The Six-Day Hero

At just 12 years old, Motti feels helpless when war breaks out in Israel and he finds himself huddled in a Jerusalem bomb shelter with his classmates. His older brother, a soldier, seems like the very definition of a hero, but Motti soon discovers that heroism can appear in unexpected places, and that he may be capable of it himself.

In The Six-Day Hero, a coming-of-age novel set during the Six-Day war, students in grades 3-8 gain insight into this pivotal moment in Israel’s history from the perspective of a tween who lived through it.

With Israel under threat and surrounded by enemies, Motti is frustrated by his inability to help. Soon he begins to recognize that courage and heroism take many forms, including those shown by an Ethiopian priest, a grumpy old neighbor, and others whose quiet acts of bravery shape his understanding of what it means to help.

Through Motti’s journey, students reflect on resilience, moral courage, and the many ways ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances, especially in times of conflict.