Books published by Gefen Publishing House

A baby girl is born in the middle of the Second World War, and survives in a miraculous way thanks to the determination of her mother and the good-heartedness of simple people. An Israeli woman abandons her protected life and goes for a quest in the trail of her father, whom she has not recognized. An old Polish man that she meets in Krakow, is contributory to her research, and maybe actually complicates it. A touching, thrilling book that interlaces universal origins: the unbreakable relations between past and present , between Jewish and Israel characteristics, between parents and their children and vice-versa. It teaches a valuable lesson of victory of the optimism on the laxity of the spirit and hopelessness.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, much of its Jewish population emigrated. But those who remained were often disconnected from Judaism. It was into this vacuum that Hillel stepped in, gradually building a network of Hillel centers across the Former Soviet Union, serving tens of thousands of Jewish students - both those who retained a Jewish identity but more significantly those who had become alienated and estranged from their roots - and creating a Jewish future in the FSU. Rabbi Yossie Goldman led Hillel's efforts to rebuild Jewish identity among university age students in the Former Soviet Union. In Let My People Grow, Goldman tells the story of Hillel in the FSU from its humble beginnings in Moscow, and its first steps and missteps in the chaos that followed the fall of communism through to nourishing an indigenous Jewish leadership that sustains the community to this day. How does one celebrate Jewish holy days in a meaningful way that speaks to students whose experience with traditional Jewish ritual is limited at best? How does one engage Jewish young people, who literally only yesterday had discovered that they are Jews? How does one embrace them with love and respect for Jewish traditions, heritage and people, and how does one create the building blocks of community? In a journey across time and across the Former Soviet Union with its myriad languages, cultures and Jewish communities, Goldman answers these questions and more, questions that he could not have known the answers to when he started out on that journey. But as Goldman tells us: The best way to predict the future is to create it.

The New Queen of Sheba pays tribute to the stunning embroidery art of the Ethiopian Jewish community and their epic journey to Israel through the eyes of a young girl named Malka and her classmates.

What would motivate a successful corporate lawyer to trade in his comfortable life in America for three weeks every year to volunteer for manual labor on Israeli military bases? This book is based on journals he kept during 14 volunteer Sar-el stints on Israeli military bases from 2006 to 2019.

Dr. Israel Drazin reveals fascinating information about Elijah. Among much else, he reveals that the Bible depicts him as being overzealous, hardly ever showing an interest in helping people, and totally different than the Elijah who appears in the legends of post-biblical literature. In these he is kind, and generally very friendly to people. God was not satisfied with the biblical Elijah and God criticized and punished him. Were the fifteen events in which Elijah was involved miracles or natural events? Most are easy to explain as natural events; some are more difficult to do so. Did God order Elijah to perform the acts? The Bible does not say so. The only times that Elijah was ordered by an angel or God to do something was when he was told to go somewhere, and these instructions could be understood as Elijah having the idea. Nearly all Elijah's acts were done because of his overzealous love of God and his abhorrence of idol worship, and apparently show no warm feelings toward people. Yet, the Biblical book Malachi is held by many to prophesy the coming of the prophet Elijah centuries after his death or ascension to heaven. This, despite the fact, as Dr. Drazin shows, Malachi's prophecy does not seem to deal with the messianic age, but with a resolution of the problems caused by intermarriage. Malachi states, "Behold, I will send to you Eliyah the prophet before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the heart of fathers to children, and the heart of children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction." These words have nothing to do with a messianic age and the legendary Elijah who generally helps people in distress is totally different from the overzealous biblical Elijah with whom God was displeased.

Color Me Fit: Nutrition and Fitness for Kids is an activity book for children ages seven to twelve that covers key topics in nutrition and fitness. Along with games, activities and original cartoon characters, it provides information that enables young people to make more informed choices. Its interactive format creates an opportunity for children and adults to share ideas and perspectives about nutrition and fitness. Color Me Fit encourages children to focus on both healthy eating habits and importance of being active as they grow.

Justice in the West Bank? The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Goes to Court is the first-ever insider look at the Israeli military's West Bank justice system for Palestinians.

This book, based on four years of on-the-ground reporting, research in ten countries in the Middle East, a thousand hours of interviews with key players and access to generals, spies, policymakers, soldiers and refugees, is the first comprehensive look at the defeat of ISIS and the future reshaping of the Middle East. It provides a unique window into the battle for the heart and soul of the Muslim world and lays out why we need to be informed about changes on the ground after the defeat of ISIS. More than seventy countries are members of the international coalition formed in 2014 to defeat Islamic State (ISIS). After ISIS provides a sobering blueprint for how the US and regional powers will re-shape the region in years to come. Understanding these events and the choices ahead will determine if ISIS and similar ideologies reemerge, whether a new war between the US, its allies and Iran comes in the wake of ISIS, or if a younger generation of leaders can carve out a new Middle East. As ISIS recedes, the world is at a unique historic crossroads in the Middle East. Decisions made now in the region and in Washington matter more than ever. Tehran and the US are increasingly on a collision course to struggle over the vacuum left behind by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. This book, based on four years of on-the-ground reporting, research in ten countries in the Middle East, a thousand hours of interviews with key players and access to generals, spies, policymakers, soldiers and refugees, is the first comprehensive look at the defeat of ISIS and the future reshaping of the Middle East. It provides a unique window into the battle for the heart and soul of the Muslim world and lays out why we need to be informed about changes on the ground after the defeat of ISIS. More than seventy countries are members of the international coalition formed in 2014 to defeat Islamic State (ISIS). After ISIS provides a sobering blueprint for how the US and regional powers will re-shape the region in years to come. Understanding these events and the choices ahead will determine if ISIS and similar ideologies reemerge, whether a new war between the US, its allies and Iran comes in the wake of ISIS, or if a younger generation of leaders can carve out a new Middle East. As ISIS recedes, the world is at a unique historic crossroads in the Middle East. Decisions made now in the region and in Washington matter more than ever. Tehran and the US are increasingly on a collision course to struggle over the vacuum left behind by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

This eye-opening and thought-provoking book covers what the Torah states about life after death, the soul, the world to come, sin, repentance, rational and mystical views on immortality, resurrection, and the age of the universe, what if anything we must believe, changes that occurred in our concept of God, multiple violations of Torah laws by biblical persons (even prophets), misunderstandings about the Ten Commandments, prophecies that were not fulfilled, biblical and other ancient Jewish books that were neglected or rejected, humor in the Bible, the portrayal of biblical figures with their faults, and changing biblical laws and rabbinical customs. It explains that the siddur is not what people think it is and contains mystical additions, and it offers different views about the value of prayer. It talks about Judaisms first philosopher, contacts with non-Jewish cultures that changed Judaism, surprising elements in Ecclesiastes, and the nontraditional views of Orthodox thinkers such as Rashbam, Nachman Krochmal, J. B. Soloveitchik, David Hartman, Nathan Lopes Cardozo, and others. It describes what most people do not know about Maimonides and clarifies his view on Midrashim, why they were written and their value today. It reveals that people are punished despite repentance and that false prophets can still prophesy. It examines the Torah and holy books, conversion, and intermarriage, and the impact of foreign cultures on Jewish practices and halakha. It analyses mysticism and atheism; the values of secular culture; the views of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and his Mesillat Yesharim, and of Arnold Ehrlich; and it explores Nietzsche, Gersonides, and Maimonides views on faith and the Bible.

This book reveals the secrets behind the entrepreneurship craze of Israel''s young generation, the engine that''s leading the innovation train. Readers go behind the scenes of Israeli success through the amazing story of Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari, and Yonatan Weintraub, the three youths behind Project Beresheet, the first Israeli spacecraft that went all the way to the moon. Ten years after the phenomenal sensation of Start-Up Nation, we decided to investigate the source of Israeli-Jewish achievement from a fresh viewpoint. For the first time ever, we explain how the chaotic, audacious cultural style that has given Israelis a bad name around the world has taken a surprising turn in recent years. Israels culture has become a significant component of the success of young entrepreneurs operating in a knowledge-rich environment. In this book, we open a window onto the mysteries of the Israeli-Jewish innovation greenhouse. We explain how the young generation in Israel is essentially continuing the epic journey begun by their biblical forefather Abraham. Generous helpings of chutzpah and the Jewish talent for endless argument enable Israel''s youth to dare to dream big. Against almost all odds, they can fall down and get up again. They can fail and then start over from the beginning (''Beresheet'' in Hebrew). The story of the Beresheet spacecraft and its three founders is a microcosm of the larger story of this pioneering generation of young, daring entrepreneurs of the State of Israel. In a broader prism, it represents the essence of this tiny nation. Since the day of its establishment, Israel has functioned within a state of chaos -- yet it continues to win. This is also the story of a people with unique social characteristics, which sanctifies military culture but refuses to accept authority. The Jewish nation is not afraid to take its complaints all the way up to the highest rank -- God himself, while carefully maintaining an ancient and profound relationship with the moon as one of His influential creations. This book also offers revealing insights into how the State of Israel integrates religious conservativism with groundbreaking technological creativity. As Israeli youth sing in the lyrics of a popular song, He who believes is not afraid. Readers will relish the intimate details given by young Israeli entrepreneurs and the viewpoints of veteran innovators, based on personal conversations with the authors and interviews they granted to Israeli public media. This book is also the first time that Yariv, Kfir, and Yonatan share their unbelievable personal story with the general public. Their journey begins with a funny Facebook post and takes us through the decision to send a spacecraft to the moon despite no previous knowledge or financial means. By the time we reach the tension-filled landing, the entire nation is moonstruck.

The leadership philosophy of Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch is condensed into eighteen crucial lessons: Find Your Inner Voice Cultivate Steadfastness Demonstrate Backbone Adopt the "We before I" Attitude Envision the Actual and the Possible (Two Pictures) Inspire Vision Prepare to Pay a Price Play Each Role as Your Last Know That Values Determine Results Develop Knowledge for Decision Making Empower Your Professionalism via Learning Be First among Equals (Two-Millimeter Leadership) Protect Your People Always Accomplish the Mission Create a Leadership-Developing.

Rabbi Dr. Nathan Drazin was a born storyteller. In his synagogue, every Saturday evening, just before the end of the Sabbath, a huge crowd of people would sit down at a very long table for the traditional seudah shelishit meal. When they finished eating, Rabbi Dr. Drazin would tell them a story. This book, written in the 1940s and brought to the reading public now for the first time, records some of those enthralling stories of our ancestors, bringing Jewish lore alive in an animated recounting of the origin and lifetime of the father of the Jewish people. Children will enjoy these fascinating midrashic tales about Abraham's birth and miraculous upbringing, his struggle against the worship of idols, his survival of attempts to kill him, his dealings with his mother Amtaelai and his father Terah the seller of idols as well as the wicked King Nimrod, and much more.

This book will give people an inside glimpse of the Israeli army from a religious point of view. Parents from abroad will appreciate what Israeli parents go through as they deliver their children, to the army, burdening them with the awesome and overbearing responsibility of preserving the Jewish world.

"Dr. Zvi Feine served the Jewish communities of Romania and Poland as country director for the Joint Distribution Community during those two countries respective transitions from Communist rule. This memoir of his work under the constraints of communism, through the violent December 1989 revolution in Romania and the more peaceful transition in Poland, and in the aftermath of transition to democracy describes the challenges of effective communal service in turbulent times. The mission of the JDC was to support and partner with the Jewish communities that remained after the devastation of the Holocaust, sustaining the Jews of Eastern Europe with material and communal assistance. Dr. Feine relates poignant and harrowing memories of working under the constant surveillance of the Securitate secret service agency and dealing with the aftermath of the revolution and the resistance to change, all the while navigating a complex and delicate web of history, religious and cultural mores, personalities, ideals, and hopes. Illustrated here are numerous principles of communal work, including the importance of understanding the cultural context, resource and leadership development, and the crucial role that lay leaders can play. Communal workers in the Jewish community and beyond will benefit from Dr. Feines accumulated wisdom over a lifetime of community service in positions all over the globe."