Media & Film
Publishing Israel: books that outlast the headlines
For two decades, Israel at Heart has helped publish books that preserve Israeli and Jewish history for readers, students, and libraries around the world, in a longstanding partnership with Gefen Publishing House.
For more than two decades, one of the ways Israel at Heart has strengthened Israel's place in the world is through storytelling.
Beyond the media headlines lies a rich tapestry of history, culture, innovation, resilience, and Jewish identity that deserves to be shared with international audiences in thoughtful and lasting ways. Unlike any other medium, books have the power to preserve ideas for generations, becoming resources for students, libraries, policymakers, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of Israel and the Jewish people.
To advance that vision, Israel at Heart developed a longstanding partnership with Gefen Publishing House, one of Israel's leading English-language publishers. Together, they helped bring to international readers a diverse collection of books with a common purpose: to present Israel in all its complexity, preserve important chapters of Jewish and Israeli history, and foster greater understanding through scholarship, personal stories, and enduring ideas.
State of Siege: User's Manual
Published during the height of the Second Intifada, State of Siege: User's Manual combines photographs, design, and short texts to capture something television cameras could not: the psychological experience of living under the constant threat of terrorism. The book explores the fear, uncertainty, and emotional toll that became part of everyday life for millions of Israelis.
The Golden Land and the Holy Land
With a foreword by President Isaac Herzog, historian Nathan A. Efrati presents the first comprehensive study of the relationship between American Jewry and the Jewish community in Ottoman Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel. The book traces how American Jews evolved from traditional charitable giving toward strategic philanthropy, helping build agricultural institutions, healthcare systems, and educational initiatives, and ultimately supporting the diplomatic efforts that paved the way for the Balfour Declaration.
We Are Black Jews
Journalist, attorney, and public policy expert Roni Fantanesh Malkai combines memoir, history, and social commentary to tell the remarkable story of Ethiopia's Beta Israel community. Having made the journey to Israel herself, Malkai offers readers an intimate perspective on centuries of Jewish resilience, the dramatic aliyah from Ethiopia, and the ongoing effort to build a more inclusive Israeli society.
“A subtle yet powerful chronicle of a supremely human story, one that has a great deal to teach Israeli society, and indeed any human society.”
Former Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman praised the book as a vital and compelling contribution to understanding one of the most extraordinary journeys in modern Jewish history.
Sounding the Alarm
Over two years, veteran Israeli journalist Shimon Shiffer held an extended series of conversations with Major General Amos Gilead (Res.), one of Israel's most influential intelligence and national security figures. Having served under five prime ministers and taken part in many of the country's defining security decisions, Gilead offers a rare insider's account of Middle Eastern diplomacy, intelligence, military strategy, and political leadership.
Rather than a traditional memoir, the book invites readers into the decision-making rooms where some of Israel's most consequential choices were made, offering lessons for anyone seeking to understand the region's strategic landscape.
My Israel: Seventy Faces of the Land
Inspired by a simple but profound question, “What place best represents your Israel?”, Chemi Peres and Ilan Greenfield invited around seventy Israelis from every walk of life to share a location that reflects their personal connection to the country. Scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, soldiers, and public figures each reveal a different landscape and a different perspective, creating a rich mosaic of Israeli society.
Beautifully illustrated and deeply personal, the book is a reminder that Israel cannot be understood through headlines alone. It is, ultimately, a story of people, memories, and places seen through many different eyes.
And Every Single One Was Someone
How can six million be understood as individual human beings rather than an incomprehensible statistic? That question inspired educator Phil Chernofsky to create one of the most unusual Holocaust remembrance projects ever published. Originally conceived as a teaching tool for his students, the book contains a single word, “Jew,” printed six million times, inviting readers to confront the scale of the Holocaust through its overwhelming physical presence.
Minimalist in design yet profound in impact, And Every Single One Was Someone reflects Israel at Heart's broader commitment to preserving memory in ways that speak not only to historians but to students, educators, and future generations who will carry these stories forward.
One purpose, many stories
Taken together, these publications show the breadth of Israel at Heart's vision. Some preserve history. Others celebrate diversity, explore national identity, or introduce readers to the people behind the headlines. Yet they share a common purpose: to create lasting works that help international audiences better understand Israel and the Jewish experience. Long after news stories fade, these books continue to educate, challenge, inspire, and build bridges, one reader at a time.
