My Brother, the Israeli Soldier - Contemporary Voices

Strength!

It comes in the form of my nineteen-year-old brother Chaim.

Friday morning, Chaim gently breaks the news to us: if the soldiers of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) were drafted into war, he would waive his rights as an only son to fight on the front lines.

“Why, Chaim!?” I questioned him, nearly choking. I was bothered by the fact that he would intentionally throw away the safety net the IDF had provided for him. "And why did you, a full-fledged American citizen, even have to join the Israeli army!?" I asked him out of frustration.

You want nothing more than to defend itFull of conviction and confidence, he replied, “Once you are here in the land of Israel, you automatically become attached to it. You want nothing more than to defend it.”

“At one time in training,” he confides in me, “I hadn’t slept for a full day, and it was forty-eight hours since my last meal. They had given us a can of tuna and a slice of bread to share with five other soldiers. I was basically worn out. Berating myself, I began questioning my own reasons for enlisting and coming here. Why would I do this to myself? Most of my friends were living the college party life, and where was I? I was halfway across the world, hungry, cold and tired. All I wanted was to see Mom and cry to her about how hard it was.”

And at this point, Chaim lowered his voice and continued, “However, when I got home that weekend and turned on the TV, the news was headlined with a terrible tragedy. A family in the settlement of Itamar was slaughtered by terrorists in the middle of the night.

“At that moment,” continued Chaim in a clear voice, “it all made sense to me. I came here to defend our land of Israel. I came here to defend my people. If every Israeli boy and girl had an obligation, then I was no exception.”

“He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G‑d, from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air and on the sea.

Why would I do this to myself?May G‑d cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under our soldiers' sway, and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is G‑d, your G‑d, who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.”

Amen!

Strength! It comes in the form of my nineteen-year-old brother Chaim. An Israeli soldier.

By: Esther, a very proud sister.

By Esther Mishulovin

Esther Mishulovin lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles, California.

More articles by Mishulovin, Esther | RSS

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

E-mail

Sort By:

NewestOldest

September 12, 2011

Yehudis has a point

Perhaps Haim's family is actually not so comfortable with his decision and hence are reacting so harshly to Yehudis's opinion?

Anonymous

September 8, 2011

sundry responses

To Chana: If it's a "very personal choice for the family to make," (though it sounds like the young man made it on his own), then perhaps it shouldn't be publicized on the Internet.

To Esther: It's Chaim's decision, not my comment, that is the issue. You chose to publicize your brother's decision and apparently expect everyone to commend it. When you put a view "out there," there will be people who agree with you and those who do not. Out of respect for readers, don't post an article if you don't want to hear all the opinions. If I don't want negative feedback, I won't post my life situation on the Internet for strangers to respond to!

Esther: The IDF has enough soldiers at this time, which is why so many are exempted, including, <b>only sons and only children.</b>

Thank you Sarah for seeing my comment for what it was, positive acknowledgment of Chaim's decision along with a critique.

Yehudis

September 6, 2011

Shocked

I wrote one of the first comments on this article, as I am the mother of an American IDF soldier, and I am shocked at the correspondence going on between "Yehudis" and other readers (including the writer of the article).

I believe Yehudis was making an observation and stating her opinion. All the comments were very complimenting and hers had a different twist. I don't think she wrote anything antagonistic or negative.

The attacks she got in the comments were exaggerated.

Isn't she entitled to her opinion?

Sarah from Brooklyn

September 6, 2011

To Yehudis

Your comments make no sense. I presume you are a Jew so let me explain something to you. It does not matter where you live and when somebody like Chaim decided to join the IDF then you should have the utmost respect for him. A Jew who lives in the US or Europe etc. remember and remember it well; your freedom is because of Israel and because of our soldiers. G-d Forbid if we would lose Israel the world will hunt us down again. Are you blind what is going on right now? The unselfishness of Chaim defending his country is the highest chesed, do you really understand how much? If all Jews would think like you, we can all pack up and leave, but then you would lose your freedom that you hold at such a high regard. So who is selfish here? The highest teaching of our holy Torah is to love your fellow Jew, Chaim and he’s family are doing that. So wherever you live you cannot relinquish your people and country because we are all responsible for each other. Shana Tova.

Jewgirl

September 5, 2011

To Yehudis

This article that I submitted was intended to show what a selfless act my brother, Chaim, has made to protect OUR land of Israel. My Mother, fully comprehends the decision her only son has made. Israel will never have enough soldiers fighting for what is rightfully ours. Amongst that, Israel is extremely lucky to have a chayal (soldier) like my brother and many other chayalim (soldiers) who have made the same choice. Out of respect for my Mother and Brother I ask that you do not voice such opinions. You stated "a mitzva that comes at the expense of another person may not be a chesed or a mitzva." Indeed, the only words you have stated which I can agree upon. Your act of charity in voicing this has come at the expense of putting my Mother through agmos nefesh (pain in her soul) along with my Brother who has already made the choice and has stuck by his word. I hope you never have to be the recipient of such comments if you were in this situation. It is the month of Elul, so Kesiva Vechasima Tova (may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year) to you and your family.

Esther

September 5, 2011

Would love to shake your hand, Chaim.

Chaim, I have never had the pleasure and honor of meeting you but let me assure you what you are doing is not only selfless but noble and incredible. Enlisting into the army on your own accord is something you don't hear about everyday. I feel for the foolish people who not only have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, but are sorely miss-informed as to what the situation is with the Chayalim, soldiers. You, Chaim, are a true meaning of a brave Chayal. I am an Israeli citizen and i know that we are honored to call you one of our own. I hope my son grows up to be half the person I am sure you are. And to Chaim's Mother, we are here with you, praying for Chaim's safety while he fights to protect what is ours.

Gilad
New york , USA

September 5, 2011

What I "think" Yehudis - is that it is a very personal choice for the family to make and the family alone.
Once that choice has been made, it is certainly disrespectful and in poor taste for a bystander to suggest that - the most honorable, respectful, loyal and brave boy that I have ever known (and I DO know Chaim...for the entire span of his life) could ever be selfish.
It is with his mother's blessing and consent that he serve, as my sister understands that some things are and should be bigger then one's self.
Incidentally, I have three sons and I made aliyah conscious of the fact that they would serve - I would expect nothing less from my sons. I can tell you that it is not easier for a mother to contemplate putting any child in danger merely because she has spares hanging around. I respect and admire the IDF for offering the clause - but it is with all of my respect and utmost awe... that I continually witness the willing sacrifices made by exemplary characters such as my sister.

chana
raanana, Israel

September 5, 2011

How interesting

It's interesting to me how when you rebuke me for being negative, you do so with tremendous negativity and derision. Hmmmm. Is that supposed to teach me something about positivity?

To Chana in Raanana: Do you think the IDF is unpatriotic then, in allowing an exemption for only children or only sons? And do you think that the only way to serve one's country is by combat duty, particularly at a time when the country is not desperate for soldiers?

As to the point of my comment (as though everyone has to justify their comments ..), I am expressing my view that a chesed or mitzva that comes at the expense of another person may not be a chesed or a mitzva. A wise, objective person should be consulted.

I think that glorifying these decisions of only children/only sons in these articles sends the wrong message to readers, that idealism trumps all.

Yehudis

September 4, 2011

A proud sister

Chaim, we love and support you and are praying for you everyday.

Your mother and all your sisters and so proud of you and may Hashem continue to keep you safe.

Batsheva
Los Angeles, CA

September 4, 2011

To the negative Yehudis

Simple life lesson.

You have nothing nice to say, dont say it at all.

Its the month of Elul. The King is in the field. Pray instead of spewing your negativity.

Anonymous
miami, FL

Show all comments