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.
A link to order a paperback or Kindle version (in amazon.com) or e-book of " In the Sands of Sinai- A physician's Account of the Yom Kippur War."
TheYom Kippur Warwas launched in 1973 in a surprise attack bySyriaandEgypt. This Arab-Israeli war posed the most serious threat to the existence ofIsraelin modern history.Even though Israel was eventually able to achieve a military victory, the country paid a steep price, both in lives lost and in the citizenry’s confidence in their leaders and themselves. Deep within the psyche of the nation, this conflictshattered conventional wisdom that the country was invincible.
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 TraumaticStress 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.
Pictures of the events described in the book are shown below.
One
of the greatest challenges of a medical corps team member is to care for captured
and wounded enemy soldiers. I served as
an army medic during the 1967 Six Day War in the battle over Jerusalem and as a
battalion physician in the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Sinai Desert. In both
wars I cared for many captured and wounded enemy prisoners.
The
Six Day War in 1967 broke out two weeks before the end of my last year at
Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem. I had worked as a nurse in the emergency
room of the Hadassah University hospital for the prior two years and I was
stationed at that hospital when the war started. I also went out with the
ambulances to evacuate the wounded back to the hospital and cared for them
during the ride. During the first 72 hours we took care of over five hundred
wounded soldiers and civilians, among them many Jordanian and Egyptian
prisoners of war. All the wounded received the same care at the hospital,
whether they were Jordanian, Egyptian or Israeli. I cared for many enemy
soldiers and struggled to save their lives. For me, they were human beings in
need of medical attention. Watching my medical school teachers and the medical
teams at Hadassah fight for the lives of men who were fighting against us set
an ethical standard for me that I adhered to when I became a physician.
As
a battalion physician in the Yom Kippur War, I took care of several wounded
Egyptian soldiers, providing them with the same level of treatment that I gave
my own injured men. Even though I had
mixed feelings about treating the wounded enemy soldiers, I saw them first and
foremost as human beings in need of help. While my natural instincts and years
of medical training urged me to help any wounded warrior to the best of my
ability, I could not deny the feeling of animosity toward the enemy in the heat
of battle. I managed to overcome these misgivings, however, in the hopes that
our captured soldiers would be treated as well as we were treating the
Egyptians. Caring for these enemy prisoners of war humanized our adversary to
me, and I felt inner satisfaction that I could still honor the sanctity of the
human life, a value with which I had been raised.
An Israeli physician caring for a wounded Egyptian soldier in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War
In
particular, an experience with an injured Egyptian prisoner of war, a fighter
pilot whose plane was downed by an Israeli jet, changed my perspective and
humanized our adversaries to me. As I mended his broken leg and bandaged his
burns, he showed me a picture of his family as a sign of gratitude. In the pictures
were two young children, the same ages as my own two children. I realized at
that moment that he too wanted to see them again. Following this encounter, it
became emotionally easier for me to treat other wounded Egyptian soldiers.
Many
of these wounded soldiers were visibly scared to death when I approached them.
I could see the fear in their eyes, as if they expected that I would harm them.
I wondered if their fear was based on knowing what they would have done to me
should I have been a prisoner of war. I also assumed that years of anti-Israeli
propaganda depicted us as monsters. Most of these soldiers were tense and
apprehensive throughout the treatment and looked in disbelief as we worked to
care for their wounds. I was proud that I could overcome my anger and treat
these individuals as I would have wanted to be treated in a similar situation.
I knew that as a Jew and as a medical professional it was my duty to do so.
The
medical corps of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had always provided medical
care for all injured soldiers even if they were their adversaries. This is one
of the core values of the IDF and is also spelled out in the oath taken by all
the physicians of the Israeli Medical Corps. (see picture of IDF Medical Corps
oath) Indeed, this policy is being implemented today as the IDF has opened a
field hospital near the Syrian border and cares for victims of the civil war in
that country. Even though there is an official state of war between Syria and
Israel, over three thousand injured and sick Syrian nationals have so far been
treated at this hospital.
It
is my hope that those wounded enemy soldiers and civilians that we cared for in
1967, 1973, and today have served as emissaries for peace and reconciliation
after they returned to their homes. Hopefully, their testimonies have advanced
the cause of peace.
An appreciation note from the Cultural and Israel Program Director at the Jewish Community Center in York Pennsylvania following Dr Brook's talk on May 5, 2014.
Dear Dr. Brook,
In all of my years in presenting speakers here at the York JCC, never has anyone held the audience in such rapt attention as you did. We are all deeply appreciative of your life experiences and the message you presented in such a wonderful way. Thank you so much for sharing your story -- and that of Israel and those who put themselves in harm's way.
An appreciation note from the Israel Program Director at Temple Shaaray Tefila, Manhattan, New York, following Dr Brook's talk on May 19, 2014
Dr. Brook,
Thank you very much for such a meaningful and inspiring event.
I knew it would be great, but I didn't realize how great. Everyone came up to me that night and afterwards and told me how meaningful and moving your talk was, and how much they learned about the war which they thought they knew.
I wish you all the best and thank you again for such a great experience that will not be forgotten.
An appreciation note from Rabbi Larry Raphael, Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco following Dr Brook's talk on April 25, 2014
Itzhak...Thanks so much for your wonderful presentation. Everyone thought very highly of it .
Again, thanks.
Larry RaphaelSenior Rabbi Congregation Sherith Israel 2266 California Street San Francisco, CA 94115 rabbiraphael@sherithisrael.org
An appreciation note from Rabbi Hauer, Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation, Baltimore, following Dr Brook's talk on Dec 7, 2013
Dr. Brook:
Thank you again for your wonderful and valuable presentation last night. It was informative and insightful. The feedback was excellent. You are an inspiring person!
We have made a contribution in your honor to Beit HaLochem.
Please feel free to use us as a reference for future presentations.
An appreciation note from Rabbi Vaisberg, Temple Emanu-El , Edison New Jersey, following Dr Brook's talk on Oct 11, 2014
Thank you for coming here to speak last week, people thought that your presentation was fascinating and really appreciated your coming here.
Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg M.A.R.E., M.A.H.L.
Temple Emanu-El
100 James Street
Edison, NJ, 08820
rabbivaisberg@edisontemple.org
An appreciation note from Susan J lafer, President, Florida Central Hadassah, , following Dr Brook's talk on April 19, 2015
Thank you for your participation. Our membership loved hearing from you and I was thrilled.
Susan J Lafer
President, Florida Central Hadassah
The Womens Zionist Organization of America
3118 Causeway Blvd.
Clearwater, FL 33759 SLafer@hadassah.org
An appreciation
note from Rabbi Richard Spiegel, Etz Chaim Temple , Thousand Oaks, California, , following Dr. Brook's talk on May15, 2015.
Thanks you so
much for your recent appearance at Temple Etz Chaim to speak about the Yom Kippur
War. Your message was very powerful and you truly inspired all of us who heard
you.
I hope we will have
the opportunity to hear you again-perhaps to hear about your experience as a
throat cancer survivor.
Rabbi Richard
Spiegel
Etz Chaim
Temple
Thousand Oaks,
California, 91360
rabbi@templeetzchaim.org
An
appreciation note from Rabbi Michele Paskow, Congregation B'nai Emet, Simi Valley,
CA, following Dr Brook's talk on March 6, 2016
Thank
you so much for coming to our synagogue on Sunday evening and sharing your
experiences and insights on the Yom Kippur War.
You gave a very interesting and moving presentation. I look forward to reading your book.
I
sent in the money collected for the FIDV with a note explaining that it was
collected from your speaking event.
With
much thanks,
Rabbi
Michele Paskow
Congregation
B'nai Emet, Simi
Valley, CA
michmich805@gmail.com
An appreciation note from Julie Newburg, Hadassah Northeast, Boston MA, following Dr Brook's talk on May 1, 2016
Thank
you so much for giving Hadassah Northeast your time yesterday. It was very powerful to hear your story and
learn about the Yom Kippur War from your unique perspective. I believe that everyone walked out of the
room feeling moved about this important part of Jewish and Israeli
history. We feel privileged that we got
to meet you and learn from you.
Sincerely,
Julie
Newburg
Managing
Director Hadassah Northeast Hadassah
The
Women’s Zionist Organization of America
1320
Centre Street, Suite 205, Newton Centre, MA
02459
T 781.455.9055
JNewburg@hadassah.org An appreciation note from Monte Maline, Temple
Emanuel Kensington Maryland Brotherhood Board following Dr. Brook's talk on January 20, 2017
Dr.
Brook,
On
behalf of the Temple Emanuel brotherhood, I wanted to pass on our thanks and
appreciation for your visit last Friday. It was a terrific talk - and I think
you could see that we were all listening with rapt attention to your every
word. It was instructive, and your personal narrative could not have been more
compelling.
Thank
you again, and I look forward to reading your book.
An appreciation note from Marlene Hollander Program Director, Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell, PA following Dr. Brook's talk on February 5, 2017
Dr.
Brook,
Thank
you very much for coming and sharing your amazing story! The congregants who
attended were so delighted with everything you had to say. It was a wonderful
program! Again, many thanks!
Marlene
Hollander
Program
Director and Youth Advisor
Tiferet
Bet Israel
Blue
Bell, PA 19422
programdirector@tbibluebell.org
programdirector@tbibluebell.org
www.tbibluebell.org An appreciation note from Rabbi Sariel Malitzky, Congregation Ohr Torah, Highland Park, New Jersey, following Dr. Brook's talk on February 5, 2017 Dr, Brook,
Thank you so much for the outstanding presentation last night. It was absolutely fascinating, interesting, and really inspiring as well.
I began reading your book last night and I could not put it down.
May you continue in good health to engage and inspire audiences all over the world.
An appreciation note from Bet El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, Virginia. January 12, 2020. Dear Dr. Brook,
Thank you so much for your presentation at Beth El today.
I was moved by it, as were members of our congregation. As someone observed there was not a pin drop to be heard in our social hall.
You conveyed so meaningfully what it was like to be in in the Yom Kippur war and, as a physician, how the war impacted the soldiers. Of course, you also spoke about the war’s impact on the civilian population. What a high percentage of casualties for such a small country. My takeaway is that we should engage in war only as a very last resort. We pay a very high price for it.
My very best wishes to you and your family,
Ron
Ron Sturman
Bet El Brotherhood Vice President
rgsturman@msn.com
(703) 820-7864
(703) 801-8552 Cell
An appreciation note from John Cable, Chicago Loop Synagogue, Illinois, following Dr. Brook's presentation on September 24, 2020.
Shalom Dr. Brook. I am one of the many fortunate individuals who was blessed to hear your stirring talk on the Yom Kippur War earlier this week in a zoom session for the Loop Synagogue in Chicago.
Words cannot adequately express how deeply moved and inspired I was by your affecting words. I’m a tough, stoic cookie who rarely displays my emotions, but even I was deeply stirred by your moving narrative. Anyone who was not so moved has no heart.
You are a true mensch who instills such pride in being part of such a sacred heritage. As such, you are owed a huge debt of gratitude: Therefore, thank you for your service both in the IDF and the US Armed Forces, as well as all you have contributed to the medical world.
I’m sure this time of year is not easy for you, as it conjures up all sorts of horrific memories from the Yom Kippur War. But hopefully you can take solace in the knowledge that you and your comrades in arms have bequeathed such a noble legacy, befitting of the best of the Jewish people. G’mar Hatima Tova, John Cable
drjhcable@aol.com
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah of Greater Washington 4/23/23
Thanks so much for your very educational and inspiring presentation, Dr. Brook. I particularly appreciated your perspectives about dealing with PTSD in the field and fighting cancer being similar to fighting a war.
Major General Gadi Shamni, the Israeli Military Attache in the USA is presented the book "In the Sands of Sinai" by Dr Brook at the Israeli Embassy on July 10, 2012.
Dr. Brook is a speaker for the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC, USA on the Yom Kippur War.
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;
on May 22, 2013 about the psychological challenges as a physician during the
YK War and the similarities between being in war and facing cancer
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
Dr. Brook presentation to Hadassah Northeast, Boston, MA, May 1, 2016
An Israeli physician caring for a wounded Egyptian soldier in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War
