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By Sue Ann Sheck
RANCHO SANTA FE, California —Four effervescent IDF reserve soldiers, akk Stand With Us Israeli Fellows on Oct. 1 spoke ardently of their work on college campuses throughout our country. They told guests at the home of Dan and Nina Brodsky their heartfelt life stories. Together they represent nothing less than “Secular Tzadiks” enriched by a year long SWUI program (which operates in six universities…bestowing knowledge to go forth as Ambassadors for Israel.
“Each school selects and implements a project approved by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that portrays a positive aspect of Israel !” explained Nina Brodsky.
First up was Idan, a 17-year old currently studying political science and media at Tel Aviv University. His grandpa, a lone Holocaust family survivor, migrated to Lebanon after the war. The family came home to Israel when Lebanon became too dangerous.
Idan spoke about a life-changing encounter during his “March of the Living” experience at age sixteen. “Walking around the annihilation camps and the gas chambers, seeing evidence of evil was shocking,” he said. The trigger came in the person of an innocent-looking blonde child who spoke only in Polish."
No smile, just twisted little fingers pointed straight at Idan in the shape of a gun… translation…. ”damned Jews…should have killed you all!”
At sixteen Idan knew….Anti-Semitism was still alive and well in Poland!
After, Idan attended the first ever memorial service held on Polish soil to honor his relatives lost in the Shoah. Two years later, Idan was standing in the Israeli Defense Force uniform, graduating from a commander course in a classified army unit.
Today his eyes are on his grandpa and his little brother, but the Polish kid creeps into head. At the Brodsky house, Idan told us how proud he is to wear his uniform. “Never Again” is a promise.
He expounded upon StandWithUS; the humanitarian projects instituted by this network of intelligent young people to share Israeli technology with third world nations at zero cost, helping to feed millions of people around the world.
Idan concluded with an invitation. “Please come to Israel.. See for yourselves.” He stopped and looked at us. “Or check us out on line!”
A dark-haired young woman named Gal followed him. She first explained “I am first generation Israeli! My parents emigrated from Iran at the age of one when Israel was first established.” She grew up in a secular town but her family was Orthodox. Gal ardently explained her position. “The mix-up of opinions molded my views…from an early age I have been dedicated to achieving peace in the Middle East. I volunteered in Jewish-Arab-co-existence organizations…listened and talked with Palestinians regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict..I served in the Israeli defense forces…I believe in the importance of protecting ourselves against extremist groups that want to destroy us.”
Gal spoke of her computer skills…putting them to work in “Neve Tirtza” a woman’s jail in Israel. She spoke passionately about the transformation that took place with the inmates. (“One young Russian emigrant who was serving two years for stabbing a teenager at an Israeli Club shared a letter written on computer to her Mom back in Russia. Gal explained, “For us, this letter writing is a simple task; but to this young prisoner, it was a life-changing event."
Gal still made time to create dialogue between Israelis, Palestinians, and American teens as coordinator for American-based NGO..
She talked of her first-hand experience nine months ago ….”I was under missile attack during an operation against Hamas..Being afraid for your life is hard to explain…When the first rocket was shot at Beer Sheva I was shocked; from the second rocket on, fear and solidarity became part of life!”
Gal described her most recent work as an SWU fellow searching for answers to better understand the politics of the Middle East in an effort to find peace.
She ended humbly. “I hope my story helps to show the diverse face of Israel!”
A beguiling 25-year-old woman named Maya next told her story.
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Born and raised in Botswana, she is currently engaged in the study of International relations and Communication at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
“My parents came to South Africa before I was born and were the first Israelis to arrive in Botswana in 1981. The Jewish Community…was established in our living room…Despite being raised in an international environment (the only Jew and Israeli at school) Israel was a huge part of my life….living in Botswana, the feeling of not belonging was …constantly with me. In 1996 my family returned to Israel. I made Aliya….Israel was home…This was a hard choice because my parents returned to their wine-making business in Botswana!”
"My most profound experience…the journey to Poland….then I understood. My grandfather was sent to Auschwitz when he was seventeen. At seventeen I took part in the March of the Living. Grandpa lost his parents, four siblings, and more. At Auschwitz, I saw with my eyes the place where he sacrificed his innocence and lost his family. He carved his name into one of the bunk beds in his barrack…Standing there, in front of his name, almost sixty years later, I realized I am his legacy …My existence in Israel is dedicated to something so much bigger than me!”
She went on… "At eighteen…I served as a commander of a team of four girls at a logistics base.. After the army, I studied at Hebrew University. Every day, on the way to class, I pass by the cafeteria….a monument stands to remember the seven students who during lunch, were killed by a suicide bomber in 2002. Living with terror, on buses, campuses, restaurants…we live with it on a daily basis. We strive to ensure peace with our neighbors. I am a part of the StandWithUS fellowship.(Each year one hundred fifty students are selected) We are ..empowered to become future ambassadors, leaders and representatives for the State of Israel. They brought me here to share a bit of my story with you.
"Being Israeli …my burning ambition is to carry on what my parents began, what my grandfather hoped for, and what we all believe is possible…a peaceful existence and the assured future of our children in Israel.”
Finally a dark handsome youth named Yoaz stood up. His first words were “Thank you for the opportunity!’….
At 24, Yoaz is currently studying Law and Government in Herzeliya.
At one year of age, his family relocated to London.
“Thirteen fantastic years..loved…loved London’s diversity…enjoyed football, soccer…but it was not home! As a child, we visited Israel. My heart lay there. …..London is multicultural…not always safe to wear a t-shirt in Hebrew… I remember a soccer game wearing my Tottenham shirt, a team followed by many Jews in Israel, hearing the oppositions hissing at us and shouting, “Hitler should have finished the job!’ ...
"The Israeli Declaration of Independence dictates religious and political freedom to all. …fifteen recognized religions and three official languages..Arabic, English, and Hebrew. … All holy places of every religion in Israel are safeguarded and respected.”
“At eighteen, I joined the IDF….received the highest commendation in the army for officers for exemplary service. Our code emphasizes Human Dignity, Defense of the State, its Citizens and Residents and Love the the Homeland… I want to emphasize our respect for the enemy…how medical issues are handled even with wounded terrorists…
"After four years of Army Service I joined StandWithUs…I appreciated this incredible opportunity to become a member of a network of Israeli Leaders."
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The room filled up with tears….Questions were asked, and dialogue continued for an hour or so.
Me, I could only shake my head and say to myself, “Thank You G-d! for creating them!” Because I knew, only the finest Jewish genetics produced Maya, Gal, Yoav, and Idan.
"I have given you a forshpise…..Want to know more? www.standwithus.com Two weeks. That’s their remaining timeframe in California. Catch them if you can.
Together, we can save Israel, Ourselves, and our Children.
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