by Herb Keinon 

They pick up and leave family, friends, home, cars, first-tier universities, and often top jobs for a land in which, in most cases, they don't have relatives, and are unfamiliar with the language, culture, food, and mentality. Once there, they choose one of the harshest, most difficult frameworks possible in which to immerse themselves: the army. They are Israel's lone soldiers. ''Lone Soldiers: Israel's Defenders from Around the World'' tells a tale, engagingly written by Jerusalem Post diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon, with accompanying pictures by noted photographer Ricki Rosen. This book tells the personal stories of fourteen of these volunteer lone soldiers - including one, Michael Levin, who fell in the Second Lebanon War - and of an ''old school'' kibbutznik, Lt.-Col. (res.) Tzvika Levy, known as the ''father of the lone soldiers,'' whose life mission is to take them under his wing and make their landing in Israel and the IDF as painless as possible. Their stories are living proof of Israel's enduring strength and Zionism's vibrant appeal. 


About the Author: 
Herb Keinon is a veteran reporter for The Jerusalem Post. Keinon has lived in Israel since 1981, spending most of those years writing on a wide array of topics for the newspaper. For the last nine years he has been the Post's diplomatic correspondent. Originally from Denver, Keinon lives with his wife and four children in Ma'ale Adumim. 


About the Photographer: 
Ricki Rosen has worked as a photojournalist for over twenty-five years, and her photographs have been published in such major publications as Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, People, Paris Match, and Le Figaro. She recently published a photographic book, Transformations - From Ethiopia to Israel, featuring portraits of Ethiopian Jews during the 1991 Operation Solomon rescue mission and then the same people transformed after fifteen tears in Israel. Rosen lives in Jerusalem with her husband and two children. 


Praise for Lone Soldiers: 


"At a time when criticism of Israel, from within and from without, seems commonplace, it is refreshing and inspiring to read Herb Keinon's ''Lone Soldiers: Israel's Defenders from Around the World,'' a story about so much that is good and unique about Israel.... This book reminds us that the IDF is the institution that brings Israelis together, that it is the glue that keeps an ideologically diverse society whole, and is the vehicle to bring outsiders, whether foreigners or natives, to becoming full Israelis. Lone Soldiers is one more reason to be thankful for Israel, thankful for the IDF, and thankful for people like Tzvika Levy who make sure that the lone soldier is not alone." 
-Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League 

"This special book, written by Herb Keinon, tells the wonderful tale of fourteen lone soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces and the heart-warming story of a unique man, Tzvika Levy,... who is known as the ''father of the lone soldiers.''... The importance and contribution of the lone soldiers to the State of Israel and the IDF is immeasurable.... The personal example shown by the lone soldiers, who come from afar and volunteer to serve of their own free will out of pure Zionist ideas, is an educational value of the first degree.... Herb Keinon's book is a testimony to the love of Israel and to the unity and cooperation between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora." 
-Ehud Barak, Defense Minister and former Prime Minister in the foreword to Lone Soldiers: Israel's Defenders from Around the World 

"This book that tells the story of the Lone Soldiers, and relates the personal story of Tzvika Levy, is a source of inspiration for anyone with a beating Zionist heart." 
-Moshe Ya'alon, Strategic Afairs Minister and former IDF Chief of General Staff 

"The Israeli Defense Force is the heart and soul of Israeli life. It is in the core of our values and the foundation of our culture.... The lone soldiers are unique individuals who, despite their unusual personal status, give and contribute to the IDF wholeheartedly. The IDF and the State of Israel need to show their gratitude for these wonderful youngsters.... Let this book be a tribute to the vast contribution of the lone soldiers to the Israeli army and our nation." 
-Shaul Mofaz, former IDF Chief of General Staff and former Defense Minister 

Fierce determination 

This appealing volume presents the stories of 14 individuals who chose to join the IDF, leaving families in the US, Canada, England, Morocco, Russia, Ethiopia, Australia, Belgium, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. 

Jerusalem Post journalist Herb Keinon steers gently through the interviews, allowing the young soldiers' voices to be fully heard. Each story is engaging, enhanced by Jerusalem photographer Ricki Rosen's camera work. 

Keinon's portraits reveal a wide array of motivations to join the Israeli army, which one can assume are shared by the approximately 4,000 other lone soldiers from foreign countries. 

Michael Botham came to Israel from London in 2006 simply because the air fare was cheap. After 10 months of odd jobs, such as tossing tomato slices onto sandwiches on a kibbutz assembly line, he missed England enough to go back - only to find he missed Israel more. He returned in 2007 and now is in the Golani Brigade. 

At the other end of the spectrum is Michael Levin, one of 119 soldiers killed in the Second Lebanon War. Piecing together Levin's story from interviews with his father, Mark, and with a teacher at the Israeli high school program Levin attended in 2001, Keinon portrays the young man's fierce determination to fight for Israel. 

photographs by Ricki Rosen 
developed by Lisa Hackel 
Published by Devora Publishing 
Hardcover, 160 pages (includes 45 color photos) 
ISBN 13: 978-1934440-60-5 
publication: 2009