Lone Soldier Center

The Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin was founded in Israel in 2009 in memory of American-Israeli soldier Michael Levin by a group of former "Lone Soldiers": young men and women who either venture to Israel to make Aliyah and join the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), or Israeli-born individuals who are serving compulsory military service but lack the presence or support of their families.[1] Some lone soldiers come from Haredi families within Israel but have been shunned by their communities because joining the army is considered a dismissal of traditional life. In recent years, Israel has experienced an influx of foreigners arriving to serve in the IDF, making the center's operations even more necessary than they were before.[2] The Lone Soldier Center assists lone soldiers before and after their service by providing community meals, clothing and other necessities, furniture for the living quarters of lone soldiers, and a team of advisors ready to answer any questions soldiers have before, during, and after their service.

History

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Levin died in combat in the summer of 2006 in the Second Lebanon War during a mission to rescue two IDF soldiers who had been kidnapped by Hizbollah. Levin was a Philadelphia native who made Aliyah in 2002 to join the IDF Parasect. His dream was to one day create a center that would serve lone soldiers from around the world. Tziki Aud became close to Michael Levin during Levin's service. He empathized with Levin's dream and decided to create the Lone Soldier Center to honor the death of Levin and preserve his memory.

Mission

The Lone Soldier Center,[3] supports lone soldiers before, during, and after their IDF service.

The Lone Soldier Center's goal is to provide them with an equal opportunity to succeed both in the army, and in civilian life following their release. The Lone Soldier Center (LSC) builds a family and community for lone soldiers, and takes care of their many needs, primarily off of base. The LSC provides lone soldiers with personal and individual care, and an opportunity to meet and network with their peer group, growing their social circle (as primarily new immigrants in a new country - the wider their circle of friends and connections, the greater their chances to succeed).

The organization's mission includes:

An opinion piece published by the Jerusalem Post in July 2014 described the Lone Soldier Center as “a grassroots, nonprofit organization created by former lone soldiers to assist the next generation of lone soldiers in all aspects of life, in the military and out.”[4]

The Lone Soldier Center provides services to 2,500 of Israel's 6,000 lone soldiers annually. [5] [6]

Branches

The Lone Soldier Center has four different branches across Israel, but only the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv branches have physical club houses. The Tel Aviv branch also features a fully functional "clubhouse" for lone soldiers which opened in 2013.[7] The Be'er Sheva and the Haifa Center's are satelite branches, of volunteers who live in those cities.

Events

The Lone Soldier Center hosts a number of activities to help build a lone soldier community and allow international lone soldiers to adjust to Israeli life. Some of these take place weekly, like yoga, Ulpan Hebrew lessons, and a running group, members of whom participate in the annual Jerusalem Marathon as part of "Team Mikey." The organization also holds a number of meals and parties on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights each month.

Shabbat Meals

The Lone Soldier Center provides Friday night dinner to over 300 soldiers per month, according to the IDF.[8] Many of these dinners are held in Jerusalem's Great Synagogue.

Thanksgiving Dinners

The organization hosts an annual Thanksgiving dinner for American lone soldiers and all others wishing to participate.[9] Hundreds of lone soldiers show up for the event to eat turkey together and watch American football.[10] In 2013, the event was held in conjunction with the Israel Forever foundation.[11]

Advising

The Lone Soldier Center has a team of trained advisors, all of whom are themselves former lone soldiers.[12] Tziki Aud is the group's senior advisor. Advisors offer counsel to lone soldiers before, during, and after their service, giving them information on everything from how to adequately prepare for the service to how to handle the emotional stresses of the army to how to find a job after being released.

Leadership & Staff

The Lone Soldier Center is led by a small professional staff of nine, and over 300 volunteers, many of whom were lone soldiers themselves. It operates with the support, input and oversight of a Board of Trustees and a four-person executive committee.

The Lone Soldier Center's senior staff is composed of the following:

[13]


Lone Soldier Center Board of Trustees

[14]

Funding

The Lone Soldier Center receives its funding in the form of donations from private donors and grants from non-profit organizations. Some people donate money, while others donate food, clothing, and furniture that can then be given to lone soldiers in need. Several teenagers preparing for their Bar or Bat Mitzvot have chosen to take on some sort of charity work to benefit the Lone Soldier Center. The organization also receives funding from the Michael Levin Memorial Fund, established after Levin's death for the purpose of providing for lone soldiers.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Jerusalem Post Website, "The Lone Soldier Center fosters a community for more than 5,000 lone soldiers"
  2. ↑ Jerusalem Post Website, "First lone-soldier center dedicated in downtown Jerusalem"
  3. ↑ Lone Soldier Center Website, "Mission & Vision"
  4. ↑ Jerusalem Post Website, "A salute to lone soldiers"
  5. ↑ Times of Israel Blog, "Soldiers without Borders"
  6. ↑ Jpost Article,
  7. ↑ Haaretz Website, "Privately funded clubhouse for lone soldiers to open in Tel Aviv"
  8. ↑ IDF Info Website, "The Lone Soldier Center"
  9. ↑ Jewlicious Website, "Thanksgiving in Israel"
  10. ↑ Maryland Hillel, "Thanksgiving in Israel"
  11. ↑ Times of Israel Website, "For lone soldiers, turkey with a side of appreciation (and latkes)"
  12. ↑ Lone Soldier Center Website, Advising Seminars
  13. ↑ http://lonesoldiercenter.com/our-team/
  14. ↑ http://lonesoldiercenter.com/our-team/
  15. ↑ A Hero in Heaven, "Michael Levin Memorial Fund"

External links