Looking for a good book to read, a new TV series to binge-watch or perhaps to brush up on your Hebrew? We’ve put together a guide of some iconic Israeli books, TV shows, films and more to keep you entertained while we Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.
Books
Non-fiction:
Start-Up Nation, Dan Senor and Saul Singer – An exploration into the reasons behind Israel’s economic success and innovation; looking into how a country of just over 7 million people has been able to create more high-tech start-ups than any country in the world besides the United States.
No Room for Small Dreams, Shimon Peres – Inspirational autobiography of Shimon Peres, the former President and one of the founding fathers of the State of Israel.
Israel: A History, Martin Gilbert – Mainstream, highly respected work describing events and personalities from the late 19th Century until 1998.
The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership, Yehuda Avner – Written by a former adviser to Yizhak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Shimon Peres, The Prime Ministers provides a first-hand account of Israeli leadership from the founding of the Jewish State to the near-present day.
Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, Michael B. Oren – A definitive work on the Six-Day War by the former Ambassador to the US, this book sets out in great detail not only the sequence of events of the conflict itself, but also the context and catalysts which led to the outbreak of hostilities, and the War’s effects and aftermath, both political and territorial.
Jerusalem: The Biography, Simon Sebag-Montefiore – In depth historical biography of the city of Jerusalem – the world’s holiest city. Montefiore provides a broad and chronological overview of the city’s history, addressing a range of themes.
A Tale of Love and Darkness, Amos Oz – Richly textured memoir of the prolific Israeli author, who recounts life in the formative years of the State of Israel through to modern day, as well as the lives of his parents and relatives from Europe. Oz dives into 120 years of family history and paradox.
Fiction:
Exodus, Leon Uris – Best-selling historical novel about the founding of the State of Israel, portraying the birth of a new nation in the midst of hostile neighbours.
The Ambassador, Yehuda Avner and Matt Rees – Political thriller where in a fictional turn of historical events, the British Cabinet accepts the recommendations of the Peel Commission, establishing a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. The book follows a young diplomat sent by Ben-Gurion to serve as the country’s first Ambassador to Berlin, in an effort to save as many Jews as possible.
A Long Night in Paris, Dov Alfon – International thriller written by a former Israeli intelligence officer, which unfolds in the French capital after an Israeli tech entrepreneur disappears from Charles de Gaulle airport.
Let It Be Morning, Sayed Kashua – Semi-autobiographical novel which captures the torn identity of a young Israeli Arab journalist who returns to his hometown, an Arab village within Israel.
Light Fell, Evan Fallenberg – Winner of 2009 Stonewall prize for fiction, Light Fell is the story of a love affair between an Israeli family man who falls in love with his rabbi.
TV shows
Fauda (Netflix) – This fast-paced global hit follows the adventures of an elite special ops army unit where Israelis go undercover as Palestinians in the West Bank in order to catch terrorists. Each side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is shown as both human and yet deeply flawed. Series 3, set in Gaza, is due for release on 16th April!
Shtisel (Netflix) – Wildly popular series portraying the inner lives of an ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem. It explores the bonds of family, the pursuit of love, and the relationship between the living and the dead.
When Heroes Fly (Netflix) – A dramatic thriller where four friends – IDF veterans – are reunited for a rescue mission in Colombia,11 years after having a bitter falling out.
Hostages (Netflix) – The night before a surgeon is set to operate on the Israeli Prime Minister her family is held hostage by gunmen who insist she kill him or her family will die.
The Spy (Netflix) – Sacha Baron Cohen stars in the Netflix miniseries dramatising the heroism of Eli Cohen, who infiltrated the highest levels of the Syrian government in the 1960s.
Mossad 101 (Netflix) – Action series where a group of diverse characters from all layers of Israeli society are training to be agents at the Israeli intelligence agency.
Conan Without Borders: Israel (Netflix) – Comedy where Conan travels to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.
Prisoners of War – Gripping drama on which the American series Homeland is based, telling the story of three Israeli Defence Force soldiers who are captured in Lebanon
Srugim (Amazon Prime) – A drama series which deals with the life of religious bachelors from Jerusalem.
Our Boys (HBO) – True-crime drama portraying the revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager following the kidnapping and murder of three Jewish youths by Hamas. Based on true events which led to the outbreak of war in Gaza in 2014.
False Flag – Gripping espionage thriller where five Israelis wake up one morning and discover that they are suspected in the abduction of an Iranian politician.
Lehiyot Ita (Beauty and the Baker) – Romantic comedy series that follows the love story between a simple baker and an international supermodel.
Films
Many films are available to rent online at https://ukjewishfilm.org/
Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) – Chris Evans stars as an Israeli Mossad agent who runs a covert operation that helps Ethiopian-Jewish refugees escape to safe haven in Israel. Available on Netflix.
Apples from the Desert (2014) – In a tale of tradition versus modernity, the only daughter in an Orthodox family runs away with a young man to a kibbutz in the desert.
Zero Motivation (2014) – Acclaimed comedy drama following the lives of female soldiers in the IDF.
Fill the Void (2012) – Drama about an 18-year-old girl in the Ultra-Orthodox community who is pressured to marry her older sister’s husband following the death of her sister in childbirth.
Sand Storm (2016) – Sundance Film Festival prize winner and Israel’s 2016 Oscar entry, depicting life for women in Israel’s conservative Bedouin community.
The Wedding Plan (2016) – Romantic comedy following an unwed Orthodox Jewish woman in her early 30s.
Bethlehem (2013) – Thriller telling the story of the complex relationship between an Israeli Secret Service officer and his teenage Palestinian informant.
In Between (2016) – Groundbreaking feminist film portraying three Palestinian women sharing an apartment in Tel Aviv, who are caught between traditional and modern culture.
Lebanon (2009) – Tense war film focusing on a group of Israeli soldiers operating a tank in hostile territory during the 1982 conflict in Lebanon.
The Syrian Bride (2004) – Winner of numerous international awards, the story deals with a Druze wedding and the troubles that the unresolved political situation creates for the personal lives of the people in and from the village in northern Israel.
Mivtza Savta ‘Operation Grandma’ (1999) – Short satirical comedy about the military and kibbutz life.
Walk on Water (2004) – An Israeli Mossad agent is given the mission to track down and kill an ex-Nazi officer who might still be alive.
Waltz with Bashir (2008) – Animated war documentary where the director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in the conflict.
The Unorthodox (2018) – Humorous drama about the birth of the Shas political party, whose aim is to cater for the needs of the disenfranchised Sephardi ultra-Orthodox community in Israel.
A Borrowed Identity (2014) – Drama depicting an Israeli Arab teenager who moves to Jerusalem to study at an elite Jewish high school.
The Green Prince (2013) – Real-life thriller that tells the story of one of Israel’s most prized intelligence sources, the son of a top Hamas leader.
Food
If you’re missing trips to London’s excellent Israeli restaurants, here are some ways of bringing that delicious food to your kitchen.
Jerusalem, Yotam Ottolenghi – A cookbook exploring the flavours of Jerusalem from Britain’s most-loved Israeli chef. You can find some of his signature recipes online.
Israeli Soul, Michael Solomonov – An essential bible of Israeli recipes.
Honey & Co – The London-based Israeli restaurant and have a recipe book and are posting daily recipes on their Instagram.
Language
If you are keen on learning or improving your Hebrew, take a look at the following resources.
Duolingo – Free and popular mobile phone app that allows you to learn Hebrew in as little as 5 minutes a day with game-like lessons.
Ulpan-Or – Through Guided Distance Learning you can learn Hebrew online from a computer, smartphone or tablet with your own personal, native-Israeli teacher.
Routledge Hebrew – Online site of The Routledge Introductory Course in Modern Hebrew.
The entire Conservative Friends of Israel organisation hopes that you and your loved ones are safe and well at this difficult time.
Please make sure to stay up to date with Government information on the coronavirus here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
