I happened to be in Israel on the very first day of his basic training, and I remember him going through his checklist of required items for his duffel bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot the lock. I\u2019m supposed to bring a lock,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When we arrived at the meeting point, I scanned the area and noticed a hardware store a block away.<\/p>\n
I hurried over, purchased the needed item, and handed it to Eli.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow you are all ready,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Little did I know just how ready this child truly was.<\/p>\n
His basic training was shortened because of the war.<\/p>\n
When I spoke to Eli yesterday, I looked at his face, more mature, changed. The softness of youth had given way to something stronger, more defined.<\/p>\n
He is now part of the heroes shaping history.<\/p>\n
He knows it. I sense it deep within him, in his soul. And he carries it with the highest moral standard.<\/p>\n
These soldiers are our children, our grandchildren, young men who once needed reminders to pack something as simple as a lock.<\/p>\n
They were raised in homes where values were passed from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n
In Eli\u2019s case, his great grandfather Yechiel was handed a gun the moment he set foot on holy ground in March 1948. He was among the first heroes who helped build this country.<\/p>\n
He stepped forward when history demanded it, and so did our Eli.<\/p>\n
I sat quietly for a long time after that unforgettable phone call.<\/p>\n
He had just been given permission for a few hours of sleep, and instead of rushing to his quarters, he chose to call his grandparents.<\/p>\n
Eli stands tall now, carrying responsibilities most cannot begin to imagine.
Hashem has entrusted him, and so many like him, with a strength that feels almost beyond human.<\/p>\n
Dear Times of Israel Readers, <\/p>\n
Many of you have followed my stories on\u00a0The Times of Israel.<\/p>\n
\t I love to write\u00a0about family, faith, Israel, Jewish continuity, and the legacy of Holocaust survivors.<\/p>\n Over the years, I have shared personal reflections from Vienna, Los Angeles, and Israel, stories of survival and rebuilding, of grandchildren and soldiers, of Jewish life, memory, and hope. My goal has always been to preserve the experiences of a generation that witnessed history and to connect those lessons to the challenges and blessings of our lives today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I invite you to continue following my blog<\/a> on The Times of Israel and to share these stories with family and friends.<\/p>\n Follow My Blog<\/a><\/p>\n For readers who would like to explore a larger collection of these essays and reflections, many of them have also been gathered into my book, Life Is Golden<\/a> and We Are Still Here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Purchase \u2018Life is Golden\u2019 on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n \t Purchase \u2018We Are Still Here\u2019 on Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image3-300x480.jpg\")
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\n\t\tRebecca Lieberman Nissel. (Courtesy)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/book-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tLife is Golden. (Courtesy)<\/p>\n
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