - extrapolating from them life lessons that can teach everyone of us to be stronger people. From well-known leaders making life-and-death decisions to ordinary people who have overcome incredible loss to do inspirational things – meet the Israelis that thrive against all odds, and learn how you can too. Absorb yourself in the stories of people who: toughed it out in a Soviet Gulag to emerge a human rights icon overcame disability to pioneer tech helping paraplegics walk again fell from the sky, beating death and emerging an Olympic hero withstood 90 body burns to lead an iconic victory in battle survived the Nazis turning from child orphan refugee to spiritual leader broke through the glass ceiling to become a female Colonel went from having limbs blown off to winning high office overcame death threats to find his voice as an Arab in the Jewish State climbed Mount Everest to forgo reaching the peak in order to save a life gave up NBA fame to take a tiny country to basketball glory got elected to parliament, refusing to have others in her community define what a women could achieve turned unbearable grief into a promise to ease the pain of others walked barefoot from Africa to reach the Promised Land …and learn the keys to their resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi L. Baum","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337039761718,"sku":"7023-46 g7346","price":16.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i287976.91132.jpg?v=1785315554"},{"product_id":"a-time-to-kill-a-time-to-heal","title":"A Time to Kill, A Time to Heal","description":"\u003cp\u003eLooking ahead into the dark, my compass, depth gauge and diving watch confirmed that we were headed towards our target in enemy waters. The mission was clear: to eliminate ships at anchor, ships that were planned to carry out an attack against civilians in northern Israel. Onboard them were Zodiac rubber boats, AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifles, RPG anti-tank rockets and plenty of ammunition. The Palestinian terrorists who had been trained for their deadly mission were set to execute their attack two nights later. This was a race against time. After a stealth approach into the harbor, I identified my target and attached the explosives. For a moment, my memories took me back in time. I was hiding in a bush, an 11-year-old boy, during a terrorist attack, escaping sure death. Activating the time-controlled detonators, I felt the closure of another circle of destiny. An attack against my home, was thwarted. Yotam Dagan, an Israeli navy SEAL, shares his personal journey from being a soldier and fighting wars to healing the invisible wounds of psychological trauma and PTSD. This book is an important account of how human courage and determination, followed by suffering and vulnerability could leverage growth on an individual, community and national level.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yotam Dagan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337041662262,"sku":"g7347 7023-47","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i288411.21596.jpg?v=1785315592"},{"product_id":"the-winds-promise","title":"The Wind's Promise","description":"\u003cp\u003eI’m a daughter to amazing parents. I always knew that there was good reason to be jealous of me. Yes, without feeling apologetic or arrogant, but with the simple understanding that not everyone is privileged to have parents like these, and yes – I have reason to be grateful to them and to Hashem. Hundreds of moments of gratitude gravitate togeth¬er into a large, vibrant picture that is strikingly inconsistent with the words terrorist attack, death, and murder, which left my mouth into the telephone just a few moments ago. BATSHEVA SADAN was a young expectant mother in 2003 when she was forced to receive the worst possible news: her American-born parents had been cut down in the prime of life by a terrorist as they enjoyed a peaceful Sabbath meal in their home in Kiryat Arba. This lyrical memoir describes the journey of grief, but more than that, it is a tribute to the people Eli and Dina Horowitz were in life. From their beginnings as dynamic and seeking youths to their choice to move from the United States to Israel to live in their homeland, from their meeting and deep lifelong love story to their struggles with infertility and endless love for their children, from their devoted learning of their spiritual tradition to their teaching and principled quest for peace, Sadan takes us through her parents’ lives, imparting who they were and the promise they left behind in their many students, children, and grandchildren. May their memory be for a blessing. “They represented the best of our role models in returning and building our homeland. Their story (Eli and Dina Horowitz) is movingly portrayed by their daughter Batsheva Sadan.” Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Batsheva Sadan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337327300918,"sku":"7801-26","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i339110.3398.jpg?v=1785318985"},{"product_id":"cooking-together-the-israeli-pantry","title":"Cooking Together – The Israeli Pantry","description":"\u003cp\u003eFood preparation allows us to bond regardless of where we live, as food is the cornerstone of any culture. In good times and in bad, food provides both joy and comfort. There is no better way to show support for each other than through food. Food preparation strengthens the unwritten bond between farmers and consumers. Farmers, through a labor of love, do everything in their power to grow top-quality produce providing consumers' nutritional security. The Western Negev has been doing this for decades, becoming the country's primary breadbasket. We pledge to buy their products and prepare wholesome dishes. We remain committed to supporting our farmers, and especially these days remembering what they and we went through as a society on that horrendous day. Our action and support provides them with the strength to carry on.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Foodie Israel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337331429686,"sku":"598-787","price":27.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i341024.94297.jpg?v=1785319093"},{"product_id":"the-october-7-war","title":"The October 7 War","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn the morning of October 7, life turned into one long, single day. Since that dramatic Saturday, I have been in a race to document the war and to tell a story bigger than all of us. Because after such inconceivable events, I think that without authentic documentation, we could one day struggle to believe that this happened, that in 2023, the State of Israel experienced the most dramatic tales of horror and heroism since the Holocaust. From that terrible morning until now, with the war still raging, I’ve been taking pictures day after day, some might say obsessively, out of a deep sense of mission – a combination of journalistic drive, historical perspective, and love for the country. I document what is happening with the understanding that this is different from anything I have photographed before; that this is one of the most difficult, complex, and emotional periods we have experienced since the establishment of the state; and that it is imperative to tell this extreme story as accurately and reliably as possible. It is no coincidence that the phrase “I’d rather be honest than impressive” is tattooed on my arm. We live in an era in which the use of editing software and artificial intelligence capabilities allows for easy manipulation and engineering of consciousness, causing people to lose the ability to distinguish between reality and illusion. In such a world, the importance of objective and reliable journalistic documentation committed to ethics, history, and truth is paramount. This mission is exhausting, not only because of the need to be wherever needed – even under fire and in life-threatening situations – but because after five months of war, I, too, am scarred by what I have experienced. On a personal level, I lost 15 friends and children of friends that cursed Saturday. I’ve documented atrocities in the Gaza Envelope communities, and I’ve interviewed warriors, wounded soldiers, survivors of the Nova festival, and rescue forces – all of them seared by trauma. I’ve seen tragedy before. I photographed mass graves in Bucha, Ukraine; in Haiti, Nepal, and Turkey, I documented the horrors of earthquakes. But here, in Beeri and Nachal Oz, in Kfar Aza, and at the site of the Nova music festival, the images I captured are more than just destruction; they are the embodiment of horror. Over and over again, I collected evidence of unimaginable cruelty and the pure evil of human monsters – a clash of civilizations in every sense of the word. Yet during these months, I have also experienced quite a few moving – even thrilling – moments. I’ve had the privilege of meeting with many of our wonderful soldiers who are bravely risking their lives and with civilian heroes who have faced incredible hardships: the courageous Mia Shem, who returned from Hamas captivity; Gali Segal and Ben Binyamin, an engaged couple who both lost their right legs at the Nova festival; Dr. Elai Hogeg Golan, who together with her husband Ariel saved their daughter Yael at the cost of severe burns. I’ve been privileged to tell so many stories. And yet, in this horrific cataclysm that began on October 7 and is still ongoing, so many stories have still not been told. Indeed, some will never be told. We live in such a visually documented age that it is easy to mistakenly think that what was not photographed did not happen. The events of October 7 are a national nightmare, parts of which will remain a kind of black hole. So many stories, tragedies, and human dramas occurred simultaneously on that dark day and were not photographed. The 400 photos chosen for the book out of the hundreds of thousands I took during these months are the “presence” that represents the “absence,” a reflection of the inherent failure to be everywhere at the same time, to document everything at every moment. That’s why I’ve made the unusual choice to dedicate space to those photographs that no one captured. To pay respect to some of those thousands of fateful moments that went undocumented and to the heroes of those moments. “The Photos Not Taken,” which concludes the book, is the monument I wish to erect in honor of those who were there and in memory of those who are no longer with us. For me, as a photographer who has had the privilege of documenting some of the most dramatic events in the world over the past 30 years, this is also a moment of bowing my head in the face of a reality stronger than all of us. A moment of humility.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ziv Koren (photography)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337335951670,"sku":"7801-73","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i343910.09811.jpg?v=1785319209"},{"product_id":"october-7-a-story-of-courage-and-resurrection","title":"OCTOBER 7 A Story of Courage and Resurrection","description":"\u003cp\u003eIs it a harrowing nightmare or a test of faith? The heartwarming festive lights of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) glowed at Gaya and her husband's home in Kibbutz Benjamin as the family gathered for Simchat Torah dinner. Just hours later, at 6:30 a.m., sirens pierced the air. Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza border in a coordinated assault that devastated border communities and turned the Nova music festival into a massacre. Dor was dragged from his bed with friends, forced toward Gaza, their lives overturned in an instant. For three hundred days, Leora, a ninety-four-year-old Holocaust survivor, endured captivity with others - young and old, wounded and bleeding. Stripped of food, air, and dignity, they survived in suffocating heat, sustained only by the responsibility they took for one another. Above ground, Chagai, an IDF combat pilot, faced a paralyzing dilemma: how to strike Hamas without endangering his twin brother Dor below. Meanwhile Captain Tal and his unit risked everything in desperate rescue attempts where hostages’ lives mattered more than their own. October 7: A Story of Courage and Resurrection is a historical-fiction novel inspired by the horrors of that day - a story of resilience, solidarity, and the tenacity of ordinary people who become heroes when darkness seems overwhelming.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tsafi Timor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337348239670,"sku":"7864-00","price":14.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i350532.14108.jpg?v=1785319571"},{"product_id":"october-7th-bearing-witness","title":"October 7th Bearing Witness","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe ‘October 7th’ book is more than just a collection of photographs; it is a historical record document encapsulating the immense tragedy and loss, pain, and darkness experienced on that fateful day, while also highlighting the resilience, courage, and unity of the Israeli people in the days and months that followed. Through a carefully curated narrative, October 7th will feature poignant letters from soldiers who have laid down their lives for their country since that day, alongside powerful eulogies delivered at funerals. These personal and poignant testimonies serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made and the enduring spirit of a nation. This book will stand as a testament to the events of October 7th ensuring they are never forgotten or denied; making true the solemn vow of NEVER AGAIN. The book will seek to engage, inform, and inspire a global audience, who value historical insight and appreciate the resilience embedded in the Israeli experience. By preserving these narratives, “October 7th” honors the shared struggle and the collective strength that resonate with anyone who values the stories of national endurance and human spirit. “This amazing photographic book tells the story of the greatest tragedy of our generation, but also the story of the resilience, determination, and hope of our people.” Natan Sharanski Reviews:\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chen G Schimmel (Photography)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337348895030,"sku":"d9120-99","price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i35119.410773.jpg?v=1785319590"},{"product_id":"the-chumash-of-heroes","title":"The Chumash of Heroes","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Chumash of Heroes is a beautifully designed Chumash, complete with Rashi and Onkelos, created to live in Jewish homes, shuls, and schools world-wide. Each parsha is dedicated to the heroes of October 7th and the Iron Swords War, weaving their memory into the weekly Torah reading. Alongside the text, readers will find a dvar Torah, a short biography, and words of remembrance. In this way, the stories of 821 kedoshim are preserved within the rhythm of Jewish life, allowing their names and legacies to continue alongside the Torah itself. It is a spiritual monument, a national act of memory, and a living legacy\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gefen Publishing House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337355022646,"sku":"7864-37","price":324.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i354378.08205.jpg?v=1785319743"},{"product_id":"ruptured","title":"Ruptured","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe world feels ruptured, but sometimes it is through the cracks that the light gets in. In this powerful collection of essays, thirty-six women, including Ramona Koval, Dani Valent, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Kerri Sackville, Deborah Conway and Rachelle Unreich, reveal how their lives in Australia were irrevocably changed by the events of October 7. From race-walker Jemima Montag’s account of competing in the Olympics as a Jewish athlete, to actress Dena Amy Kaplan encountering hostility when she speaks against Jew-hatred, and author Elise Esther Hearst’s attempts to find solace in making comedy, Ruptured is both an exploration of the profound rift created in the wake of that devastating day, and an attempt to mend it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lee Kofman and Tamar Paluch","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337356333366,"sku":"7864-34","price":23.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i35546.916739.jpg?v=1785319775"},{"product_id":"holy-moly-land","title":"Holy Moly Land","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou’re Right, It Didn’t Start on October 7. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is currently one of the most debated and emotional topics on social media. But beyond the headlines, protests, and political slogans lies a far more complex story — one rooted in history, identity, religion, displacement, trauma, nationalism, and competing narratives that stretch back generations. In Holy Moly Land, Ashley Waxman Bakshi takes readers on a deeply researched and highly accessible journey through the origins and evolution of the conflict, examining the events, ideologies, and historical turning points that continue to shape the Middle East today. From ancient connections to the land and the rise of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, to wars, terrorism, peace negotiations, media narratives, and the global polarization surrounding Israel and Palestine, the book untangles difficult topics in a way that is clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Blending history with personal experience, Ashley explores how identity, culture, and political narratives influence the way people understand the conflict — and why so many conversations around it become emotionally charged and deeply divisive. Rather than offering simplistic answers, Holy Moly Land invites readers to think critically, question assumptions, and better understand the human realities behind one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. Whether you are approaching this subject for the first time or have followed it for years, this book offers an informative, thought-provoking, and deeply personal perspective on a conflict that continues to shape global politics and public discourse\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ashley Waxman Bakshi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337358201142,"sku":"7864-31","price":24.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i355833.88433.jpg?v=1785319794"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.gefenpublishing.com\/collections\/books-that-capture-the-spirit-of-israel-october-7-2023.oembed","provider":"Gefen Publishing House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}