For Moshe, Michael Levin is the main reason that he left his life in Silver Spring, Maryland to come serve as a lone soldier in the IDF. Attending Berman Hebrew academy for most of his life, Moshe had never considered drafting to the IDF until he saw the film about Michael Levin. Michael’s story moved him so much that he came to Israel right after high school and never left.
While the decision to draft came easy, being in the army didn’t. His first day in the army “was a complete shock”. With his limited Hebrew, he made make mistakes. He recalls early on in his training when “his commander said to them to run to the tzfardeah”. Tzfareda means dumpster but also frog in Hebrew so instead of running to the garbage he started looking for a frog. These simple moments are just some of the reasons why he enjoyed his time serving in COGAT, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories. Moshe worked directly with the civilian side of the security and political situation.
Recently married and studying for his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Middle Eastern studies at Hebrew University, Moshe has no regrets about drafting. He carries the lessons that he has learned, and his ability to be a positive addition to the State of Israel with him every day. Moshe also volunteers for The Lone Soldier Center as a way of giving back to an organization that gave so much to him before and during his service.
His one piece of advice to future lone soldiers would be that “it is possible to have a meaningful service if you constantly remember what brought you here in the first place”. To Moshe being in the army helped him feel that Israel is his true home.
