"Self-Portrait of a Hero"

I’ve been reading Self-Portrait of a Hero. It’s letters that Jonathan Netanyahu wrote to friends and family from from 1963-1976. If you don’t know, “Yoni” Netanyahu was our current prime minister’s older brother who was killed in action in 1976. He fell leading Sayeret Matkal’s raid on the Entebbe airport in Uganda. He ranks among one of the greatest soldiers that Israel has ever had.

It’s amazing reading his philosophy on life. I’m humbled by the thoughtfulness and maturity he had from such a young age. I also admire his strength of character. When he had free time in the army, he would read literature and write letters. Most people go to sleep or socialize. He truly never wasted a second. On weekends after training of nightmarish intensity he would go for long distance and describe it as a pleasure. I only wish that when I’m in the army I’ll have one fraction of the strength of mind that he had.

I also observed what a strong family unit he had supporting him. His father was a writer on Jewish topics (who is actually alive today and still sharp as a tack despite being 100), and always encouraged him to learn. His mother and brothers all had unconditional love for him, and him to them. If everything in the army is mental, then a lot of his success must have come form knowing at all times that he had a supportive family behind him. He is ready to tell them everything, and never feels like he is being judged. It’s a great blessing to have people in your life who are willing to listen to anything you have to say to them, knowing that they will be nonjudgemental.

As for me, I’m getting ready for my draft. When I came to Israel over a year ago I thought I would wait at most six months before my draft, and now look how long it’s been. I want to get started already. Only as of a few days ago did the IDF officially recognize me as a combat soldier. That’s because for my father I’m an only child. I had to go through an enormous bureaucratic process that took several months, but it’s finally been settled. It was especially complicated for me because I am not in touch with my mother, while at the same time she has another son, further complicating the only child rule in Israel. The IDF has no regular procedure for a situation like mine.

Also, even though I’m still living a completely civilian life, as of last Sunday, October 3rd, I officially became a soldier, along with the rest of garin tzabar. I will write more about this soon in a new post.