From well-known leaders making life-and-death decisions to ordinary people who have overcome incredible loss to do inspirational things, meet the Israelis who thrive against all odds and learn how you can too.
ISResilience is a study of a nation that has had to collectively and individually hang tough like no other country on earth. Imbued in Israel’s DNA is the understanding that survival isn’t optional – it’s a necessity. Any Israeli could have given testimony for this book. Israelis routinely carry on with their day-to-day lives not just when things are calm and peaceful but when rockets are launched at them, during official conflicts and wars and unofficial waves of gruesome terrorism. And they don’t just survive – they thrive.
Each chapter of this book profiles a diverse, compelling Israeli personality – some famous, some not, but all exceptional – and traces the characteristic that unites them all. The life lessons extrapolated from these interviewees can teach every one of us to be stronger people. Written by a communications expert and Israel analyst together with a pioneering psychologist in the field of resilience research and treatment, ISResilience brings today’s most in-demand skill to life and shows how we all can benefit from the trait embodied by the nation once admired by Princess Diana as “a plucky little country.”
Absorb yourself in the stories of people who:
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toughed it out in a Soviet Gulag to emerge a human rights icon
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overcame disability to pioneer tech helping paraplegics walk again
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fell from the sky, beating death and emerging an Olympic hero
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withstood 90% body burns to lead an iconic victory in battle
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survived the Nazis turning from child orphan refugee to spiritual leader
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broke through the glass ceiling to become a female Colonel
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went from having limbs blown off to winning high office
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overcame death threats to find his voice as an Arab in the Jewish State
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climbed Mount Everest to forgo reaching the peak in order to save a life
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gave up NBA fame to take a tiny country to basketball glory
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got elected to parliament, refusing to have others in her community define what a women could achieve
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turned unbearable grief into a promise to ease the pain of others
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walked barefoot from Africa to reach the Promised Land
...and learn the keys to their resilience.
PRAISE FOR "ISRESILIENCE"
“I have long marveled at the ability of Israelis to face adversity and move beyond it. In “ISRESILIENCE”, Michael Dickson and Naomi Baum tell compelling stories that illustrate this remarkable Israeli national characteristic. This wonderful book profiles inspiring Israelis and their spirit, with a message that will resonate for everyone. Israel has been referred to in many ways – from ancient times as the Holy Land, to modern times as the Start-Up Nation. Now this book gives the Israeli people a new name that they have earned -- “ISRESILIENCE.”
SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
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"ISRESILIENCE is a rich, rewarding, multi-dimensional work. The dynamic duo of Naomi Baum and Michael Dickson have co-authored a collection of delightful, insightful and inspiring stories showing the charm, diversity, depth, and sheer grit of Israelis today. At the same time, they have produced a more resonant, universal work exploring just what it means to be resilient – and what it takes -- which is particularly welcome during these trying, plague-scarred, times.
Well-written, well-told, well-paced, and well worth your time, this book will move you to tears – while teaching you how to "fall forwards" – facing adversity with a smile on your face and a glint in your eye, mastering the human -- and very Israeli – ability to overcome the toughest of challenges."
PROFESSOR GIL TROY, AUTHOR, THE ZIONIST IDEAS
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“The extraordinary resilience of the Jewish people in the face of adversity through every generation since Moses is one of the keys to our collective identity and sense of purpose. This idea is beautifully captured by Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum in ISRESILIENCE through a series of inspiring stories that demonstrate the power of the modern State of Israel, not just as a country or as the homeland of the Jewish people, but as a shining example of resilience for the world.”
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS, INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADER AND AUTHOR
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"The determination of the Israeli spirit is the theme of this book. As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, I have often wondered how Jews have picked up the pieces of their shattered lives and have not only survived but have thrived in cities around the world, including Israel. How? What makes it possible for the Jewish persona to compartmentalize pain and move forward with joy, grace, determination and creativity? And in Israel, despite all the challenges from wars and terrorism, the Israeli spirit soars above the very real threats and succeeds in areas from technology to humanitarian aid and everything in between. Israel is consistently listed as one of the happiest places in the world to live! Why? We owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum who have written ISRESILIENCE because in doing so, they have given us the gift of insight and inspiration throughout the pages of this book."
ROZ ROTHSTEIN, INTERNATIONAL CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, STANDWITHUS
"Michael and Naomi have penned a series of revelatory portraits of remarkable Israelis -- some of them well-known, others less so. What they have in common is a combination of exceptional personal drive and extraordinary commitment to their country's well-being. Israel has not merely survived but thrived, in the toxic, precarious Middle East, because of characters like the Israelis we meet on these pages. So if you want to understand quite how Israelis consistently beat the odds and face down the challenges, while constantly innovating, questioning, and pushing the frontiers of knowledge and achievement, read this book."
DAVID HOROVITZ, FOUNDING EDITOR, THE TIMES OF ISRAEL
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“As terrorists have turned the home front into the front lines, and a global pandemic has disrupted our lives, Israelis have shown tremendous resilience in dealing with these challenges. Having served as Israel's Minister of Public Security, Homeland Defense and in other positions of national leadership, I have seen how our resilience has been the key to our strength and success. Michael Dickson, an expert in telling Israel's story, and Dr. Naomi L Baum, have done a great service in sharing the stories and secrets of Israeli resilience with their readers, and as Ambassador to the UN & US, I intend to share these inspiring stories with others as well.”
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED NATIONS, AND FORMER MINISTER,
HIS EXCELLENCY, GILAD ERDAN
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"The stories in this book are the stories of the Jewish People through the generations. Stories of perseverance, faith resilience. These are the amazing stories of people who took on some of the world’s toughest challenges and withstood them. They represent all parts of Jewish and Israeli society and exemplify the ancient saying “Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Laze, Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Baze”. Michael Dickson and Naomi Baum have taken these stories and turned them into lessons that everyone can and should learn, lessons that everyone – Israeli or not, can benefit from."
AMBASSADOR RON PROSOR, HEAD OF THE ABBA EBAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY, IDC HERZLIYA
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"These stories of remarkable men and women tell an essential story about Israel: how a people that lives under constant siege, moving from war to terrorist attacks to boycotts to delegitimization, has created one of the world's most successful societies. We owe a great debt to Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi L. Baum for telling this story and telling it so movingly."
YOSSI KLEIN HALEVY, SENIOR FELLOW, SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE, AUTHOR, LETTERS TO MY PALESTINIAN NEIGHBOR
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"By elegantly weaving together the fascinating accounts of women and men who underwent and overcame unimaginable conflict, in ISResilience Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum examine the very heart of the Jewish People's enigmatic survival."
MR. ISAAC HERZOG, CHAIRMAN OF THE JEWISH AGENCY EXECUTIVE
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“Israel and Israelis are not always given a fair representation, to say the least. This excellent book by Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum profiles some extraordinary Israelis who – by being both tough and sensitive - have much to teach us all. ISResilience is an insight into the real Israel - an inspirational and uplifting read!”
ORIT FARKASH HACOHEN, MK, MINISTER OF STRATEGIC AFFAIRS
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"ISRESILIENCE is a perfect guide for these tough times: a panoply of stories and lessons from Israelis, both famous and unknown, who inspire us to stand together to weather this difficult moment in history. Through a study of Israel - a country that has repeatedly held together against enormous odds - Dickson and Baum show us the true meaning of “resilience” in their interviews and teach us how we can follow the example of these incredible personalities and this remarkable country."
WILLIAM C. DAROFF, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS OF MAJOR AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS
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“ISRESILIENCE gives valuable voice to a wide range of diverse voices who share their Israeli experiences of dealing with adversity and overcoming it to build meaningful lives”
EINAT WILF, AUTHOR
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“Israelis are resilient people – they have to be, since they live with the constant threat of terrorist attacks, and the ever-present possibility of war. ISRESILIENCE tells truly remarkable stories of Israelis whose strong spirit and resilience has not only led them through difficult times, but has allowed them to achieve remarkable success despite what seem like insurmountable odds. This is a book that will engage and inspire you, particularly during these times of great challenge and uncertainty.”
YAEL ECKSTEIN, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
“Resilience has long been one of the secrets of the Israeli people. It is a characteristic that has helped this war-torn nation overcome more than 70 years of daunting threats and challenges. The portraits chosen by Dickson and Baum reveal a diverse group of Israelis who have each, in their own way, achieved greatness through grit, devotion and a belief in the Jewish State. Their stories are inspiring.”
YAAKOV KATZ, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE JERUSALEM POST AND AUTHOR OF "SHADOW STRIKE: INSIDE ISRAEL'S SECRET MISSION TO ELIMINATE SYRIAN NUCLEAR POWER"