A powerful, next-generation manifesto declaring that the future prosperity of Western civilization is dependent upon the ongoing security and success of the Jewish State of Israel, and that the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland demands a realist foreign policy emphasizing the U.S.-Israel alliance that will require military strength and a focus on Israeli self-defense for the country as well as its individual citizens.
Israel is the West's man on the spot--the tip of the spear in the battle against Islamist terrorism and secularist nihilism alike. But the old-guard voices advocating for the full support of Israel as a nation-state and as an idea are being drowned out from all sides--theistic, secularist, right, left, and everything in between. To combat the uproars of multiculturalism, postmodern relativism, "tolerance," and Jew-hating social media, the time is now for voices from a new generation. We must address modern antisemitism and sound a call not just to accept, but to enthusiastically embrace the centrality of Judaism to the very character of Western civilization.
In Israel and Civilization, acclaimed journalist, legal expert, and pundit Josh Hammer makes a righteous case that the key to the prosperity of the West is the flourishing of the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel. Hammer's uplifting offense is our best defense against the enemies of the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. And as Hammer makes clear, manifesting the promise of Israel requires action by the United States and its allies.
There can be no overstating the impact of the trauma of October 7, 2023, on the Jewish people. Yet the anti-Israel reactions the world over have been equally devastating. Rallies of hundreds of thousands explicitly or implicitly promoting Hamas violence; demonstrations of Ivy League professors celebrating the pogrom as "awesome" and "exhilarating;" so-called human rights organizations that refuse to unequivocally condemn the use of rape as a weapon of war; and a hydra of multiculturalism, postmodern relativism, and "tolerance"--it all threatens the physical and metaphysical survival of the West and our essential Jewish heritage.
Preserving the best of what's been thought and said throughout history and ensuring that there will be centuries more requires a West that is proud of its Jewish heritage. In other words, the continued existence of the Jewish people is inextricably tied to the endurance of Western civilization. Israel is the center of the battle, and Israel and Civilization explains why and how the Jewish state must win.
Industry Reviews
“This book makes a clear and compelling case that American national security interests are deeply tied to the strength of Israel and the US-Israel alliance. . . . Israel and Civilization comes at a pivotal moment and is essential reading for anyone seeking to confront these urgent challenges.
–Senator Ted Cruz
“An in-depth and thought-provoking exploration of the enduring struggle to preserve the values that have shaped the modern world. It encapsulates the importance of Israel’s fight for existence as part of a broader battle to preserve the Judeo-Christian values at the heart of America’s founding.”
–Governor Ron DeSantis
“Josh Hammer is a brilliant thinker and an extraordinarily lucid writer. In his new book, he shows just why battles far away in the Middle East go straight to the heart of the battles at the root of Western civilization—and why Israel is the representative of the West in those battles. A must-read.”
–Ben Shapiro
"In his compelling book, Israel and Civilization, Josh Hammer persuasively argues that in order for the West to survive, it must rediscover the biblical heritage that is its very core. This requires a fortified Jewish people and a fortified Jewish state, including the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria. Hammer’s argument is both timely and timeless."
–David Friedman
“A Christian who disregards his connection to the land and people of Israel, saws off the branch of the tree on which he sits. Jew or Christian, believer, or unbeliever, the beauty of our Western way of life is inseparably linked to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Josh Hammer makes this case clearly and with a love of God and country that should inspire every defender of America to think twice before falling prey to the rising tides of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.”
–Glenn Beck
“The best ‘back to Judaism’ book I’ve read in many years. With the failure of Enlightenment rationalism as his backdrop, Hammer tells the compelling story of his own return to God and Orthodox Jewish observance. En route, he shows how Torah and mitzvot are the key to a spiritually centered life for every Jew, whether in Israel or the Diaspora. But he also has a message for Christians—whose road to national restoration must bring them to a renewed encounter with the foundational texts of Judaism.”
–Yoram Hazony
“An extraordinary accomplishment from beginning to end. Hammer makes an overwhelming case that Judaism . . . gave birth to Western civilization and the civil society. . . . But this is not what one might consider a religious book per se. Hammer takes on much more. . . .Hammer emphasizes that the U.S.-Israel and Jewish-Christian alliances are imperative to saving the West. . . . It is a superb book. I urge you to read it to the end and then share it.”
–Mark Levin
“The United States has one firm ally in the Middle East: Israel. . . . Josh Hammer expertly explains the historical importance and future implications of this partnership and the impact it will have on future generations.”
–Dana Loesch
“Josh Hammer is one of the most brilliant people in the entire conservative movement.”
–Liz Wheeler
