Page 52 - HaMizrachi Chanukah 2021 - USA

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Singerman

From Baltimore, MD
IDF Unit Mesaya'at Shiryon

Tell us about your role in the army. and values that I wished to live by. In this my friends and rebbeim. But it's not a choice
reflective process, I discovered the ethical I get to make.
I am currently serving in a Mesaya'at
obligation to do my part. I am just as respon-
Shiryon unit and am part of Yeshivat
sible for this land as any Israeli who grew How does the loss of individuality help you
Lev HaTorah's Lev LaChayal program.
up here. This point was stated clearly in be more successful as a soldier and unit?
Our job is to clear the path to ensure
the Torah itself by Moshe Rabbeinu. Two
there are no ambushes or traps set up It's the most important thing. When we're
tribes, Reuven and Gad, approached Moshe
to stop the tanks. We scout the buildings on a mission, I know that I am a part of a
with the request to remain and set up their
our tanks will pass to remove unit. I know that every guy is looking out
permanent residence on the Moabite
the threat of RPGs or other for me and has my back; I can rely
side of the Jordan River instead of
heavy arms that could be on them at all times. Every mis-
entering Israel proper. Moshe
used to harm our armored protested vociferously, "You sion we carry out requires
vehicles. the whole team to work
are going to settle here
together. I need to focus
while your brothers go
What inspired you to on my piece of the mis-
fight?" Native Israelis
join the IDF? sion without worrying
are my brothers. This is
My decision to my People and my Land. about the other logistics.
draft was a long I wanted to make sure to If one soldier on the team
process that do my role because this is is unreliable, then the
began in child- my story too! whole group is in jeopardy.
Knowing there is one team
hood. I grew
up in a very What has been the biggest chal- and that we will get through
everything together is critical and the
Tzioni family; lenge you have faced so far in the army?
only way to be successful.
we took many
The shift in mindset to realize there is no
trips to Israel,
individuality in the army, no autonomy
during which I The army is a very physical preoccupation.
whatsoever, can be rough. I am a soldier,
developed a love entirely! There is a commander who gives Does this experience have an impact on your
and deep con- spirituality?
orders; I just follow them. It's my respon-
nection to the
sibility to follow the order, and there is In the army, I often get pushed beyond my
land. From early
no room for excuses or alterations to the limits, yet I keep moving forward because
on in my life, I
instructions. I am not in control of my life that is what needs to be done. I must jump
sought to direct
while I am in the army! Now and then I get in response to my officer's commands,
those feelings in
off for Shabbat, and then I have a chance regardless of how I feel at the moment. I
a concrete way.
to reclaim control over my time. But, oth- often think about carrying the commitment
During my erwise, it's not my time; it's the army's. I and vigor of my army service over to my
first year in understand this is important to make me a mitzvah observance. If I act that way for my
yeshivah, I good soldier, but it's challenging sometimes. commander, a 21-year-old who is just a few
began clarify- I would have loved to be at yeshivah for Rosh months older than I am, then certainly I can
ing the ideals Hashanah, to sing and dance and daven with and should do the same for G-d. ■