When dehumanisation and destruction become the norm, the cycle must be broken.

For over twenty years, Ittay Flescher has worked as an educator, journalist and peacebuilder in Melbourne and Jerusalem. When he woke up on the morning of October 7, 2023 to the sounds of rocket sirens over Jerusalem and later saw the devastation of Gaza in response, the grief and sadness that engulfed him - and so many others - compelled him to ask: how can we find a way forward?

Following years spent facilitating dialogue between Jews, Muslims and Christians, Ittay believes that peace can only be found if we are willing to empathise with the pain of others.

The Holy and the Broken challenges Palestinian and Israeli leaders, citizens and their supporters across the world to imagine a different reality; to look at history with a different eye; and to search for moments of engagement rather than resentment in the narratives of the past that each side tells about itself.

Ultimately, this is a story that aims to comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable.

Praise:

'Courageous and considered. Ittay nurtures the tender, fragile shoots of peace. The world could do with more people like him' Paul Kelly, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist

'A book of rare insight and compassion, The Holy and the Broken offers the one thing we thought we'd lost after October 7: a glimmer of hope for meaningful lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians' Bram Presser, author of The Book of Dirt

'At a moment when many are choosing sides, Ittay Flescher encourages us to choose humanity. He offers a vision of a shared future, grounded in his life's work of grassroots peacebuilding with Jewish, Muslim and Christian youth. This timely and extraordinary book offers something precious and much needed: hope' Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue, New York City

'A valuable primer for anyone wanting a fair-minded introduction to this desperately bleak conflict, and written by a man who is clearly big-hearted and brave' James Button, Jewish Independent