12-28-2023 7:48pm

New Jersey Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner Releases Book Chronicling First 50 Days of the Israel-Hamas War

Donnella Tilery Editor

This week, Rabbi and cultural commentator David-Seth Kirshner announces the release of his first book, "Streams of Shattered Consciousness: A Chronicle of the First 50 Days of the Israel-Hamas War." Rabbi Kirshner's in-the-moment account of the 50 days following Hamas' October 7 attacks is an incredibly timely meditation on conflict, faith, ethics and meaning.

"Rabbi Kirshner's book is both gut-wrenching and inspiring at the same time," said Abe Foxman, National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League. "It provides an important record of these horrific days for Israel and the Jewish people. So many things and feelings that happened during those 50 days we already forgot -- this book will make sure it is part of history."

After the events of October 7 – his 50th birthday -- Rabbi Kirshner was left grappling with an extraordinary array of emotions. In processing his feelings and seeking to provide guidance to his congregation, he was compelled to write. What was conceived as a blog became an article and then a sermon. But he continued to write, every day for 50 consecutive days, chronicling the events on-the-ground in Gaza and his own emotional reaction. In doing so, Streams of Shattered Consciousness came to life.

Heartbreaking yet contemplative, Streams of Shattered Consciousness gives its readers license and forum to struggle with difficult and unanswerable questions. Moreover, it challenges us to consider the countless ethical challenges faced by Israel – and by extension the Jewish diaspora – directly and thoughtfully.

"Streams of Shattered Consciousness will serve as a permanent reminder of the tension and feelings the world endured during this unmitigated nightmare…and in the windows of resilience," said Dan Senor, author of "Start Up Nation and The Genius of Israel."

"Streams of Shattered Consciousness: A Chronicle of the First 50 Days of the Israel-Hamas War" will be available digitally and in paperback and will soon be available in hardcover (12/26/23). Orders can be placed directly from Xlibris, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books and the Streams of Shattered Consciousness Website. 100 percent of the proceeds of this book will benefit the Temple Emanu-El Emergency Fund for Israel, focusing on victims of trauma and PTSD.

About the Author

Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner is the senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey.

In addition to leading and reinvigorating Temple Emanu-El and strengthening relationships one by one, Rabbi Kirshner is involved in the community at-large and holds many positions of leadership. Rabbi Kirshner is the Past President of the New York Board of Rabbis and was selected among 50 rabbis to participate in the inaugural class of the Kellogg School of Rabbinic Management at Northwestern University. In 2013, Rabbi Kirshner was appointed to the New Jersey-Israel Commission by Governor Chris Christie and was re-appointed in 2018, by Governor Phil Murphy. Additionally, Rabbi Kirshner is the Past President of the NJ Board of Rabbis and he holds a seat on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). He is a Rabbinic Adviser to the Shalom Hartman Institute. In 2009, Rabbi Kirshner was appointed to the National Council of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and in 2013, he graduated as a Senior Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. He is an adjunct Faculty Member of the Academy for Jewish Religion.

Rabbi Kirshner has written articles for many media sources and is regularly published in the Jewish Standard, the Bergen Record, Haaretz, The Times of Israel, The Huffington Post and the New York Times. He has been featured on national radio and television programs including Good Morning America, CBS, CNBC, WABC, WNBC, NPR, The Last Word, with Laurence O'Donnell, Nightline, MSNBC, Al Jazeera and Faith to Faith.

SOURCE Rabbi David Seth Kirshner