Rabbi Alan Silverstein’s Israel’s War of Self-Defense is a clear and carefully structured guide to understanding one of the most consequential issues facing Israel and the Jewish world today. Drawing on decades of rabbinic leadership, Jewish scholarship, and communal advocacy, Rabbi Silverstein addresses the central questions surrounding Israel’s right to defend itself and the moral, legal, and historical context that shapes modern conflict.

The book gathers his essays and explanations written across years of public teaching and includes reflections on events, misunderstandings in media coverage, hasbarah challenges, and the lived experiences of Israelis and Diaspora Jews. The tone remains steady and factual, giving readers language, clarity, and grounding at a time when the public conversation often feels rushed or distorted.

Inside, Rabbi Silverstein also brings forward personal stories—such as a moving tribute to Michael Levin z”l, the American-born lone soldier who fell in the Second Lebanon War—demonstrating how individual lives illuminate the broader story of Israel’s resilience and purpose. These moments give the book emotional depth while reinforcing its central message: that understanding Israel’s struggle requires listening to the people who live it.

Specifications:

• Author: Rabbi Alan Silverstein, PhD
• Publisher: Gefen Publishing House (Jerusalem / New York)
• Format: Hardcover