Featured Books

by Ilan Stavans, Eko

Return of Carvajal, written by Ilan Stavans and featuring illustrations by the artist Eko, provides a detailed account of the historical significance and the eventual recovery of the memoirs belonging to Luis de Carvajal the Younger. Luis de Carvajal the Younger was a Marrano, or crypto-Jew, living in sixteenth-century colonial Mexico. His writings, which include his memoirs, letters, and a spiritual testament, are recognized by historians as the earliest known Jewish autobiography in the Americas. These documents offer a firsthand perspective on the religious persecution and secret Jewish practices occurring under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Inquisition in the New World. The narrative specifically examines the disappearance of these manuscripts from the National Archives of Mexico in 1932. For several decades, the location of the original documents remained unknown to the public and the academic community. The book chronicles the events surrounding their reappearance in 2016 when the manuscripts surfaced at an auction house in New York City. Following their identification by experts, the documents were repatriated to Mexico, an event that sparked renewed scholarly interest in Carvajal’s life and the broader history of the Sephardic diaspora in Latin America. Stavans and Eko utilize a collaborative format that blends historical analysis with visual storytelling. The text explores Carvajal’s trial and execution at the stake in 1596, while Eko’s illustrations provide a visual interpretation of the spiritual and physical struggles described in the memoirs. By documenting both the colonial-era origin of the texts and their twenty-first-century recovery, the work serves as a record of the preservation of Jewish cultural heritage. It details the provenance of the physical artifacts

by Matt Reingold

Education after October 7: Essays about Teaching and Learning in the Jewish Diaspora is a scholarly collection that investigates the pedagogical and institutional transformations occurring within Jewish educational settings across the globe. Published by Academic Studies Press in 2024

by Tannenbaum Chana

Conceived in Hope: The Struggles of Biblical Mothers in the Tapestry of Redemption examines the pivotal roles played by female figures in the Hebrew Bible and their influence on the historical trajectory of the Jewish people. The work focuses on the intersection of personal maternal experiences and the broader theological framework of the Abrahamic covenant. It provides a detailed analysis of figures such as Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah, tracing how their individual actions and decisions shaped the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel. The text explores the socio-cultural constraints placed upon these women and how they navigated patriarchal structures to ensure the continuity of their families. The narrative delves into the recurring theme of barrenness and the subsequent divine intervention that characterizes many of these accounts. By examining the lives of women like Hannah and Hagar, the book illustrates the diversity of maternal experiences within the biblical canon. It addresses the complexities of polygamy, domestic rivalry, and the legal status of women in the ancient Near East. Each chapter serves as a case study, utilizing close readings of the Masoretic Text to highlight the agency exercised by these mothers in moments of national and spiritual crisis. Furthermore, the work situates these personal struggles within the larger tapestry of redemption, arguing that the biological and social labor of these women was foundational to the unfolding of sacred history. The analysis extends beyond mere biography to consider the symbolic importance of the mother figure in Jewish thought and literature. The book maintains a focus on the historical and literary context of the scriptures, providing an academic overview of how maternal narratives contribute to the overarching themes of promise and fulfillment found throughout the Old Testament.

by Elkana (Kuno) Cohen, Mark R. Levin

Oct 7: The War Against Hamas Through the Eyes of an Israeli Commando Officer, co-authored by Elkana (Kuno) Cohen and Mark R. Levin, provides a first-person perspective on the events surrounding the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and the subsequent military response. The book documents the experiences of Cohen, an officer in the Maglan unit, which is an elite special forces division of the Israel Defense Forces specializing in operations behind enemy lines and high-intensity urban combat. The narrative begins with the initial mobilization of reserve and active-duty forces following the breach of the Gaza-Israel border and follows the unit's deployment to southern Israeli communities and the later ground maneuvers within the Gaza Strip. The text offers a detailed account of the tactical engagements and operational challenges faced by Israeli commandos during the first phases of the conflict. It describes the specific weaponry, communication protocols, and strategic decision-making processes employed by the IDF in response to the coordinated assault. Beyond the immediate combat descriptions, the book incorporates a chronological reconstruction of the day’s events, utilizing Cohen’s personal observations to illustrate the scale of the military engagement. Mark R. Levin, a legal scholar and commentator, contributes to the work by providing broader geopolitical and historical context to Cohen’s tactical account. The collaboration aims to synthesize individual battlefield experiences with an analysis of the intelligence and security landscape of the region. The book serves as a primary source record of the military actions taken by special operations units during the initial weeks of the war, focusing on the logistical and combat realities of modern asymmetric warfare.

by Lihi Ben Shitrit

Gates of Gaza: Critical Voices from Israel on October 7 and the War with Hamas examines the societal, political, and psychological landscape of Israel in the wake of the 2023 Hamas-led attacks. The work serves as

by Chuck Schumer

Antisemitism in America: A Warning provides an examination of the rise in anti-Jewish prejudice within the United States, focusing specifically on the period following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. The work analyzes the statistical increase in reported incidents of harassment, vandalism, and physical assault as documented by civil rights organizations and law enforcement agencies. It explores the manifestation of these sentiments across diverse environments, including institutions of higher education, where tensions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have led to significant campus unrest and shifts in administrative policies regarding student conduct and speech. The text investigates the ideological roots of contemporary antisemitism, tracing its presence within various political and social movements. It examines how traditional tropes have been adapted for modern digital platforms, contributing to the rapid dissemination of conspiracy theories and exclusionary rhetoric. By documenting specific case studies from late 2023 and early 2024, the book illustrates the impact of international geopolitical events on domestic communal safety and social cohesion. It highlights the ways in which online discourse translates into real-world actions and the resulting pressure on Jewish communities to navigate public spaces. Furthermore, the publication addresses the legislative and legal responses to this trend, detailing efforts at the federal and state levels to define and combat antisemitic behavior through policy changes and increased security funding. It provides a historical framework for understanding the current climate, comparing modern developments to previous eras of heightened prejudice in American history. Through this lens, the work evaluates the effectiveness of existing institutional protections and the evolving nature of public discourse regarding Jewish identity and security in the twenty-first century.

by Robert Spencer

Antisemitism: History and Myth provides a chronological examination of the origins, development, and persistence of anti-Jewish sentiment from antiquity to the twenty-first century. Robert Spencer traces the evolution of these ideologies across various religious and political landscapes, analyzing how specific narratives and misconceptions have been utilized to justify the marginalization or persecution of Jewish populations. The text offers an overview of the phenomenon, beginning with the pre-Christian era and moving through the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the modern industrial age to document the continuity of certain tropes. The book details the theological foundations of antisemitism within early Christianity and Islam, exploring how specific interpretations of religious texts contributed to institutionalized discrimination. Spencer examines the transition from religious-based prejudice to the racial and pseudoscientific theories that emerged during the nineteenth century. This shift facilitated the rise of political antisemitism, which utilized mass media and propaganda to disseminate long-standing myths, such as the blood libel and allegations of global financial conspiracies. The narrative further investigates the role of these myths in the twentieth century, specifically focusing on the impact of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and the subsequent implementation of state-sponsored violence during the Holocaust. Spencer also addresses the contemporary landscape, analyzing how historical tropes have been adapted into modern political discourse and international relations. By documenting the recurrence of specific themes, the work illustrates how ancient prejudices are repurposed to fit modern socio-political contexts, ensuring their survival into the current era.

by Jacques Givet

The anti-Zionist complex, authored by Jacques Givet and published in 1982 by SBS Publications, provides an analytical examination of the ideological and psychological frameworks surrounding opposition to the State of Israel. Originally published in French in 1978 under the title Le complexe d'anti-Israel, the work investigates the evolution of political discourse regarding Jewish sovereignty during the mid-to-late twentieth century. Givet, a French journalist and intellectual, focuses his inquiry on the period following the 1967 Six-Day War, a time when international perceptions of the Middle East conflict underwent significant shifts in both academic and diplomatic circles. The text explores the transition from classical antisemitism

by Einat Wilf, Adi Schwartz

War of Return: The Battle over the Palestinian Refugee Problem, written by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf and published by St. Martin’s Press in 2020, examines the history and political implications of the Palestinian demand for a right of return to the State of Israel. The authors, Schwartz, a journalist and researcher, and Wilf, a former member of the Israeli Knesset, argue that the persistence of the refugee issue is the primary obstacle to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They trace the origins of the problem back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the subsequent displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, analyzing how the status of these individuals has evolved over several decades. A significant portion of the book focuses on the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Schwartz and Wilf analyze how UNRWA’s mandate differs from that of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which handles

by Edwin Black

The Farhud: Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust, written by investigative journalist Edwin Black, provides an in-depth analysis of the June 1941 pogrom against the Jewish population of Baghdad, Iraq. The book situates this violent event within the broader geopolitical landscape of World War II, specifically focusing on the intersection of British colonial interests, Iraqi nationalism, and Nazi Germany’s strategic ambitions in the Middle East. Black details how the pogrom occurred during a power vacuum following the collapse of the pro-Axis government led by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and the flight of the Golden Square officers. The narrative examines the ideological influence of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who sought a formal alliance with the Third Reich to oppose British influence and Jewish migration to Mandatory Palestine. According to the text, Nazi propaganda and the dissemination of Arabic translations of Mein Kampf played a significant role in radicalizing local sentiments, leading to the two-day outbreak of violence known as the Farhud. During this period, hundreds of Jewish residents were killed, many more were injured, and significant amounts of property were looted or destroyed. Furthermore, the book explores the strategic importance of Iraqi oil and the Berlin-to-Baghdad railway in the context of the global conflict. Black argues that the Farhud was not an isolated incident of communal strife but rather a localized manifestation of the Holocaust’s reach into the Arab world. By tracing the historical roots of these alliances, the work documents the systematic displacement of Iraq’s Jewish community, which had existed for over two millennia, and analyzes the long-term demographic shifts that followed in the region.

by FREEMAN

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by Jeffrey Herf

Nazi propaganda for the Arab world examines the systematic efforts by the Third Reich to disseminate National Socialist ideology throughout North Africa and the Middle East between 1939 and 1945. The work focuses on the institutional frameworks established by

by Edwin Black

The Transfer Agreement—25th Anniversary Edition, authored by Edwin Black, provides a detailed historical investigation into the 1933 Haavara Agreement. This pact was established between the Third Reich and the Zionist leadership in Mandatory Palestine during the early months of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. The book examines the specific economic and diplomatic mechanisms that allowed German Jews to emigrate to Palestine while preserving a portion of their wealth. This was achieved through a complex clearinghouse system where Jewish assets were used to purchase German-manufactured goods for export to Palestine, thereby bypassing certain currency restrictions and providing the Nazi regime with needed foreign trade. The narrative explores the period from the agreement's inception in 1933 through the outbreak of World War II in 1939. It documents the intense internal debates within the global Jewish community, particularly the conflict between the proponents of a worldwide economic boycott of Nazi Germany and those who prioritized the rescue of German Jewry and the development of the Yishuv. The text highlights the roles of various organizations, including the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Anglo-Palestine Bank, in managing the logistics of the transfer. Black’s research details how the agreement facilitated the migration of approximately 60,000 German Jews and the transfer of roughly 100 million dollars in assets. The book also addresses the geopolitical implications of the arrangement, including its effect on the British Mandate's immigration policies and the broader international response to the persecution of Jews in Germany. This anniversary edition includes additional documentation and a preface that contextualizes the research within historical scholarship.

by Oren Kessler

Palestine 1936, authored by Oren Kessler, provides a detailed historical account of the three-year period of civil unrest and armed insurgency known as the Great Revolt. This conflict occurred within British Mandate Palestine between

by Ari Shavit

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit provides a chronological exploration of the Zionist movement and the development of the State of Israel, spanning from the late nineteenth century to the early 2010s. Published in 2013, the work blends personal narrative, historical research, and investigative journalism to examine the complexities of the Israeli experience. Shavit, a long-time columnist for the newspaper Haaretz, structures the book around pivotal moments and specific locations that define the nation’s identity. The narrative begins with the 1897 arrival of the author’s great-grandfather at the port of Jaffa, serving as a lens through which to view the early aspirations and challenges of European Zionism. The text proceeds through the twentieth century, detailing the establishment of early agricultural settlements and the subsequent conflicts that shaped the region. A significant portion of the book focuses on the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, specifically examining

by Michael Makovsky

Churchill's Promised Land: Zionism and Statecraft, authored by Michael Makovsky, provides a comprehensive examination of Winston Churchill's lifelong engagement with the Zionist movement. The work situates Churchill's support for a Jewish national home within the broader context of British imperial interests and his own evolving political philosophy. Makovsky traces this relationship from Churchill's early political career in Manchester, where he first encountered a significant Jewish constituency, through his tenure as Colonial Secretary and his leadership during the Second World War. The book argues that Churchill's Zionism was not a static ideology but a multifaceted conviction shaped by historical, strategic, and personal factors. It explores how he viewed the Jewish people as a vital link in Western civilization and a potential ally in securing British influence in the Middle East. The narrative details specific policy decisions, such as the 1922 White Paper, which attempted to balance Zionist aspirations with Arab concerns and British administrative requirements. Furthermore, the text analyzes the tensions between Churchill's pro-Zionist sentiments and the practical constraints of statecraft. It examines his interactions with key Zionist figures like Chaim Weizmann and his reactions to the shifting geopolitical landscape after 1945. By utilizing archival research and historical analysis, the work illustrates how Churchill's perspectives influenced the trajectory of British policy in Mandatory Palestine and the eventual emergence of the State of Israel. The analysis concludes that while Churchill remained a consistent supporter of the Zionist cause, his actions were frequently tempered by the immediate needs of the British Empire and the complexities of international diplomacy.

by Kenneth Abramowitz

Multifront War: Defending America from Political Islam, China, Russia, Pandemics, and Racial Strife, authored by Gordon G. Chang, presents an analysis of the diverse security challenges confronting the United States in the modern era. The text identifies a series of simultaneous threats that the author argues are converging to test the resilience of the American state. By examining both external geopolitical adversaries and internal societal fractures, the book provides a comprehensive overview of a complex security landscape. The author focuses significantly on the rise of China and the resurgence of Russia as primary state actors seeking to undermine American global influence. The narrative explores how these powers utilize unconventional warfare, economic leverage, and cyber operations to achieve their strategic objectives. Additionally, the book addresses the persistent threat posed by political Islam, categorizing it as an ideological challenge that continues to impact international stability and domestic safety. Beyond traditional state-based conflicts, the text delves into the implications of biological threats and internal social instability. The discussion on pandemics highlights the vulnerabilities exposed by global health crises and their potential to disrupt national infrastructure. Furthermore, the analysis of racial strife examines how domestic divisions can be exploited by foreign adversaries to weaken the social fabric of the country. By synthesizing these varied issues, the work illustrates a multifaceted crisis that requires a coordinated defensive strategy across multiple domains.

by Robert R. Reilly

The Closing of the Muslim Mind: How Intellectual Suicide Created the Modern Islamist Crisis by Robert R. Reilly examines the historical and theological foundations of contemporary Islamic fundamentalism. The work focuses on a specific period in the history of Islamic doctrines where a struggle over the role of reason ultimately reshaped the intellectual life of Islamic countries. The book traces a pivotal conflict within Islamic civilization nearly a millennium ago between two competing theological schools: the Mu’tazilites, who advocated for the primacy of reason and the existence of natural law, and the Ash’arites, who prioritized the absolute will of God over rational inquiry. The narrative explores how the eventual victory of Ash’arism led to a rejection of Hellenistic philosophy and the de-emphasis of cause and effect in the natural world. This shift in doctrine is presented as the primary cause for the decline of scientific inquiry and the emergence of a specific spiritual pathology. The text analyzes how this theological framework influenced the development of Islamic doctrines regarding morality, law, and politics, leading to what the author describes as a deeply dysfunctional culture. In analyzing the long-term consequences of this intellectual shift, the book addresses the

by Joseph Telushkin

Joseph Telushkin’s Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History provides an expansive examination of Jewish life, faith, and historical development. This 768-page volume is structured into hundreds of concise entries, each focusing on a specific person, event, concept, or law central to the Jewish experience. The work is organized chronologically and thematically, beginning with the biblical era and progressing through the development of the Talmud, the Middle Ages, and the modern period. The text covers a wide range of subjects, including the origins of the Jewish people, the significance of the Holocaust, and the establishment of the State of Israel. It also details the fundamental tenets of Jewish belief, such as the concept of monotheism, the importance of the

by David Baddiel

David Baddiel’s God Desire examines the psychological tension between intellectual atheism and the emotional longing for a higher power. The book functions as a philosophical inquiry into the nature of belief, specifically focusing on the premise that a desire for God is the primary reason for the invention of religion. Baddiel positions himself as a reluctant atheist, one who finds the lack of a divine presence to be a source of existential melancholy rather than a form of intellectual liberation. The central thesis of the work posits that the intensity of human yearning for a cosmic protector serves as evidence against the actual existence of such a being. Baddiel argues that because humans find the prospect of non-existence and the randomness of the universe intolerable, they have constructed the concept of God as a psychological balm. This perspective draws on the idea that if something is too perfectly aligned with human wishes—such as the promise of an afterlife or a moral judge—it is likely a projection of those wishes designed to mitigate fear. Published as part of the Big Ideas series, the text avoids the aggressive rhetoric often associated with contemporary secularism. Instead, it focuses on the internal conflict of an individual who values rationalism but remains susceptible to the comfort provided by religious frameworks. Baddiel explores how the fear of death and the need for ultimate meaning drive the persistence of faith, even in an increasingly secular age. The book concludes that while the desire for God is a fundamental and perhaps inescapable part of the human experience, it does not validate the objective truth of religious claims.

by Grant Cardone

The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure, authored by Grant Cardone and published by John Wiley & Sons in 2011, presents a comprehensive framework for achieving significant results in business and personal endeavors. The central thesis of the book posits that individuals must set targets that are ten times greater than what they believe is necessary and execute actions at ten times the prevailing standard. This approach is designed to overcome the common tendency to underestimate the effort and resources required to reach a specific objective. Cardone categorizes human behavior into four distinct levels of action: doing nothing, retreating, taking normal levels of action, and taking massive action. The text argues that most people operate within the first three categories, which often leads to mediocrity or failure when faced with unexpected economic shifts or competitive challenges. By contrast, the fourth level, massive action, is presented as the primary method for