When birthright met the IDF

January 30, 2011 - 8:40 PM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, coexistence, education, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life, Travel 

The reunited cousins

Here’s a slice of synchronicity courtesy of an Israeli/American intersection that took place last week.

Daughter Sarit serving in the IDF was in Jerusalem for four days as part of a commander’s course – her unit visited historical sites in the Old City, educational facilities like Yad Vashem and had classroom time at the hostel they boarded in near the Holocaust museum in the neighborhood of Bayit Vegan.

Returning to the hostel after a day’s activities, the soldiers encountered around five groups of American college-age youth here on their Taglit (birthright) trip who had just arrived at their Jerusalem base, the same hostel.

Amid the culture clash and the general excitement among the American kids at seeing live Israeli soldiers in their midst, Sarit happened to notice a familiar face in the crowd.

“Melissa!” she shouted. And a young woman looked over and screamed “Sarit” and they ran to each other in embrace. Melissa is Sarit’s cousin from Long Island, the daughter of my wife’s first cousin. They had spent some time together a couple summers ago, and had kept in touch via facebook.

We knew Melissa was in the country and were planning to see her the following night, but we had no idea at that point where she was staying in Jerusalem. A quick call home from Sarit with a “guess who I just saw” informed us as to her whereabouts.

Like Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, of all the youth hostels and hotels in Jerusalem, the two cousins from Long Island and Jerusalem had to walk into the same one.

They spent the evening catching up and introducing their respective friends to each other, integrating the young Americans and Israelis. For both sides, it was likely an interesting education and one that will do wonders for understanding their shared and disparate cultures and backgrounds.

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Foto Friday – Olga Dragunsky’s Forgotten Heroes

August 21, 2009 - 12:01 AM by · 4 Comments
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Life, Profiles, War 

Americans know that Jews fought in the US Army in World War II but many are less aware of the Russian Jews who fought equally as valiantly against Hitler. According to the Center for Jewish History: “An estimated 500,000 Jewish men and women served in the Soviet military during WWII… in every branch of the armed forces and on every front… More than 100 Jews held the rank of general, and in many important battles of the eastern front, Jewish generals held key commands.”

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“Jews ranked fifth among the ethnic groups, or ‘nationalities,’ who received the highest military accolade of their country, ‘Hero of the Soviet Union.’ About 150 Jews received this prestigious award for their bravery on the battlefield. Altogether, about 160,000 Jewish soldiers received medals and honors of one kind or another, making them the fourth most decorated nationality in the USSR.”

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Olga Dragunsky, whose family came to Israel following the fall of the USSR, began photographing elderly Russian war veterans, “because I was interested in the history of the country where I was born. I heard a lot of stories during my life and I decided to know more.”

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Dragunsky turned her personal interest into a magnificent final project when she graduated of the School of Photographic Communications, Hadassah College Jerusalem.

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Since graduating, Dragunsky has been working as an official photographer for Taglit-birthright Israel. She also self-published a book with personal stories from each veteran.

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In May 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the Center for Jewish History launched a fascinating website, Letters From the Front: Jewish War Heroes, dedicated specifically to honoring the heroism of those who gave their lives in the fight against fascism. The site presents postcards, letters, medals and other materials from the Blavatnik Archive , a unique private collection whose mission is to share with the public previously unknown historic documents and memorabilia. Definitely worth a look.

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