On March 26 at 7:30PM, Kehillath Israel is profoundly honored to welcome award-winning journalist, author, and our dear friend Matti Friedman for the Boston Book Launch of his newest book, Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe.
In Out of the Sky, Friedman explores one of the most haunting and legendary chapters of World War II: the story of the young Jewish men and women from pre-state Israel who volunteered to parachute back into Nazi-occupied Europe. Through meticulous research into secret files and personal memoirs, Friedman re-examines the mission of figures like Hannah Senesh, the author of the beloved Hebrew song “Eli, Eli”, moving beyond the myths to uncover a raw, gripping story of sacrifice and the power of narrative. The mission would become one of the young state of Israel’s founding myths—but what exactly was the mission, and what had the parachutists actually accomplished? What made them heroes?
Details To Know:
🎟️Register HERE
💲$18 for KI members/$36 for non-members
📚Includes a signed copy of the book
🕍In-person only, no Zoom streaming option
🚶🏻♂️No walk-ins
🛍️No large bags
🪪Must have government issued ID
Why It Matters: Friedman’s visit offers our community a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most vital voices in Jewish literature and journalism today. Out of the Sky will be named as KI’s next Library of Gratitude selection. For more than a quarter century, KI has embraced sending our entire membership a volume of exceptional quality, in the spirit of deep gratitude, to help enrich our inner lives. We look forward to an evening of deep insight, historical discovery, and meaningful conversation.
About Friedman: Beyond his historical reportage, Friedman is widely recognized as a staunch advocate for the Jewish people and a clear-eyed defender of Israel. Drawing on his years as a correspondent in the Jerusalem bureau of the Associated Press, his essays in The Atlantic, Tablet, and The Free Press have become essential reading for those seeking to understand the complexities of the Middle East and the persistent biases in Western media. He remains a powerful voice in articulating the Israeli experience and the enduring resilience of the Jewish story. His previous works have earned international acclaim and numerous prestigious accolades, which includes:
The Aleppo Codex: Winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and the ALA’s Sophie Brody Medal.
Pumpkinflowers: Named a New York Times Notable Book and one of Amazon’s 10 best books of the year.
Spies of No Country: Recipient of the Natan Prize and the Canadian Jewish Book Award.
Who by Fire: A poignant account of Leonard Cohen’s 1973 concert tour during the Yom Kippur War.