David H.—When , one of the most important voices today about Palestinianism, UNRWA, and the nature of Zionism, submitted her path-breaking 2023 Jewish Priorities essay “Zionism as Therapy,” I knew it was worth expanding. Teaching Zionism: Reflections from a Skeptical Classroom (Wicked Son), walks you through a course she taught in 2021 at Georgetown University, which had a simple goal of exploring Zionist thinking from its earliest phases, and pairing it with objections to Zionism coming from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writers. As I explain in the foreword to the book, we discover two crucial things: First, that Zionism began not as a political platform but rather as a critique of Jewish life after many centuries of exile—and second, that this critique resonates powerfully among Jewish students today. The book follows the course, its primary sources, and the reactions of students, and includes a curriculum that can easily be replicated.

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At the same time, , director of the Jewish Education Project and a Z3 fellow, has written a fabulous work aimed specifically at educators. Heroism and Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7 World (Wicked Son) explores the unique position Israel education finds itself in, along with the author’s own personal story as an educator, and reaches a powerful-conclusion: That ultimately the aim of teaching Israel to Diaspora student’s isn’t to make them better advocates against anti-Zionism or scholars of the Jewish state’s history, but foremost to help them find their own Jewish self-understanding through their exposure to Israel.

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Both books are available now on Amazon and other stores, and are published by Z3 in collaboration with Wicked Son Books. Through our fellowship program, we help authors develop and bring to publication a range of books covering the future of Jewish life. To take a look at all Z3 books click here:

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David H.—If you aren’t familiar with Izabella Tabarovsky, you should be. She has been one of the most important voices exposing the Soviet origins of today’s antizionism (see examples here, here, and here.) She’s also a Senior Fellow at the Z3 Institute, and author of a powerful new book, Be a Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide, that combines her scholarship with interviews and great writing to produce a fascinating retelling of the story of the Refuseniks, the strategies they employed, and how those strategies are being put into practice on American campuses today.

By juxtaposing the stories of the original Refuseniks with the stories of young activists, the book brings those Jewish heroes from decades ago, many of whom were themselves in their 20s and 30s, back to life—while giving a wonderful guide to students who want to emulate their heroism.

It also acts as a great companion volume to Young Zionist Voices, which we published a year ago. Some of the students profiled in Be a Refusenik also contributed to that book, including Shabbos Kestenbaum, Noah Shufutinsky, Eyal Yakoby, Adela Cojab, and Alissa Bernstein.

Be a Refusenik is published by the Z3 Project together with Wicked Son books, and is available on Amazon here:

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SAVE THE DATE: I’m delighted that Izabella will join me at the Menachem Begin Center, along with Natan Sharansky and Noah Shufutinsky, on January 5, 2026. Stay tuned for ticket info!

How to Be a Refusenik

David H.—Across the Diaspora, Jews are facing questions of physical security and the long-term viability of their communities. Do we wait for the antisemitic storm to pass? Do we make plans to move to Israel or elsewhere? Or is there a third option, to stay and fight?

Benjamin Kerstein, a longtime friend and colleague of mine, and now an Associate Fellow at the Z3 Institute, has written a powerful book arguing for the third option. In SELF-DEFENSE, he goes deep into both the nature of the moment we’re in and the pervasive Jewish culture that blinds us to the merits and possibility of fighting back—not just spiritually and politically, but also physically. Is it “goyish” to buy a gun, to bulk up and learn to fight, or to embrace not just “security” but also offensive strategies that take the fight to the enemy? Or has self-defense, in all its forms, always been fundamental to Jewish identity?

After the murderous attacks in Washington DC, Boulder, Manchester, and elsewhere, it feels like the threat of violence against Jews is everywhere. Is there something we can do about it? If you care about this question, you must read this book now. Order here:

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Also I’m also delighted that the author will appear at the upcoming Z3 Conference in Palo Alto on November 9. There are still tickets available! Get them here:

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