When Andy and I were discussing our move to Israel for the year, we had two goals for our first week in Jerusalem. We wanted our first meal to be schwarma (check), and we wanted to pay tribute to a hero of ours, Michael Levin (z”l), who fell in battle in 2006 during the second war with Lebanon. He is buried on Har Herzl, a military cemetery named for Theodore Herzl, who is considered to be the founder of modern Zionism. Michael Levin has become a household name in the Jewish Philadelphia community, but for those unfamiliar with his story, I’ll share a brief synopsis now.
Michael grew up outside of Philadelphia and was active in USY as well as at Camp Ramah in the Poconos (the same USY region and camp that Andy and I were involved in when we were growing up!). I remember him coming to a chapter board meeting and telling us that soldiers really needed shoes, and that if we were looking for a community service project, collecting shoes might be a good idea. Michael made aliyah in 2002, and joined the paratroopers unit (after climbing in the window of the recruitment center!). He was on leave from the army in the states in 2006 when the 2nd Lebanon war broke out, and he quickly returned to Israel to join his unit. While in Lebanon, his unit came under heavy fire, and he fell during that battle.
Michael was what is called a “lone soldier”—a soldier who emigrates from another country to serve in the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) without their families. The Lone Soldier Center in Israel was created in his memory. It serves lone soldiers from many countries by providing them with support and a community. Michael has come to symbolize not just what it means to be a lone soldier, but also what it means to be truly devoted to something you believe in—to me, he is the epitome of passion, loyalty, and pride.
Although it can be confusing to navigate through Har Herzl, Michael’s grave is easy to spot. It is completely covered by Philadelphia, USY, and Camp Ramah paraphernalia, as well as mementos from all of the visitors who have stopped by throughout the years. When Andy and I arrived, a unit from the IDF was already there, learning about lone soldiers through Michael’s story. After they left, Andy and I only had a few quiet moments to reflect before the next unit showed up. We explained that we knew Michael from home and from camp, and the commander asked if we would be willing to talk about him for a little. We declined, but waited quietly in the back to hear what the commander had to say. As we were leaving, a third unit was walking up the steps to learn Michael’s story. Michael has become much more than a hero to Jewish Philadelphians, much more than inspiration to American Jewish teens—he is also an important part of what it means to be an Israeli soldier, as every unit in the IDF visits Har Herzl during their training, and since 2006, visits Michael Levin. Andy and I marveled at the impact that one person can have—and will continue to have.
Before leaving, Andy left his Ramah cell phone case, and I found two small rocks. They are small gestures compared to the one Michael made for this country, but they show that we were there, and are thinking about him. We will definitely be back.
Andy and I have been in Israel just over a week now, and one thing that continually shocks me is how young the soldiers look! If you’ve ever been in Israel, you know that you see soldiers everywhere—on the bus, in stores, walking down the street—and that there is just something attractive about an Israeli guy or girl in an IDF uniform. For the first time in the four times I’ve been here, I have realized that I am much older than the Israeli soldiers I see on the street. In Israel, every citizen is drafted into the defense forces when they are 18, with a few exceptions. Girls serve for two years and boys serve for three years. Army service is usually followed by a year of traveling before Israeli young adults begin their studies. Which means that most Israelis my age are done their army service, and any Israelis in army uniforms are too young for me!
This age difference was magnified at Har Herzl today when I realized that most of the soldiers buried there are my age (24) or younger. I can’t begin to imagine the mix of emotions that goes into burying a fallen soldier who is barely 20 years old. I hope that a time will come soon when this is no longer a worry that parents must face. For now, I am awed and inspired by teenagers much younger than me who risk their lives every day so that my family, friends, and I can be safe.
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