8 | JANUARY 19 • 2023
PURELY COMMENTARY
student’s corner
Never Again: American Jews and the IDF
M
y grandfather was a
prisoner in Auschwitz
for three and a half
years. Six million Jews, including
more than half of his family and
countless friends, were mur-
dered by the Nazis
in Germany just
over 75 years ago.
I grew up hearing
about my grand-
father’s survival
stories, bravery
and persistence.
Jews have always been globally
persecuted and, too frequently,
Jews are in imminent danger,
solely due to their religion.
Despite all our nation has been
through, antisemitism and hate
crimes against us are still at large,
and it is our generation’s turn to
take action.
A substantial factor contribut-
ing to the establishment of Israel
was the Holocaust. Additionally,
if not for our ancestors’ tenacity
and willpower to push through
and survive Hitler’s regime,
keeping faith toward a brighter,
religiously independent Jewish
future, Israel would not have
survived and flourished.
They reclaimed our homeland,
finally giving the Jewish people
an army and a safe haven. The
Israel Defense Forces has risen to
be one of the most powerful mil-
itaries in the world, thus keeping
Jews around the world safe.
Before the establishment of
Israel, Jews were scattered all
throughout Europe. They had
no homeland to run to nor an
army to defend them. All Hitler
needed was to begin scapegoat-
ing them and to send his already
hate-ridden army on its way to
“make Germany great again.
”
Today, the majority of
American Jews feel safe living
in America. However, a key ele-
ment resulting in the freedom
we have to exercise our religion
and live without fear is a result
of the young men and women
putting their lives on the line in
Israel. Israelis are closest to dan-
ger; the surrounding countries
want to wipe out the Jewish peo-
ple. Nonetheless, they continue
to live and fight for the world-
wide freedom of Jews.
It is not right that we Amer-
ican Jews enjoy the benefits of
America while our own peo-
ple put their lives on the line
in Israel. The only difference
between us and Israeli Jews is
that Americans, by chance, were
born 6,000 miles away from
Israel. Otherwise, we would be
required to draft into the IDF.
We are the same united people,
just born in different places.
Anything you can contribute
to the IDF is helpful and, frankly,
needed. Israeli Jews have served
since the existence of Israel and
it is now our turn, as American
Jews, to step up. All a Lone
Soldier — a soldier whose par-
ents reside in the diaspora — is
required to serve is for one and
a half years. It is a chance to be
someone’s hero, a chance to take
a stand to protect your people,
your family. It is an opportunity
to help keep our brothers and
sisters in Israel safe. Just take a
look at what Israelis deal with
again and again and have to read
on the news. “Senior Islamic
Jihad official: We will bomb the
center of Israel.
” “Three people
killed in axe attack in Israel,
extending wave of violence.
”
These headlines are nothing new
for the citizens of Israel.
We are watching history
repeat itself. During the past
77 years, there has been a silent
buildup of hate and tension.
They say history does not,
exactly, repeat itself, but it does
rhyme. The hate is now making
loud appearances in forms of
dangerous, violent acts and state-
ments toward the Jewish people
worldwide. Jews, please join me,
and do your part in memory of
those we have tragically lost and
for our future.
Regarding America, with
the rise of antisemitism, join-
ing the IDF will, in the long
run, help improve conditions
for American Jews. The link
between safety, Israel and the
Jewish people is inextricable.
Out of the steps we can take, the
greatest action of contribution
is to join the Israeli military
service. No matter how big the
job is, it is a necessary factor to
secure a dependable, safe and
thriving future for Israel and
Jewish people worldwide. It
doesn’t matter where you live;
because we are Jewish, it is cru-
cial we each do our part.
When the Yom Kippur war
broke out, my cousin was on
the first El-Al flight to Israel to
go serve and help take part in
whatever he could. I, too, will be
enlisting in the Israeli Defense
Forces when I turn 18. I encour-
age everyone to take part in the
IDF, regardless of where you
live or how religious you are.
Everyone can contribute and
everyone makes a significant
difference.
My grandfather maintained a
brave attitude amongst death to
the left and right of him in the
camps and took part in keep-
ing the Jewish nation alive. It is
now our turn to be brave and
take action to ensure a safe and
persisting future for the Jewish
nation. Never again will we not
have a homeland. Never again
will we be helpless. Never again
will we be pushed around. Never
again will we be herded like
sheep to gas chambers. Never
again will we face extermination.
Never again.
David Berger, 16, is a junior at The Frisch
School/ Yeshivat Frisch in Riverdale, New
York. He is passionate about the IDF.
David Berger
COURTESY OF THE IDF