The Holy and the Broken

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

Longlisted for the 2025 Walkley Award

Finalist in the 75th US National Jewish Book Awards

Shortlisted for the 2026 Shalom Collective Australian Jewish Writer Awards - The Leslie and Sophie Caplan Award for Jewish Non-Fiction

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

'What comes across consistently throughout the book is the author's sincerity and willingness to grapple with difficult issues and tough questions' Hannah Rozenblat, Jerusalem Post

'This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book, heartfelt and honest. You do not need to agree with everything Flesher has to say to find the book moving and challenging' Michael Gawenda, former editor in chief, The Age, Melbourne

'This ability to empathise with the suffering on both sides is a core value of Flescher's reconciliation work, and the underpinning to many of the options he outlines' Dr Anne Sarzin, Jwire

'As challenging and as contemporary as it is compassionate. In a world broken by war and polarisation, Ittay offers peaceful possibilities and nuanced perspectives' Rabbi Ralph Genende OAM, author of Living in an Upside-down World

'The Holy and the Broken breaks new ground. Yet what makes it truly singular is its consistent humanity, and its centring of ordinary Israelis and Palestinians' John Lyndon, executive director, Alliance for Middle East Peace

'This account of the writer's devotion to peacebuilding in our war-torn region is a shining testament to what can and should be done by those who can imagine a future peace. It lights a candle in an age of darkness!' Sari Nusseibeh, author of Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life

'When you finish it, you will not only know more about what's happening between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, but you will also know more about yourself' Maoz Inon, Israeli peacemaker and social entrepreneur

'A powerful testament to the possibilities of reconciliation and mutual empathy during conflict, what sets this book apart is its commitment to showcasing the experiences of the diverse individuals involved - especially the integral, yet frequently overlooked, stories of women. By highlighting the gender dynamics at play, Flescher enriches our understanding of the conflict and underscores the importance of supporting a world where more voices are heard and valued' Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women

'When I picked this book up, I erroneously believed I already "understood" much about the ongoing, collective trauma of Palestinians and Israelis. But this thoughtful and deeply compassionate book shattered that illusion. By the time I put the book down, I was not the same person' Miriam Anzovin, creator of Daf Reactions and Jewish Lore Reactions

Ittay Flescher is the Education Director at Kids4Peace Jerusalem, an interfaith movement for Israelis and Palestinians, which is a program of Seeds of Peace. He is also the Jerusalem correspondent for Melbourne's Jewish Independent and co-host of the podcast From the Yarra River to the Mediterranean Sea.

As an insightful analyst of Israeli politics and society, he has contributed to Haaretz, Crikey, ABC Religion and Ethics, Jerusalem Post, Fathom and many other publications and newspapers.

Before moving to Jerusalem on a journalism assignment in 2018, he was a high school educator in Melbourne for 15 years, teaching Australian History, Jewish Studies and Religion and Society.