Israel at War - Reader Questions, With Help From Major Itamar Ben David
This week, we have questions for Major Itamar Ben David from the candidates for Webster County Supervisor, District 2. Keeping their questions in mind when we vote on November 5th may allow us to get to know our candidates better. We get insight into who they are. First, we have a question for my friend Itamar from Nathan Montgomery, Republican candidate for Webster County Supervisor District 2. Montgomery asks Ben David, “As I look toward the future, if the voters of District 2 choose me to represent them on our County Board, what would be of most use to the people of Israel from Webster County? Charity drives of necessary items, fundraisers, and other valuable resources we can send to the people of Israel come to mind, but I would love your feedback on the best way we can help from a local level.” Ben David sets the stage for his answer with a verse from the Mishnah: Pirkei Avot chapter 5: “...Twenty, to pursue Thirty, for strength. Forty, for understanding...” “Hi Nathan and thank you for your questions. I will use your question to start a little journey that will end with an answer to your original question. There is a rabbinic teaching that points out the stages that a person goes through until he/she becomes an adult. A baby only wants to take and not to give. A child will agree to give only when he understands he will be given back. A young man/woman only wants to give because they are full of the energy of life God with his grace gave them. But an adult understands that he can give only as long as he has an infinite source that replenishes himself. An adult wants to be given so that he/she can give back. What is that infinite source? That is of course God and his many messengers. Why am I saying that? My dear Nathan with your generosity and kindness you immediately asked how you and Iowans can help and support the people of Israel. It is I’m sure reflective of your good heart but also your young age. Since I’m almost 40, I feel comfortable to say, with not even one bit of condescension, that the most important help, that will help in the long run - is to turn yourself to what the Kabbalists are calling “Tzinor Shefa” - “Tubes/Pipes of abundance”. Once we understand the abundant economy of God we realize that it is much more effective, and much more pleasing to God when we - every individual, Jewish or non-Jewish - direct ourselves to a higher cause and use our talent and passion to promote this higher cause. Once we realize that God gave us a specific talent with which we can promote not just ourselves but others - we start to look for opportunities to express this talent for a greater good. Now back to your question. I’m sure that any charity or volunteer work will be well received for many important causes: helping fighting units, supporting the families and businesses of soldiers who are in long service, helping the tens of thousands of Israeli refugees from the north and the south, bringing a smile and a moment of comfort to those who were injured physically or hurt emotionally by the war, helping with the commemoration of civilians and soldiers who were killed and more. Yet I’m trying to direct you to projects that will build long term relationships between your county and the good people of Iowa, from all ages and professions, with the people of Israel. I believe that if there are “twin towns” or “sister city” agreements between towns in your county or the county as a whole with Israeli villages and cities - this could be a long term platform on which people to people relationships can develop. I encourage you to think about different task forces from your county that can visit Israel in solidarity missions of one or two weeks that will better connect with different communities in Israel (be it farmers communities or cities) until you find a potential “twin city”, one that can benefit your community too. Since I sadly haven’t been to Iowa, and I don’t know the community well, I can’t give you a recommendation to work with. But if you build the process right, you can have the next few generations of Iowans visiting Israel regularly and Israelis visiting your communities, building friendships and with mutual respect and understanding benefiting both communities. My dear Nathan, use your talent and passion for leadership to lay the foundations for something bigger than you. Be that pipe of abundance the Kabbalists are talking about. I’m 100% sure you can do it and I encourage you to reach out to me in private, perhaps I can find other ways to support your efforts.”
Our next offering is from the Incumbent Supervisor of District 2, Mark Campbell. Mark Campbell’s question for Major Ben David is, “Can you share what the day in the life of an IDF soldier is in this past year.”
“Hi Mark and thank you for your question. Clearly, a soldier’s day differs according to his/her role in the army, where they are stationed, what rank they are and other variables. In that sense I guess that if you and our readers know people who served in the past or serve now, you are prob- ably aware of it. Obviously our combat units in the frontlines are having an intense service be it physically or mentally and those in other units which aren’t in the frontline but give services to those who are could also be working around the clock on either logistics/training/intelligence and more. But I want to use this opportunity to highlight few things that will showcase the difference between the Israeli army and the American army as far as I’m aware of: 1. Israelis join the army after high school and serve 3 years for men and 2 years for women, depending on their exact profession, and if they sign to serve as officers or not. It means that about 65-70% of Israelis served in the army while about 5-7% of Americans are veterans. The Israeli army has a massive role in the life of every Israeli. 2. Israelis fight on our borders with our families literally behind us. Some people from the villages near Gaza serve in Gaza literally protecting their homes hundreds of meters away from the Jihadists. This is nothing like the US army and most other western armies who fight far, sometimes very far away from home. 3. The reserve service in Israel is very long, until your late 30s or early 40s and in case of officers until mid or late 40s. On top of that and especially during wars - many Israelis show up in their units even if officially they were discharged. Many others volunteer and demand to join their units and support in any way they can. That explains how during and immediately after October 7 within 72 hours - 350,000 Israelis in reserve reported in their units, some flew in from abroad. The reserve service is considered a huge honor and privilege for those who serve. In the past 20 years many reservists felt their status in society is degrading and they don’t get the respect they deserve yet many including myself insisted on serving. I remember my father serving until his early 50s. If he kept me and my family safe all these years I feel obligated to do the same. I have friends in my unit in their 60s insisting to serve and they bring huge amounts of talent, knowledge, and experience to our unit and to younger soldiers and officers. If I’m not mistaken, reservists in the US army are serving about 5-10 years. 4. After the army service many Israelis go about their life knowing they basically have their civil profession and their military profession. Sometimes these professions have something to do with each other but for the most part - it doesn’t. For many years I felt obligated to keep and to develop my military profession skills so that if I get called up I’ll be as useful as possible. Others are making sure they stay in good shape so that the physical challenges won’t be too hard on them if they are called up. This kind of life, knowing that you can always be called up, keeps you alert, sharp and with a sense of purpose, knowing that now it is your turn to keep and secure the ancient Jewish nation. 5. The education core of the Israeli army is something that not every army has. Historically it was much needed in the early days of the state of Israel when Jews from all over the world with very different backgrounds came: some were Holocaust survivors and some were refugees that escaped or were expelled from Muslim countries. The Israeli army had a huge role as the melting pot and as a tool to integrate the soldiers and make a platoon of soldiers from 10 different countries of origin - a functioning unit. The education core exists to this very day; my wife served there, and it has the slogan “an army builds a nation (which in turn) builds an army”. In Hebrew it sounds perfect... anyway, to this day it functions as a core that straightens the commitment of the soldiers to the army, as we aren’t really getting paid for our mandatory service (there is some kind of allowance but we aren’t talking about salaries for the first 2-3 years). I will use this opportunity to also thank and cherish the families of the reservists who are for many months on the frontlines and who are suffering immensely from worrying about their dear ones and struggling to keep the day to day life of the children as normal as possible. The spouses of these reservists are the heroes that enable Israel to fight against the numerous threats around us for an entire year and hopefully will enable that in the future.” We at the Leader thank you so much for your answers, as well as your insight into the IDF, Major Ben David, and may the memory of all those who died on October 7, 2023 be a blessing.
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