The father of lone soldiers

Lt. Col. (res.) Tzvika Levy takes care of thousands of lone soldiers, doing whatever he can to alleviate the loneliness of serving in the military without one’s family

Author: Matan Galin

During Sukkot, thousands of lone soldiers- those serving without any immediate family in the country- make trips to their adoptive families in kibbutzim across the country. Lt. Col. (res.) Zvika Levi, the “father of lone soldiers,” is responsible for coordinating and mediating between these soldiers and their adoptive families.

At the height of preparations for the holiday, Tzvika Levi decided to start his day with a visit to the northern base of Mikve Alon, where new immigrants begin their army service. Tzvika sees a mission in these visits. For him, the greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that every single soldier will have a sukkah in which they can have a holiday meal. Tzvika himself celebrated the holiday in his own sukkah hosting five lone soldiers, just a few of the many that his family has embraced over the years.

Tzvika, who served in the paratroopers, is no longer in active service. However, to this day he continues to have daily contact with soldiers. Every new immigrant in Mikve Alon knows his name, and almost all will remain in contact with him throughout their service. During each new round of enlistment, Tzvika makes sure to visit the soldiers in order to answer their questions and allay their fears. His phone never stops ringing, whether it is concerned parents in Australia who have yet to hear from their son, or the soldiers themselves seeking help adjusting.

Thank you Lone Soldiers!

A video in honour of our soldiers from all over the world who  give their lives for our country and our people.

Michael Levin was a soldier like this, a lone soldier. This center was set up in his memory to help all lone soldiers and to support them during and after the years of army,

This is Michael Levin. Michael was a young American Jewish boy, who after completing school in America decided to make Aliyah to his homeland and joined the Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF. Michael was 22 when he fell in the Second Lebanon War.

יהי זכרו ברוך - May his memory be blessed

Ateret Cohanim hosts lone soldiers in Jerusalem

 

Photos by: Ateret Cohanim

A group of 90 lone soldiers, who arrived at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem for their swearing-in ceremony last week, was hosted by the Ateret Cohanim organization.
Ateret Cohanim is an organization which works to strengthen Jewish roots in and around the Old City, and wished to salute these lone soldiers and try to be their “home away from home” when they are in Jerusalem.
In many or most cases, lone soldiers don’t have the family network or support system that Israeli boys have in Israel. As such, the army itself, the Friends of the IDF and organizations like Ateret Cohanim try to help these lone soldiers in whatever way possible.
For the past few months, as various IDF groups finished off their basic training and came to the Kotel for their swearing in ceremony, Ateret Cohanim simply took on the role of being the lone soldiers’ “Jerusalem parents.”
Ateret Cohanim meets the soldiers on their way into the Old City, takes them to a special vantage point with a spectacular lookout inside the Old City (in the old Jewish Quarter) and then gives them a free and delicious meal at a restaurant. The soldiers also receive a modest gift.