A new recruit to the IDF shares his personal message of overcoming challenges to serve the country.
“Every citizen in the State of Israel, no matter whether born with a disability or not, needs to serve his country. Trust me, volunteers do as much as the soldiers recruited by law, and sometimes even more.
My name is Ben Levy, I was born with cerebral palsy and I’ll be 20 in a month. From a young age it was clear to me that I wanted to be a soldier. My dad is a policeman, and my brother is a paratrooper. At home, they always taught me to serve the country and to give of myself as much as I can. Two years ago, I got an exemption from the army, but my affair with the IDF had only just begun.
Last week, I enlisted in the IDF for a full two years of service.
So what’s my message? Give as much as you can, and don’t ever give up on yourself. If everyone says he can’t do it, there will be no one left to defend this country. I’m not different to anyone else here.”
Responsibility and the drive to set a personal example are fundamental values in the Israel Defense Forces. Just as every soldier has to play an active role in defending the country, its citizens and inhabitants, soldiers are also responsible for setting a shining example of motivation, perseverance and morality.
When the State of Israel was founded in 1948, the surrounding countries invaded in an attempt to destroy the new state. That was the primary reason for founding the Israel Defense Forces. Unfortunately, the story is not much different today. The IDF is still tasked with preserving Israel’s existence, while also constituting a role model to civilians – a symbol of safety and security. It is an idea deeply ingrained in Israel’s youth, for those who grew up in Israel and those who choose to move here from abroad.
Such is the case for, Corporal Mauricio Glucksmann, an immigrant originally from Caracas, Venezuela. In his country of birth, he witnessed much violence and tragedy. When he came to Israel, however, he finally felt safe. “No matter where I was, I felt safe when I saw an IDF soldier” he recalls. “That was why I decided to become one of those soldiers who could provide that type of comfort.”
Pvt. Mauricio Glucksmann
For some, taking on the responsibility of being a soldier hits very close to home. Many Israelis know someone who was killed or injured in war or terrorist attacks. Such is the case with Corporal Rotem Saidon. When terrorists from Lebanon raided the Israeli northern coastal city of Nahariya, Cpl. Rotem Saidon’s relatives were among the victims.
Her family’s history personally affects her role as a Command and Control Center operator for the Israel Navy. “We watch the maritime border in every way possible, using radars and cameras,” she said. “We control everything attempting to enter Israeli territory. In effect we guard the whole region – including [major population centers] Nahariya and Acre, so there won’t be a hostile infiltration through the water.”
She knows the importance of setting a personal example of alertness and vigilance, even when her job gets extremely tough. “It makes me understand that if we are not here to keep watch then whole families could be destroyed,” Saidon says. “We are the ones who protect the residents of Nahariya.”
Cpl. Rotem Saidon, Israeli Navy
This ethic of responsibility to others follows soldiers onto the battlefield as well, where sometimes soldiers must make the greatest sacrifice by giving their own lives. One of the most striking examples is with Major Roi Klein. He was a commander in the Golani Brigade during the Second Lebanon War. During a battle in Lebanon, while Maj. Klein was in the middle of treating an injured soldier, Hezbollah terrorists threw a grenade in their direction. He knew there were only two options: save himself or save the lives of his comrades. He jumped on the grenade as he yelled “Shema Israel!” the prayer said right before death. By doing this, he absorbed the blast and was killed on the spot, but in doing so, made it possible for an entire group of soldiers to live.
Each one of the soldiers mentioned here strove to be personal examples. Their stories demonstrate the values of what it means to be a soldier for Israel. They personally took on their tasks and accepted tough responsibilities, whether it meant moving across the world or giving their lives. Their deep understanding of the values of responsibility and being a personal example are the things that allow all inhabitants of Israel to live a normal life even in the face of terror.
South African-born, Australian-raised J. qualified as an engineer and a lawyer in Sydney before deciding to become an officer with the Israel Air Force. We talked to him about his journey to become a flight test engineer and what it means to leave your family and friends behind for a sense of mission.
When J. graduated from high school in Sydney, Australia in 2005, he briefly considered joining his friends for a trip around Europe. Eventually though, he decided to follow his heart and join a year-program in Israel with his Zionist youth movement Bnei Akiva.
“I grew up in a very traditional, very Zionist community,” J. said. It wasn’t until he arrived in Israel, however, that he understood what it meant to be a part of and contribute to the Jewish home. Seeing Israelis his own age going off to join the army and defend the country was an especially motivating experience. “I wanted to join the army,” J. said, “I felt responsible and I also felt like I wanted to be where the action is.”
However, as the year ended, circumstances changed. “I decided I would be a good kid and not disappoint my parents,” he said with a laugh. J. decided to return to Australia where he studied for six years at university, earning degrees in engineering and law. Israel though, was never far from his heart.
“I kept up my connection with Israel,” he said. “I was very involved as a madrich [youth leader] in Bnei Akiva and was involved with different hasbara [Israel advocacy] projects.” J. returned to Israel several times to visit, including for a brief stint at the Hebrew University, but he put his plans to join the IDF on the back burner. Or so he thought.
“I went back to Australia to study and I thought that I’d at least reap the benefits of the better pay there as well,” he said jokingly. “My long term vision was always to end up in Israel but I never thought I’d be here so soon.”
J. became an expert in law and aerospace engineering, but was still not sure what direction to take in life. “At the end of my degree I had to start making decisions – I asked myself: what do you want to do with your life?”
As an aerospace engineering student, J. had attended space conferences in Israel where he met officers from the Israel Air Force. He was intrigued by the dedication they displayed to their work and as he reached the end of his studies, reached out to them to discuss the option of joining the Air Force.
J. explained his very straightforward intentions: “I didn’t want to just build crap in Australia – I wanted to be a part of something bigger.”
“I had the opportunity to be a part of something that is important to me, something that I can influence. It seemed like the IDF was the perfect way to do that, so I made aliyah [immigrated to Israel].”The process was initiated, and after passing a series of interviews and tests, J. agreed to join the IAF as an officer and flight test engineer.
Everything new in the sky
J. was accepted into the IAF’s prestigious flight test center – the unit responsible for testing and perfecting everything that the air force sends into the sky.
“If there is anything new in the sky – a new missile, aircraft, a new system for a helicopter, or an unmanned drone that needs an upgrade for a mission that we’re planning for, I go up in the air with the test pilot to do experiments to make sure that it works and that we understand how to use it best.”
According to air force protocol, only officers are permitted to fly and test the range of sophisticated aircraft in the IDF’s possession. Thus, J. went to Officers’ School to become a lieutenant.
Despite his preconceptions, Officers’ School proved to be an enriching experience for the Australian cadet. “Officers’ School is amazing. Before I came I was thinking of a Few Good Men and then I got here and realized its much more real,” he said. “They give you a bunch of tools you can actually use and important lessons on leadership.”
The future lieutenant added that his officer training has been helpful in integrating him into Israeli society. “I learned about the major parts of the military that I just had no idea of – its an important way to integrate into the system and the army and Israeli life as a whole.”
J. summarized his experience by quoting from the IDF’s code of ethics.
“I read through Ruach Tzahal [The Spirit of the IDF – the name in Hebrew for the IDF’s code of ethics] and I understand that this is why I’m here. A sense of mission is why I’m here.”
Combat Engineers Break Bread with Birthright Participants
A group of 50 excited young men and women enter the hall, chatting in small groups. Without a fuss they take their seats and face the front, awaiting orders. Though visibly tired, everyone remains focused, as they know the evening’s operation – the peak event of a week of non-stop activity – depends entirely on their ability to execute their orders to a tee.
As with all briefings, safety procedures come first. All eyes and ears are trained on the front of the room, no one wants to lose a hand, and more importantly no one wants to go home. Seven days ago they started the journey together, and two days hence they will finish it together. No man or woman left behind.
From the front, names are called out as each individual is assigned to a group – a small task force responsible for a specific part of the evening’s mission. Suddenly, the equipment is wheeled in. The seats are emptied as everyone rushes to collect their gear.
Boxes of fresh produce – peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and mounds of herbs and spices are handed back. Bottles of olive oil clink together as each team searches out its specialized products. The back door swings open and a cart full of mangoes, ripe and aromatic, is brought in. They’re ready to begin.
The young men and women gathered around the food, Americans between the ages of 22 and 26, are members of a unique culinary Taglit-Birthright Israel group. Made up of food critics, chefs, bloggers, experts and enthusiasts, the 41-strong group were taken by educational tour operator Israel Experts on a whirlwind tour around Israel, giving extra pause to wineries, fresh food markets and organic farms.
Tonight, the group has found itself on an IDF base home to some of the Israeli army’s most elite units, among them commando combat engineers Yahalom. The Birthright group is there to put its members’ cooking skills to the test, and to “give something back” by treating the soldiers to a classic American meal. On the menu: barbecue chicken, fried chicken, beef chili, carrot slaw, potato salad and french fries.
Erez Frenkel, Israel Experts’ educational coordinator for English speaking groups, explained how this is many of the participants’ first time in Israel. He added that having IDF soldiers accompany them on their trip is always an eye-opening experience.
“Growing up i didn’t know anybody that went to the U.S. Army,” says food and lifestyle blogger Molly Yeh. “Here, every person in their teen years go off to the army. None of the eight soldiers in our group ever complained about anything, they were such strong people, so proud of their country.”
Molly Yeh, food, lifestyle and travel blogger
The evening at an IDF base has become a highlight of the trip over the past few years, during which various groups have cooked for the Nahal Brigade, Oketz Canine Unit and even for soldiers at the naval base in Ashdod.
Tonight, some of the local soldiers sneak in to watch the Americans at work and even to lend a hand.
Classically-trained pastry chef Evan Coben, a participant in the trip, said the encounter with IDF soldiers was the most enriching part of her experience of being in Israel.
“You visit a country but you don’t really get to experience it until you’ve seen it through someone else’s eyes,” she said. ”We’re the same age, and yet we grew up in drastically different conditions. I’ve never had to think about the things that they have to think about; I’ve never had to call my mom when I got off the bus to tell her that the bus didn’t blow up.”
For the Yahalom soldiers, tonight will be a mouth-watering – as well as eye-opening – experience.
“The food on the base is usually pretty good, but tonight, there’s something special,” said one soldier, happy to relinquish his kitchen duties for the evening.
A few minutes before the meal is to be served, logistical matters almost derail the precise order of the dining room: the number of soldiers keeps changing and now there may be a cutlery shortage.
The tense moment passes thanks to the group’s good humor and a little ingenuity, and before long the soldiers begin to file in. While light classical music plays in the background, bright chatter begins to fill the air as the Israelis and Americans sit down to break bread.
