1973, Rochester, New York. As the Yom Kippur prayers echo across the hall of the community synagogue, Ziva Benreuven is thousands of miles away from home when her mission—to gather information on the state of local Jewish communities—is almost over. As she prepares for her journey home, a call breaks out through the synagogue: “War in Israel!” Rushing over to the house of one of her colleagues, Ziva watches as the Yom Kippur War breaks out, threatening to overtake her homeland and undo all that it stands for—a safe haven for the Jewish people. Ziva knows her choice has been made, and this is the turning point of her life.

In The Price of a Homeland, Benreuven pens her incredible personal journey through her deep-seated connection to the history of her homeland. From hiding under her bed during the 1939 Arab revolt, to a long and prosperous career as a fundraiser during her country’s deadliest war, she weaves together a coming-of-age story for both herself and the state of Israel, while coming to terms with the fragility of its founding principles.

With deep ingenuity and authenticity, Benreuven tackles personal and national lessons on the meaning of community and social values. More than a story of self-discovery, The Price of a Homeland is a love letter to an incredible country and its inspirational people.