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Tuvia Book
Author, educator, Tour-Guide, artist

Protect those who protect Israel

Me (left) and members of my IDF combat medical extraction unit inside Gaza.  Photo (c) 2024, T. Book.
Me (left) and members of my IDF combat medical extraction unit inside Gaza. Photo (c) 2024, T. Book.

If you had told me twelve months ago that my unit would still be in the field I would have not believed, not wanted to believe, that it was possible that the war in Israel would still be ongoing and our unit still ill-equipped. But here we are, day 366 and, after a short break I am back in the IDF for the THIRD time since the war started.   I will be marking the October 7 first anniversary on the Gaza border with my combat medical extraction unit.  There are still 101 hostages uncounted for in the subterranean hell of Gaza.  There are still heroic IDF soldiers risking their lives day in and day out fighting the scourge of Hamas evil.  We still must finish the job.

My unit is a reserve medical unit composed of doctors, paramedics, combat medics and combat troops. Our mission is to provide rapid medical response, stabilization and evacuation for our soldiers.

My unit medivacing a wounded soldier form Gaza. Photo (c) T. Book, 2024

I know you all have given and given, yet sadly the needs continue.  Since October 7th last year we have been working tirelessly saving the lives of our heroes and have just recruited 90 more medical and combat personnel, all volunteers to our unit, and they need to be kitted out urgently.  This is the most urgent vital life-saving equipment we require:

  1. Tactical helmets
  2. Tactical combat vests
  3. Ceramic plates for the vests

So, as we head to a New Year, I hope that you will join us in giving generously to the important work being done here to get equipment to allow us to enter the combat zone knowing we are as protected as we can be.

Me wearing tactical helmet and vest with ceramic plates on the border with Gaza. Photo (c) T. Book, 2024

Please take time and read this excellent Times of Israel blog about the IDF donors who just won’t quit by Dr Daniel Polisar.  Two quotes from the article jump out:

  1. “Why, then, do they keep digging deep, time after time? First, they recognize they are living in a period unlike anything they have experienced. Put simply: ‘This is a moment with existential ramifications for the future of Israel and the Jewish People.’”

  2. “The cause of providing critical safety gear is particularly meaningful in that it is a way to literally fulfill the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh(saving a life) and it supports the success of what is a milchemet mitzvah, a morally necessary war.”

Here’s the tax-deductible link of One People Israel Fund to donate funds for life-saving tactical equipment for my unit (Please specify that the donation is for Tuvia’s PALMAR unit & let me know so I can follow up.  I can be reached at tuviabook@gmail.com or via WhatsApp at +972-54-4896-091)

If you have any questions, please contact me. May this year see the elimination of the forces of darkness and evil on our borders, our troops return safely, all the hostages released, and the return of tens of thousands of our internally displaced to their homes both in the north of Israel and on the Gaza periphery.  May we all have a happy, healthy, sweet and PEACEFUL New Year!

About the Author
Tuvia Book has a doctorate in education and is the author and illustrator of the internationally acclaimed Israel education curriculum; "For the Sake of Zion; A Curriculum of Israel Studies" (Fifth edition, Koren), "Jewish Journeys, The Second Temple Period to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, 536 BCE-136 CE," (Koren), "Moral Dilemmas of the Modern Israeli Soldier" (Rama) and the soon to be published “Jewish Journeys, The First Temple Period, 1000 -586 BCE” (Koren). Dr. Book was born in London and raised in both the UK and South Africa. After making Aliya at the age of 17 and studying in Yeshiva he volunteered for the IDF, where he served in an elite combat unit. Upon his discharge he completed his undergraduate degree in Jewish history and literature, as well as a certification in graphic design. He then served as the Information Officer and deputy head of security at the Israeli Consulate of Philadelphia, while earning a graduate degree in Jewish Studies. Upon his return to Israel, Dr. Book graduated from a course of study with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and is a licensed tour guide. Tuvia has been working in the field of Jewish education, both formal and informal, for many years. He has guided and taught Jewish students and educators from around the English-speaking world for some of Israel’s premier educational institutions and programs. Tuvia has lectured throughout North America, Australia, Europe, and South Africa. In addition, his artwork has been commissioned on every continent (except Antarctica). Tuvia served as a Shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Agency for Israel as the Director of Israel and Zionist Education at the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York (Jewish Education Project). He was a lecturer/educational guide at the Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE) in Israel. Tuvia has lectured at both Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University. He is a Teaching Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. He is a research associate at the Hudson Institute. His latest book, "Jewish Journeys, The First Temple Period, From King David to King Zedekiah, 1000 - 586 BCE," (Koren) is part of a series on Jewish history.
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