The site contains Dr. Itzhak Brook's book, "In the Sands of Sinai, a Physician's Account of the Yom Kippur War." It also contains links to obtain the book in paperback and Kindle format from Amazon.com. The book describes Dr. Brook's personal experiences, struggles, fears and challenges as he cared for his soldiers' physical and emotional needs, including their post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It gives a perspective of the 1973 war that shaped the author's own life and Israel's identity.
The Yom Kippur War was launched in 1973 in a surprise attack by
This book recounts the author’s personal experiences as a battalion physician during that time. Expecting to heal his soldiers’ physical combat wounds, Brook unexpectedly must address his soldiers’ psychological battlefield trauma (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It describes how he coped with his soldiers’ medical and psychological issues, the daily struggle of survival in the battle zone, and everyone’s growing anxiety. Through the lens of one participant, the reader can experience the resourcefulness exhibited during the time of war and the struggle to preserve one’s humanity in the midst of it all. In unvarnished details from the mundane to the catastrophic, he describes his perspective of a war that shaped his own life, and his nation's fragile identity.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Israeli Military Attache in the USA is presented the book "In the Sands of Sinai"
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lectures and book signing events
Lectures about the Yom Kippur War and the book "In
the Sands of Sinai" signing took place at:
National Museum of American Jewish Military History,
Washington DC on April 18, 2012.
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, Fairfax
Virginia, May 21, 2012, Jan 9, 2013
(Beth El Synagogue, Alexandria), Apr. 23, 2013 ( Northern Virginia Hebrew
Congregation, Reston), May 20, 2013 (L. W. Leesburg, Virginia), and Jun 17,
2013 ( Beth Shalom Temple, Fredricksburg, Virginia);
Milken Jewish Community Center, West Hills, Los Angeles,
Cal., May 29, 2012;
Beth El Synagogue in Bethesda Maryland ,Nov. 4, 2012;
Oseh Shalom Synagogue, Laurel, Maryland, Nov. 11, 2012; the,
Jewish Cultural Center, Reading Pennsylvania, Nov. 18, 2012;
Jewish Community Center, Springfield Massachusetts, Nov. 29,
2012;
S. S. Wise Temple, Los Angeles,California, Dec. 3, 2012;
The Great Neck Temple, Long Island New York, Dec. 16, 2012;
Adat Shalom Congregation, Bethesda Maryland, Dec.17, 2012;
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington (Ring
House), Rockville MD;
Agudas Achim Alexandria Virginia, Feb. 3 & Oct. 15,
2013;
Jewish Community Center in Staten Island New York, Mar.12,
2013;
Congragation Etz Haim, Arlington Virginia, Mar. 16, 2013;
Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside New York,
Apr. 4, 2013;
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick, New Jersey, May
5, 2013;
Beth Sholom Temple, Fredricksburg, Virginia, May 8, 2013;
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda,
Maryland, May 22, 2013;
Har Sinai Congregation, Owings Mills, Maryland, May 31,
2013;
Medical Corps Israeli Defense Forces (Zahal) "Moreshet
Krav" ( Battle Heritage) symposium,
, Jul. 14, 2013;
Congregation Kneset Israel, Annapolis, Maryland, Sep. 10, 2013;
Jewish Community Center of Greater Vancouver, Canada, Sep.
29, 2013;
Temple B'rith kodesh, Rochester, New York, Oct 11, 2013;
Beth Tzedek Congregation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Oct 16,
2013;
Jewish Community Center, Rockland New York, Nov. 1, 2013;
Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah, Potomac,
Maryland, Nov. 17, 2013, ;
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation, Baltimore, Maryland,
Dec. 7, 2013;
Temple Solel of Missisauga Ontario Canada,Feb. 7, 2014,
Shaarei Beth El of Oakville,
Ontario, Canada, Feb 8, 2014;
Anshe Sholom
Congregation of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 9, 2014, Congregation Beth
Judah, Ventnor, New Jersey, Feb. 21 & 22, 2104;
Mandel Jewish community Center, March 4, 2014, Cleveland,
OH;
Mt. Scopus Hadassah, Silver Spring Maryland, March 19, 2014;
Jewish Community Center, Washington DC, March 31, 2014;
Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, California, Apr.
25, 2014;
Calabasas Shul, Calabasas & Beth Jacob Congregation,
Irvine, California, Apr. 27; 2014,
Temple Beth Shalom, Long Beach, California, Apr. 28, 2014;
Temple Bat Yahm, Newport Beach, California, Apr. 30, 2014;
Alpert Jewish Community Center, Long Beach, California, May
1, 2014;
Beth Shalom Congregation, Columbia, Maryland, May 2, 2014;
Jewish Community Center, York, Israel's independence Day
Celebration event, Pennsylvania, May 5, 2014.
Congregation Beth Shalom, Wilmington, Delaware, May 9, 2014;
Read Jewish Voice article part 1, 2, 3
Temple Shaaray Tefila, Manhattan, New York, May 19, 2014;
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, Springfield, New Jersey, May 30,
2014;
Congregation Beth Israel, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, May 31,
2014;
Jewish War Veterans Annual Installation, 126 Post; Cherry
Hill, New Jersey, June 1, 2014;
Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, New Jersey, Teaneck, June 1,
2014.
Temple Israel of the City of New York, New York, July 25,
2014.
Hadassah Chapter,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvanian, Sep 14, 2014.
Wilf Jewish Community Campus, Jewish Community Center of
Central New Jersey, Scotch Plains, Sep 30, 2014.
Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, East Hills, New York,
Sep 30, 2014.
Israeli House-Israeli Consulate General of Israel, Boston,
Massachusetts, Oct 1, 2014.
Temple Emanu-El, Edison New Jersey. Oct. 11, 2014.
Jewish Community Center of Austin. Jewish Book Fair.
Austin,Texas. Oct. 21, 2014.
Hadassah of Greater Baltimore, Maryland. Oct. 27, 2014.
Columbia Jewish Book Festival, Kate & Irvine Jewish
Community Center, Columbia, South Carolina. Nov. 4, 2014.
Beth Israel at the Tri-City Jewish Center, Rock Island,
Illinois, Nov. 14 -15, 2014.
Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue, Encino, California, Nov 19,
2014.
Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue, Los Angeles,
California. Nov 20, 2014.
Temple Isaiah of Orange County, Orange County, California,
Nov 21, 2014.
B'nai David-Judea Congregation, Los Angeles, California, Nov
22, 2014.
Bureau of Jewish Education High School of Jewish Studies,
Buffalo, New York, Dec. 10, 2014.
Kibutz Sha'ar HaGolan, Israel, Jan 22, 2015.
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington, Silver
Spring, Maryland. Feb 4, 2015.
Congregation Har Tzeon - Agudath Achim, Silver Spring,
Maryland, Apr. 16, 2015.
Hadassah, Florida Central Region. Gainseville, Florida. Apr.
18, 2015.
Shaare Zedek Congregation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Apr.
29, 2015.
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. May
1, 2015.
Temple Etz Chaim, Thousand Oaks. California. May 15, 2015.
Hollywood Temple Beth El. Hollywood, California. May 16,
2015.
Brawerman Elementery School of Wilshire Boulevard Temple,
May 18, 2015
Bolton Street Synaguage. Baltimore, Maryland. Sep. 21, 2015.
Congregation Temple Emanuel, Staten Island, New York, Oct.
11, 2015.
The Israeli Forever Foundation Book Club, Washington DC, Oct
22, 2015.
Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City. Kansas. Nov.
2, 2015.
Temple Emanu-El, Miami Beach, Florida, Dec. 18, 2015.
Adas Yeshurun Synagogue and the Augusta Jewish Community
Sunday School, Augusta, Georgia, Jan. 10, 2016.
Beith Jacob Synagoage, Scolar-in Residence. Atlanta,
Georgia, Jan. 11, 2016.
Hadassah Metula Group, Greater Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 11,
2016.
Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham, Alabama, Jan.12,
2016.
Hadassah Chapter, Birmingham, Alabama, Jan.12, 2016.
Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County, Irvine,
California. Jan. 25, 2015.
Shomrei Torah Synagogue, West Hills, California. Jan. 27,
2016
Shomrei Torah Congregation, Wayne, New Jersey, Feb. 2, 2016.
Beth El Synagoguge, East Windsor, NJ. Feb 3, 2016.
Katz Jewish Community Center, Margate. New Jersey, Feb. 3,
2016.
Siegel Jewish Community Center, Wilmington, Delaware. Feb.
7, 2016.
Congregation Beth Aaron, Teaneck, New Jersey, Feb. 7, 1016.
Highland Park Conservative Temple - Congregation Anshe
Emeth. Highland Park, New Jersey, Feb. 9, 2016.
Congregation Beth Emet, Simi Valley, California. March 6,
2016.
Congregation Shir Shalom,
Buffalo, New York. March 18, 2016.
Surgeon General Israeli Defense Forces (Zahal) Headquarters.
Israel. Apr. 18, 2016.
Hadassah Northeast Boston,Massachusetts, May 1, 2016.
Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington. July 15, 2016.
United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, Texas, Sep. 22, 2016.
Tiferet Israel, Dallas, Texas. Sep. 24, 2016.
Jewish Community Center (Joodse Gemeente Amsterdam),
Netherlands, Oct. 6, 2016.
South Africa Jewish Museum, Cape Town, South Africa, Oct.9,
2016.
Temple Israel, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Oct. 16, 2016.
Beth Sholom Congregation. Elkins Park,Pennsylvania, Nov 11, 2016.
Milton & Betty Katz Jewish Community Center. Atlantic
City, New Jerseys, Nov 18, 2016.
Temple Beth Am. Parsippany, New Jersey,Nov 18, 2016.
Congregation Beth Hatikvah, Summit, New Jersey, Nov 19,
2016.
Congregation Beth Or, Maple Glen, Pennsylvania, Nov 20,
2016.
Temple Emanuel, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dec 8, 2016.
B'nai Tora Congregation, Atlanta, Georgia. Jan 10, 2017.
Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham Alabama. Jan 11, 2017.
Marcus Jewish Community Center Atlanta, Georgia, Jan 12,
2017.
Temple Emanuel, Kensington, Maryland, Jan 20, 2017.
Beth Tefiloh Dahan Community School, Baltimore, Maryland,
Jan 25, 2017.
Jewish Community Center, Weinberg Village, Owings Mills,
Maryland. Jan 25, 2017.
Beth Sholom Congregation, Fredrick, Maryland, Jan 29, 2017.
Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Feb 26, 2017.
Shomrei Tora Congregation, Tallahassee, Florida, Feb 28,
2017.
Temple Shalom of Naples, Naples, Florida, March 1, 2017.
Temple Sinai, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 5, 2017.
Israeli Defense Forces Junior Command Preparatory School at
the Hebrew Reali School, March 29, 2107. Haifa, Israel.
Or Olam Synagogue, Manhattan, New York. April 20, 2017.
Park Avenue Synagogue, Manhattan, New York, April 22, 2017.
Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF), Baltimore
Chapter. Baltimore, Maryland, April 23, 2017.
J. Wagner Jewish Community Center, Salt Lake City, Utah,
April 26, 2017.
Temple Beth Emet, Anaheim, California, April 28, 2017.
Tarbuton, San Diego Jewish academy, San Diego, California.
April 30, 2017.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Bridgeport, Connecticut, May 6,
2017.
Beit El Temple, and Mandel Jewish Community Center,
Hartford, Connecticut, May 7, 2017.
Temple Beth Sholom, Hamden, Connecticut, May 7, 2017.
Greater Washington Area Chapter of Hadassah, Rockville.
Maryland. May 16, 2017.
Jewish Community Center. Youngstown, Ohio. May 21, 2017.
Schultz Campus for Jewish Life. Akron, Ohio. May 22, 2017.
Beit Ha'am, Canton, Ohio. May 23, 2017.
Shir Ami Synagogue, Newtown, Pennsylvania. May 26, 2017.
Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim, Silver Spring, Maryland, June 3,
2017.
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, Manhattan, New York. June 20,
2017.
Congregation Bet Haam, Portland, Maine. June 23, 2017.
Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs International Convention.
Washington DC. July 22, 2017.
Temple Shalom, Dallas Texas, Second Annual Israel Today
Symposium, August 6, 2017.
The Levin Jewish Community Center, Durham, North Carolina.
August 27, 2017.
Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, Maryland. September 30, 2017.
Har Shalom Synagogue, Potomac, Maryland, October 15, 2017.
Temple Emanuel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 27, 2017.
Weinstein Jewish Community Center, the 5400 Club, Richmond,
Virginia, October 30, 2017.
Congregation B'nai Moshe, West Bloomfield, Michigan;
Veteran's Day Brunch. November, 5, 2017.
Darchei Noam, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. November 8, 2017.
Shomrei Emunah, Baltimore, Maryland. November 26, 2017.
Nusach Hari B’nai Zion, St. Louis, Missouri, December 6,
2017.
Yeshivat Kadima High School, St. Louis, Missouri. December
7, 2017.
Beth Israel Congregation. Owing Mills, Maryland. January 21,
2018.
Maimonides Medical Society Raleigh-Cary, N. Carolina. March
1, 2018.
Raleigh-Cary Jewish Community Center, Raleigh, North
Carolina. March 1, 2018.
Kehilat Shalom, Gaithersburg, Maryland. March 11, 2016.
Bender Jewish Community Center, Rockville, Maryland. March
12, 2018.
Congregation Beth Hamedrosh, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
April 15, 2018.
Jewish Federation of Savannah, Georgia. April 19, 2018.
West Suburban Har Zion Temple, Chicago, Illinois. April 22,
2018.
100 Jewish Men Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Houston, Texas.
May 16, 2018.
Maimonides Medical Society, Jewish Federation of Harrisburg,
Pennsylvanian, May 22, 2018.
Taiwan Jewish Center. Taipei, Taiwan, May 28, 2018. (Watch
video)
Congregation Beth Tikvah. Marlton, New Jersey. September 23,
2018.
Beth Yaakov Chabad House, Beijing, China, October 22, 2018.
Congregation Bnai Amoona, St Louis, Missouri, November 9-10,
2018.
Charles Smith Jewish Day School, Rockville, Maryland.
November 21, 2018.
Mikvea Israel Synagogue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 10, 2018.
Sharei Tefilo-Israel, South Orange, New Jersey. December 16,
2018.
Congregation Brother of Israel, Newtown, Pennsylvania.
January 7, 2019.
Temple Har Zion, Mt. Holly, New Jersey. January 8, 2019.
B'nai Shalom of Olney, Maryland, January 19, 2019.
Old York Road Temple-Beth Am, Abington, Pennsylvania,
February 19, 2019.
Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge, California, March 2, 2019.
Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County, Irvine,
California. March 4, 2019.
Congregation Shaar Hashalom, Houston, Texas, April 14, 2019.
Congregation Bet El, Austin , Texas, April 30, 2019.
Israeli American Council, Bender Jewish Community Center of
Greater Washington, Rockville, Maryland. May 6, 2019.
Alpha Omega District of Columbia Chapter. Bethesda Maryland.
September 17, 2019.
B'nei Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland. September
21, 2019.
Agudas Achim Congregation, Alexandria, Virginia, October 5,
2019.
Union County Torah Center-Chabad. Westfield, NJ, October 6,
2019.
Congregation Adath Shalom, Morris Plains, NJ, October 26,
2019.
Congregation Or Torah, Edison, NJ, October 26, 2019.
Shelter Rock Jewish Center, Roslyn, New York. October 27,
2019.
Congregation Or Shalom, Berwyn, Pennsylvania. November 1,
2019.
Temple Bet El, Great Neck, New York. November 2, 2019.
Congregation Kneseth Israel, Annapolis, Maryland, November
10, 2019.
Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, Va. January 12,
2020.
Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanuel-El, Scarsdale, New
York; Feb 7, 2020.
Har Zion Temple, Narberth, Pennsylvanian: March 13, 2020.
Congregational Shaarai Shamayim, Philadelphia. PA, March 14,
2020.
Congregation Darchei Noam, St Louis Park, Minneapolis, May
21, 2020.
Temple Ner Tamid of North Shore, Peabody, Massachusetts, May
26, 2020.
Congregation Beth Tefila, London, Ontario, Canada, June 7,
2020.
Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. June 30,
2020.
Congregation L'Dor Vador, Boynton Beach, Florida, September
8, 2020.
Beth Yacob Synagogue, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, September
11, 2020.
Beit Rayim Synagogue and School. Vaugham, Ontario, Canada.
September 21, 2020.
Mosaic Law Congregation, Sacramento, California. September
23, 2020.
Maven group, Bethesda Maryland. September 24, 2020.
Chicago Loop Synagogue,Chicago. Illinois. September 24,
2020.
Temple Adas Shalom. The Harford Jewish Center. Havre De
Grace, Maryland. September 28, 2020.
Congregation L'Dor Vador. Ashburn, Virginia. September 28,
2020.
Hollywood Temple Beth El . West Hollywood, California.
September 28, 2020.
Temple Beth Or, Raleigh, North Carolina, October 15, 2020.
Jewish War Veterans, Post 757 , Austin Texas. October 18,
2020.
Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, Maimonides Society, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Oct. 28, 2020.
Beth Emeth Bait Yehuda Synagogue, Toronto, Canada. December
16, 2020.
Jewish War Veterans West Suburban Post 54, and Congregation Etz Chaim of DuPage County,
Illinois. January 10, 2021.
Temple Beth El, West palm Beech, Florida. Men's Club. March
14, 2021.
Shaare Zedek, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 7, 2021.
Temple Aliya, Woodland Hills. California. April 8, 2021.
West End Synagogue, Nashville, Tennessee, April 13, 2021.
Anshe Emmet Synagogue, Chicago, Illinois, April 14, 2021.
Temple Beth Ahm, Aberdeen, New Jersey. April 21, 2021.
Temple Bet Sholom, Cherry Hills, New Jersey. April 22, 2021.
Beth Shalom B'nai Israel. Manchester, Connecticut. May 2,
2021
Congregation L'Dor V'dor, Oakland Little Neck Jewish Center,
New York. May 9, 2021
B'nai Shalom of Olney, Maryland May 16, 2021.
Congregation Bet Israel, Worcester Massachusetts. May 23,
2021.
Men's Club, Jewish Community Center, Rockville, Maryland.
May 25, 2021.
The Riverdale YM-YWHA , new York. May 26, 2021.
Chizuk Amuno Congregation, Baltimore Maryland, June 8, 2021.
Adath Israel Synagogue, Middletown, Connecticut. July 18,
2021.
Temple Beth El-Beth Hillel, Wynnewood, PA, October 14, 2021.
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael, Springfield, NJ, December 8, 2021.
5959 Chicago.
Chicago, Illinois, December 9, 2021.
Temple Emanu-El. Sarasota, Florida. January 13, 2022.
Chabad American University, Washington DC. February 23,
2022.
The Temple, Atlanta, Georgia. April 26, 2020.
Temple Beth El, Ft Myers, Florida. May 23, 2022.
Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue. Charleston South
Carolina. September 18, 2022.
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington, April 23,
2023
Constantia Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town, South Africa, April 24, 2023.
Temple Beth El, West Palm Beach, April 25, 2023.
B'nai Tzedek, Potomac Maryland. September 9, 2023.
Bet El Synagogue, Durham, North Carolina, September 19, 2023.
Jewish Community center, London, Ontario, Canada. September 20, 2023.
Beth Zion Congregation, Saint-Luc, Québec, October 10, 2023.
Congregation Beth Israel. West Hartford, Connecticut, October 26, 2023.
In lieu of an honorarium for the lecture hosts had made a
donation to the Friends of Disabled Israeli Veterans (Beith Halochem).
Presentation at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck NJ, June 1, 2014.
Announcement of a talk about the Yom Kippur War at the Jewish Community Center, Vancouver, B.C., on Sep. 29, 2013.
A new French-German documentary about the Yom Kipur War '"Journal De Guerre - War Diary 1973" was aired in 2013. It is a perspective of the war from the point of view of individuals who participated in it. Dr. Brook was appears in the documentery.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26oksn_1973-journal-de-guerre_shortfilms
Presentation to the Israeli Defense Forces Junior Command Preparatory School at the Hebrew Reali School, March 29, 2107. Haifa, Israel.
Lecturing at Beth Yaakov Chabad House, Beijing, China, October 22, 2018
Monday, April 2, 2012
Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans (FIDV) Presents the Book in New York
Dr. Itzhak Brook and Col. Bentzi Gruber (of the Israeli Defense Forces).
A lecture about the Yom Kippur War and book " In the Sands of Sinai " at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, Washington DC
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Introduction to the book
This book recounts my personal experiences as a supply battalion physician during that time. It describes my personal experiences, struggles, fears and challenges. One of the most important lessons I learned was that war is both ugly and challenging and boasts no glory. My experience firmly convinced me that war should be avoided at all costs and should be the option of last resort. Yet, in the end, it is manifestly and sadly true that, when the survival of a nation is at stake, war may be the only choice.
I want to dedicate this book to the soldiers of my battalion who stuck it out during this horrific war. They overcame the many difficulties we faced and performed their mission, despite constant danger, as they heroically conquered their fears and anxieties. Some of them paid the ultimate price to do that. May their memories be blessed.
Enclosed are pictures taken before and during the Yom Kippur War showing events described in the book.
A column of Israeli tanks and an Israeli jet during the Yom Kippur War
Evacuation of wounded Israeli soldiers during the Yom Kippur War
The medical team of the supply battalion of the Steel Formations division during the Yom Kippur War ( From left: Ehud, Dr Brook, Avner, Yossi, and Zvika)
Graduation of IDF medical officers course, 1971.
The supply battalion of the "Steel Formation" division in action refueling trucks in Sinai during the 1973 Yom Kippur War
Convoy of Israeli tank transporter and supply trucks in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War
Israeli armor personal carrier carrying supplies in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War
Israeli troops convoys during the Yom Kippur War
Golani Brigade soldiers carry their dead and wounded comrades after recapturing Mount Hermon
An Israeli officer praying during the Yom Kippur War
An Israeli military cemetery for soldiers who died during the Yom Kippur War