Page 47 - HaMizrachi #32 RH-YK 2021 USA

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PR O FILE Issuf Kravi
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(Combat Intelligence)
Jonah Bash Reconnaissance and
intelligence gathering close
to and behind enemy lines
From Livingston, NJ
Beret Color: Beige
IDF Unit Issuf Kravi
Training Base: Negev
What person, event or idea inspired you most What inspired you to join the IDF?
to make Aliyah?
Army service is the essential ingredient in
In the United States, high school students feel becoming part of Israeli society. Now that I’ve
pressure to think about their future from an gone through it, I can definitely say it has paid
early age. When I was in 10th grade, I started off. Being in a predominantly Israeli peer group
asking myself: How can I not live in the eternal where only Hebrew is spoken is an experience
Land of our people – since the time of Avraham that most olim never even encounter. In my
Avinu! – when it is waiting for me, on a silver opinion, the army is the most effective place
platter, only a short plane ride away? And on to immerse yourself. I can’t imagine my aliyah
the flipside, I asked myself: What future really and integration process without it!
lies ahead for me in America? Over the
next few years, my plans for the future What do you miss most about America?
became clearer and more concrete. My
mind was made up; I needed to get to I miss going home on a regular basis, and I miss
Israel as quickly as possible to build my comfortable bed and delicious homemade
my future there. food. And of course I miss my family too – who
else gives me a lift when I need one, and does
Tell us about your role in the army. my laundry for me? In all seriousness, it’s really
I served in the army through the hard to be away from family and the emotional
Hesder framework which includes a support they provide, for long stretches of time.
17-month army service in the midst of a five Israelis my age are still at the stage where they
year program also featuring yeshiva learning. go home for Shabbat every two to three weeks.
In addition, it means that I served in a unit
with guys from my yeshiva, Yeshivat Har Etzion. What do you love most about Israel?
Issuf Kravi is different from most combat units.
Instead of rotating between guard duties The Land of Israel and the Torah of Israel are
around Israel’s borders and intense training uniquely holy, but most of all, I love being at
exercises every four months, we are assigned the center of Am Yisrael, among our people, both
to one region from the beginning and stay there religious and secular. In Israel, I feel that I am
throughout our entire service. We go on mis- a player on the field instead of a spectator in
sions at nights and rest during the days. My the stands. When I first decided to make aliyah,
unit is stationed in Yehuda V’Shomron, where this was not the first nor even second item on
most of our missions have been ambushes near my priority list. But now, after living in Israel
hot points for minor terror activities such as for a couple of years, that feeling of belonging
rock throwing or throwing of other small, has become what I cherish and miss most when
homemade explosives. I am away.
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