The Lone Soldier Center foundation was created in honor of Michael Levin who was killed in the line of duty in the second Lebanon War in 2006. Michael Levin was born in Philidelphia and moved to Israel in 2002, joining the 890 Paratroopers brigade as a lone soldier. He was on leave and visiting his family in the United States when the war broke out, at which point he returned to Israel to fight with his unit. On Tuesday, August 1st, Michael’s unit moved deeper into Lebanon and in an intense battle with Hizballah in Aita Al-Shaab he was killed.
There are over 5,000 lone soldiers in Israel. These are young volunteers who have left their respective countries all around the world to come and help build and protect Israel. Most Israeli born soldiers have parents who live in the country with them, and when they are out of the army for leave they return to a home with warm food and clean laundry. For lone soldiers however, there is no one that cooks for them or cleans their laundry for them. Many find it difficult to be able to take care of all their immediate needs, and also have time to rest and enjoy themselves on their short leaves.
The most difficult aspect for a lone soldier is the day when he is released from the army. Native Israelis go home to their parents, where a lone soldier has to find a way to take care of his/her most immediate needs – housing and food. And the truth is that many struggle, and in the end return back to their respective countries.
The Michael Levin Memorial Center for Lone Soldiers is devoted to helping these loan soldiers both while they are in and out the army. The center is an amazing resource as it provides them with a place to go for meals on the weekend and also helps establish these loan soldiers in Israeli society after the military. In effect, the goal is to create an atmosphere, where these loan soldiers, are no longer alone, but an essential group in society. To read the Lone Soldier Center Blog
