Self Defense: A Jewish Manifesto Paperback – October 15, 2025

“The Golden Age of emancipation that American Jews have enjoyed for nearly a century is over. Europe’s poison has traveled to our shores, this time decked out in progressive garb. Benjamin Kerstein's manifesto is a wake-up call for our community, compelling us to see the truths we might otherwise avoid, and confronting us with a stark choice: to roll over quiescently or to stand up and fight back.” —Ben Cohen, senior analyst for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and author of Some of My Best Friends: A Journey Through 21st Century Antisemitism“Benjamin Kerstein writes with a clarity of voice desperately needed for our times, reminding us that Jewish self-defense, both physical and spiritual, is not only a right, but a necessity. His work is a call for Jewish pride and courage, rooted in history but urgent for our future.” —Ben M. Freeman, author of The Jews: An Indigenous People“Benjamin Kerstein’s Self Defense is a passionate cri de coeur for 21st century Jews to adopt the Maccabean warrior ethos of our forebears. Kerstein is correct that the Children of Israel now need to train not merely in Torah and mitzvot, but also with glocks and Krav Maga.” —Josh Hammer, author of Israel and Civilization“With Self Defense, Benjamin Kerstein issues a fearless call to abandon the illusions that have left American Jews vulnerable and to reclaim the spiritual and physical strength that has always been key to our survival. Timely and urgent, Self Defense is a must-read for anyone trying to navigate the new reality after October 7.” —Ashley Rindsberg, author of The Gray Lady Winked"Benjamin Kerstein has penned a provocative manifesto on how Jews should respond to rising antisemitism—not by waiting for society to change, but by taking matters into our own hands. Like Herzl, who saw the nation-state as the answer to Jewish vulnerability, Kerstein emphasizes that Jews have the power to respond to hatred—not by leaving the Diaspora, necessarily, but rather by standing and fighting where we are. The psychological effect of this doctrine could be as profound, if not more so, than the physical result.” —Joel B. Pollak, senior editor at Breitbart News, and author of The Zionist Conspiracy Wants YouAmerican Jews must embrace physical self-defense to safeguard their spiritual and communal survival and success.The most urgent question facing the Jewish community today is stark and undeniable: How do the Jews ensure their physical security in an increasingly hostile world?In Self Defense: A Jewish Manifesto, Benjamin Kerstein delivers a powerful call to action for American Jews confronting the rising tide of antisemitism. With clarity and urgency, Kerstein challenges Jews to break free from long-standing patterns of passivity and embrace the Jewish legacy of physical self-defense. This, Kerstein argues, is not only necessary in a time of antisemitic violence, but fundamental to living a vibrant, complete Jewish life in body, mind, and spirit.Far more than a commentary, this manifesto is a strategic plan for resilience and revival. Kerstein lays out practical, actionable steps for building a future anchored in strength, self-respect, and communal unity. He reframes self-defense as a moral and spiritual imperative that can revitalize Jewish life and identity, ensuring Jewish survival in the face of an increasingly hostile world.Bold, thought-provoking, and unapologetic, Self Defense is a wake-up call to a community at a crossroads, urging a return to empowerment in the face of those who would hurl the Jews back into a life of fear and oppression. Read more