A small nation-state, surrounded by military and ideological enemies since its founding: How do we make sense of Israel’s survival? Since its inception in 1948, the modern State of Israel has repeatedly emerged victorious in its major military engagements with larger, more powerful adversaries. In this course, we will examine Israel’s military strategy during three key conflicts—the 1948 War of Independence, the Six Day War in 1967, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. We will assess the political and military choices that contributed to Israel’s success in each case, while studying basic concepts in strategic theory. Throughout the course, we will consider whether and how lessons from these moments ought to guide Israel’s leaders today.