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My Hero:

Michael Levin ד"יה

David Perlow

ne morning while drinking War began and Michael immediately put never met him,
coffee, I came across an article everything on hold. As quickly as he could, this extraordi-
in The Jerusalem Post with a he returned to Israel, cutting his vacation nary Jew will
Opicture of a young IDF soldier short to join his comrades in arms. forever be a
who had died in the Second Lebanon War. When Michael arrived in Israel, he was told part of my life.
Little did I know that my life would change not to come to the front lines, but rather to Michael’s yahr-
forever that day. serve guarding Hebron. Michael looked the zeit is the same
As I gazed into the picture of the young officer in the eye and said, “If you want to day I made
lad, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized go to Hebron, you go to Hebron. I’m going Aliyah – a coin-
by his smile. Who was this young man? to Lebanon.” Michael did not take no for cidence that
What I came to learn about First Sergeant an answer and demanded to be sent north carries great
Michael Levin is that he was no ordinary to rejoin his unit in combat. Ultimately, his meaning for
Jew from America. He was the most inspi- wish was granted. A week later, Michael me. I named
rational figure for young American Jewry. and his unit entered the southern Leba- my son Michael
He single-handedly woke up a generation nese village of Aita al-Shaab, where they Avraham in honor of my personal hero,
to the importance of being committed came under heavy enemy fire. Michael who exemplified what is demanded of all
to Israel in both thought and deed. I had was killed by a Hezbollah sniper while in this generation: commitment.
found my hero. fighting in that battle. Commitment is not judged by whether
Michael Levin left his comfortable home Michael’s posthumous influence was so you serve in the army or not. It’s about
in Philadelphia to volunteer with the IDF’s great on me that I decided to walk down loving G-d, His people, and the Holy Land
elite 890 paratrooper unit. During his ser- the same path, leaving the comforts of of Israel like Michael did. May we find the
vice, he participated in many anti-terror- America to volunteer as a soldier myself. strength to serve G-d and our people with
ist missions, repeatedly risking his life in Michael gave me confidence and vision; he the love, commitment and dedication of
defense of Israel. In 2006, Michael received showed me not only that it could be done, Michael Levin, a true hero of Israel.
a special vacation from the army to visit but it must be done.
his family in the United States. While he On July 25th, the 7th of Av, we will com-  This essay is adapted from David Perlow’s
was in Philadelphia, the Second Lebanon memorate Michael’s 17th yahrzeit. Though I autobiography, Not A Lone Soldier.

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