World
Brothers n Arms
Rinat Avinur
Special to the Jewish News
Ramat HaSharon
S
ome Israeli mothers went through
sleepless nights worrying about
one son fighting in the Gaza Strip
during the recent Israel-Hamas War. But
other mothers had a double worry. One
of them, Lori Schaefer Bacher, grew up in
Southfield. She made aliyah in 1980.
Now 53, her twin sons, age 20, were
both sent in to fight in Gaza. Matan serves
in the Special Paratrooper Forces. Nadav
is a fighter in the Golani Special Forces in
Engineering and Explosives Company.
"Just a few days before entering Gaze
Matan said, "we were sent south where
most regiments would leave from. We
arrived on Saturday when the air opera-
tion had begun; all we had with us was
toothpaste, a toothbrush, training uni-
forms and fleece jackets. It just so hap-
pened to be my brother's base'
Matan and Nadav decided to pull a
prank on the people at the army base. The
twins' units were scheduled to enter Gaza
about the same time, each from opposite
sides of where the infantry corps was sta-
tioned. Meanwhile, while the soldiers were
waiting for their orders, the boys found
time for a bit of fun.
"After we were informed that we were
going into Gaze Matan said, "we thought to
have some fun. We drove everyone crazy".
The twins walked around in mountain
boots and training uniforms; no one could
tell them apart. One time, Matan went to
the squad commander and to Nadav's offi-
cer and complained that he was not get-
ting his equipment. Matan got angry and
asked: "What's wrong with you?"
"And then I would join in on the con-
versation," interrupts Naday."They would
look at us both in shock, not understand-
ing at first what was happening:'
Their mother said she always wanted to
live in Israel. When she moved there, she
married an Israeli, Doron, and raised their
four children there. They were married
in Michigan by Rabbi M. Robert Syme of
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
But she never thought she'd have to face
the grim reality of sending not one, but
two of her sons off to war. "It was always
in the back of my mind," she said, "but I
always prayed that it would never happen."
The brothers were sent into Gaza in
the middle of the night, Jan. 4, from two
different directions. They tried to keep in
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March 5 • 2009
Matan and Nadav Bacher
contact with each other but an exchange
of fire broke out in their area.
"While we were in the field, we would get
reports about the other forces:'Matan said.
"On the second day, we heard that someone
from Nadav's company was killed, but we
weren't told his name. For a day and a half,
I couldn't concentrate on anything."
Then Nadav played a practical joke on his
mother that she didn't find funny. He called
up pretending to be an officer; Lori was
petrified. She was about to be given terrible
news. Then Nadav said: "I haven't spoken to
you for a week and a half and you've already
forgotten what my voice sounds like?"
Lori, who had been unable to sleep for
days, burst into tears. The pressure of not
knowing her sons' fate was overwhelming;
Nadav knew that. He lied and told her he
had spoken to Matan and he was okay.
"And it was during those moments that
I thought of him',' Nadav said. "I said a
little prayer for him, too, to make things
all right.
"I prayed for him every day as well:
Matan added.
During their time in Gaza, the boys
prayed for each other every day. They went
through trying times, but managed to
survive the war. They came home together,
straight into the embrace of worried fam-
ily and friends.
"As we approached the house, we could
smell a barbecue Matan said. "After such
a long time, it's hard to tell the difference.
I thought to myself, 'What is that? Tank
smoke?'"
The boys got a few days' leave, then
returned to their bases. Sadly, they feel
the war had to occur. They wish for
peace, but do not see that occurring
any time soon. They each have over
18 months of mandatory army service
remaining.
"I'm so proud of them;' Lori said. "It
was a nightmare for us as well as for
them.
"And I am so proud of their courage and
their belief in defending our country:' ❑
Translated by Israeli Ines Ehrlich
Lori and Doron Bacher would
like to thank Temple Beth El in
Bloomfield Township as well as
Metro Detroit family and friends for
their support and their donations
of combat boots and other things
so needed by IDF soldiers.
Answering
Israel's Critics
The Charge
This week is "Israel Apartheid Week" on
several U.S. college campuses, declared
as such by several student groups who
work to oppose Israel.
The Answer
This annual event draws a patently
false comparison between formerly
apartheid South Africa and present-
day Israel. Apartheid was a racist,
separatist ideology and policy of lawful
discrimination. Israel is a vibrant
democracy with universal suffrage and
guaranteed minority rights.
— Allan Gale,
Jewish Community Relations Council
of Metropolitan Detroit
@ March 5, 2009, Jewish Renaissance Media