Israel - Portrait of a Jewish Patriot

[Isaac Kasabian]

Portrait of a Jewish Patriot


(IsraelNN.com) Each Sunday morning, Private Yinon Klein leaves his wife and two children to return to his IDF unit for basic training. At the age of 23, Klein has begun to live a double life in service to his country. On weekends he is a husband and father to two but during the week he is a fighter in Israel’s Givati brigade.

Yinon Klein grew up the seventh of eight children. As a youth he became active in the "Ezra" Religious Zionist youth movement, where he met his future wife Mor and, at 15 began to study at the prestigious Mercaz HaRav Kook yeshiva in Jerusalem. At 20, Yinon and Mor were married, and at 23 – already a father to two children – Yinon enlisted into the IDF as a combat soldier.

From an early age, Yinon always wanted to give of himself to his nation. Although already a husband and father at 23, he decided to join an IDF combat unit in order to participate in the struggle to defend the homeland of the Jewish people. Despite being advised by many close friends that volunteering on a Magen David Adom ambulance would be just as important as serving in the IDF while allowing him more time to spend with his family, Yinon maintained that the highest level of service to the Jewish nation is to be a combat soldier in Israel’s army. He knew that due to his age, his window of opportunity to serve in a combat unit was shrinking each day and if he did not enlist now it would become too late. After receiving permission and support from his wife, he kissed her and their children goodbye and entered basic training.

When Klein was drafted into the Givati brigade last summer, his commanders – all a few years younger than he – were initially shocked to hear that instead of parents waiting for him to come home each Sabbath, Yinon returns to his wife and two children. The commanders help accommodate the Klein family as much as possible, allowing Yinon to call his wife whenever the soldiers have free time, despite the strict regulations against phone calls from basic training.

When asked about his children, Yinon beams with pride as he shares stories of his daughter Bracha’s bright smile and mischievous adventures. He says that his son Yosef – now13 months old and growing his first tooth – resembles the cartoon baby on the Bamba (popular Israeli children's snack) package due to his chubbiness and the single curl atop his head.


Yet despite his high motivation to serve and the support Yinon receives from his commanders on base, adjusting to the double life has been difficult for Klein and his family. The children do not have a father during the week. The first time Yinon spoke to his wife while touring the base, he says she broke down crying from the stress of being apart. Although Yinon admits that it is difficult for him to not be there for his wife to support her emotionally, he maintains the importance of serving the Jewish people as a soldier in Israel’s army. Upon receiving an award for excellence from his commanders, Yinon passed the award on to his wife, who he says deserves it for carrying the burden in the home and sharing her husband with the nation of Israel.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135652


For those who mock or insult the religious Jews, here see their commitment to protect the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

[Ordie]

Thanks for the post.
Interesting read.

[Kaplanr]

And he didn't go in at 18 because?

[Yehuda]

And he didn't go in at 18 because?
good question

[NimDod]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but as a father and a husband, his salary from the army is a few times higher than the average Givati Conscript.
Also, he'll be spending very vew weekends at his base, on the expense of his fellow soldiers.

I know this because I did my Maslul also with a married father for one. He was (and still is) a great guy, but he chose to join the army at that age after he was already married with a child. He also had to serve only 9 months, and not 36 like the rest of us.

IMO, He's not more of a patriot than any other of his fellow soldiers in Givati.

[Yehuda]

when i was in the army,years ago,we had a married guy with us,he got more than 5000 shekel a month

[gilgoul]

For those who mock or insult the religious Jews, here see their commitment to protect the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

I don't insult nor mock religious jews,
My battalion got a lot of beinishim lately, and they are an asset, definitely an asset.
But the very fact that because one is religious, could get deferments, easier service or shortened time is by itself greatly disturbing.
With all due respect to the service of the beinishim, doing a hesder, 5 years at the charge of the state for only 18 to 24 month really in the army, and monopolizing combat units by cooptation (well, the kibutzinikim did the same think with nahal), all of that doesn't bring the perfect image here described to mind.
Still, as long as one serves, I'm happy, but religious kids don't have the monopol in heroism or service, and considering the demographics of the country, the kids from development towns constitute the highest proportion of service member of the active army, and I see no particular praise going out to them.

[Flamming_Python]

Religion is the opium of the masses

Is it worth having people running around with guns, no matter how patriotic, when they have been brainwashed into living out and believing a fairytale some guy made up thousands of years ago?

[Yehuda]

Religion is the opium of the masses

Is it worth having people running around with guns, no matter how patriotic, when they have been brainwashed into living out and believing a fairytale some guy made up thousands of years ago?
its great
well motivated fanatized soliders,are the best,and the most willing to give tehir lives,much better than some volunteer that is serving just for the money

[GiladS]

For those who mock or insult the religious Jews, here see their commitment to protect the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

I take it that you are referring to the Israelis, as I doubt many non-Israelis have a clue regarding the issue of Bnei Yeshivot.

Not a single Israeli on this board has ever mocked the Religious Zionist community (to the best of my knowledge), they are the salt of the earth in my opinion.

Though there are some important issues that NimDod and Gigoul have already raised.

[RoyB]

Religion is the opium of the masses

Is it worth having people running around with guns, no matter how patriotic, when they have been brainwashed into living out and believing a fairytale some guy made up thousands of years ago?
Like there are not God believing Christian soldiers..

[RoyB]

I don't insult nor mock religious jews,
My battalion got a lot of beinishim lately, and they are an asset, definitely an asset.
But the very fact that because one is religious, could get deferments, easier service or shortened time is by itself greatly disturbing.
With all due respect to the service of the beinishim, doing a hesder, 5 years at the charge of the state for only 18 to 24 month really in the army, and monopolizing combat units by cooptation (well, the kibutzinikim did the same think with nahal), all of that doesn't bring the perfect image here described to mind.
Still, as long as one serves, I'm happy, but religious kids don't have the monopol in heroism or service, and considering the demographics of the country, the kids from development towns constitute the highest proportion of service member of the active army, and I see no particular praise going out to them.
Good post, Gilgoul.

[Hollis]

Like there are not God believing Christian soldiers..

I think he would say the same about them. Personally anti-religion intolerant people are no different than religious intolerant people. While he may consider himself to be on a higher intellectual plain than the "religious" people, he is no different that those intolerant and fanatical religious people who push their agendas. Other words religious fanatics and atheist fanatics are the same.

[Isaac Kasabian]

I don't insult nor mock religious jews,
My battalion got a lot of beinishim lately, and they are an asset, definitely an asset.
But the very fact that because one is religious, could get deferments, easier service or shortened time is by itself greatly disturbing.
With all due respect to the service of the beinishim, doing a hesder, 5 years at the charge of the state for only 18 to 24 month really in the army, and monopolizing combat units by cooptation (well, the kibutzinikim did the same think with nahal), all of that doesn't bring the perfect image here described to mind.
Still, as long as one serves, I'm happy, but religious kids don't have the monopol in heroism or service, and considering the demographics of the country, the kids from development towns constitute the highest proportion of service member of the active army, and I see no particular praise going out to them.

My comment wasn't directed to you or people like you.
I'm not saying the non religious communities are less committed or capable.

This was directed to the people who labeled them as a "cancer" to Israel.
Better yet is the soldier who used his body to protect other's from a grenade and later the State wanted to put his family homeless because they were living in a "settlement" with many Israelis applauding the attitude.

To know the sacrifices people make to defend the country and it's citizens.
I know all people from various spectrum of the Israeli society make the same sacrifices, but those for example the secular are well known since before 48 to be in need of changing people's mind, that the religious people do contribute and pay the ultimate price if necessary.

[Isaac Kasabian]

I think he would say the same about them. Personally anti-religion intolerant people are no different than religious intolerant people. While he may consider himself to be on a higher intellectual plain than the "religious" people, he is no different that those intolerant and fanatical religious people who push their agendas. Other words religious fanatics and atheist fanatics are the same.

Indeed... the problem doesn't lie in him believing or not in G-d but rather with himself.

[GB_FXST]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but as a father and a husband, his salary from the army is a few times higher than the average Givati Conscript.
Also, he'll be spending very vew weekends at his base, on the expense of his fellow soldiers.

I know this because I did my Maslul also with a married father for one. He was (and still is) a great guy, but he chose to join the army at that age after he was already married with a child. He also had to serve only 9 months, and not 36 like the rest of us.

IMO, He's not more of a patriot than any other of his fellow soldiers in Givati.

x2; well said.

[Yehuda]

I take it that you are referring to the Israelis, as I doubt many non-Israelis have a clue regarding the issue of Bnei Yeshivot.

Not a single Israeli on this board has ever mocked the Religious Zionist community (to the best of my knowledge), they are the salt of the earth in my opinion.

Though there are some important issues that NimDod and Gigoul have already raised.
agree,really good people and very good soldiers

[Flamming_Python]

I think he would say the same about them. Personally anti-religion intolerant people are no different than religious intolerant people. While he may consider himself to be on a higher intellectual plain than the "religious" people, he is no different that those intolerant and fanatical religious people who push their agendas. Other words religious fanatics and atheist fanatics are the same.

Well aren't you the judgemental one? I've been reading a lot of your recent judgements about what people are anti-semites, what people are tolerant to religion, or to this or that. And since you make such ****ouncements based on a couple of written paragraphs of each person in question... well I can only deduce that you must be a pretty amazing guy, eh HOLLiS?

FYI, I also consider the infraction you gave me for the above mentioned post, as somewhat unjustified. I was carefull not to bait or offend anyone who is or might be reading the topic. However its not my place to question your decisions in this matter.

So you know, I believe in God, albeit in a general way, not tied to the intepretations of any one religion. That being said, I also observe quite a few religious traditions of my people, go to Church on Easter, etc... I view it as tradition and part of my culture. I don't believe in the literal recording of events as written in the Bible, but I do believe in the teachings of it - i.e. I treat religion as a philosophy. And because I believe in its teachings, I would describe myself as a Christian, if not neccesserily such a practising one.

I have no problem with Religious people, or for that matter with Religious soldiers. But there is a clear limit to everything. People who are very religious, I believe have no business being in the military. A soldier should defend his home, his familly, his country, and he should fulfill all the duties and orders required of him - BUT at the same time he should privately question everything, no less than any other citizen of the government in question. This is because a soldier is not a seperate social-class or seperate being that exists only to follow orders, but, especially in a country such as Israel, a soldier is also a painter, or an engineer, a window-washer, factory worker, business-man or anything else. If on the other hand, the Israeli army has soldiers, who honestly believe that it is their religious duty to do this or do that; for lack of a better word; zealots, then the army becomes less an army of the people, and more a tool of whatever politicians and government happens to be in power at the time.

This article is attempting to justify the recruitment of people with such an outlook on life into the military, by virtue of their 'extra patriotism'. In any other epoch or any other country, it is exactly such people with such mentalities that are recruited into such organisations as the SS, or Suicide bomber battalions, or any other such similar organisations, who then proceed only to carry out 'what is required of them', without actually sparing a thought for what it is that they are actually doing. Not that I would of course compare the IDF to such organisations, but more fanatics in it won't do it any favours in the long run.

[RoyB]

How do you know what his mentality is? Did you gather all of this from the article?
Him being religious doesn't mean anything.
In no sentence in the article I have seen anything that might suggest that he joined up at the age of 23 to serve his country in order to go out to some kind of a crusade as you make it sound like.
Also, for me it seems that the main point of this article is more about him leaving his family to serve his country, than him believing in god and learning in some Yeshiva.

[Flamming_Python]

How do you know what his mentality is? Did you gather all of this from the article?
Him being religious doesn't mean anything.
In no sentence in the article I have seen anything that might suggest that he joined up at the age of 23 to serve his country in order to go out to some kind of a crusade as you make it sound like.
Also, for me it seems that the main point of this article is more about him leaving his family to serve his country, than him believing in god and learning in some Yeshiva.

I am making the assumption that he is, based on the presumption that if he wasn't, the article wouldn't have strived to highlight his religious background and focus on his patriotism.
If he isn't, then I take it all back and withdraw my critisism.

[JJC]

So you know, I believe in God, albeit in a general way, not tied to the intepretations of any one religion. That being said, I also observe quite a few religious traditions of my people, go to Church on Easter, etc... I view it as tradition and part of my culture. I don't believe in the literal recording of events as written in the Bible, but I do believe in the teachings of it - i.e. I treat religion as a philosophy. And because I believe in its teachings, I would describe myself as a Christian, if not neccesserily such a practising one. You just sound like a complete clusterphuk of contradictions, but parade it as some "philosophical" approach to religion. Philosophy involves some consistency in logic. :) The men that you accuse of being some dangerous religious zealots with guns, most probably have more reasoning and logic applied to the way they approach their faith, beliefs and convictions. But that's another topic.




This article is attempting to justify the recruitment of people with such an outlook on life into the military, by virtue of their 'extra patriotism'. In any other epoch or any other country, it is exactly such people with such mentalities that are recruited into such organisations as the SS, or Suicide bomber battalions, or any other such similar organisations, who then proceed only to carry out 'what is required of them', without actually sparing a thought for what it is that they are actually doing. Not that I would of course compare the IDF to such organisations, but more fanatics in it won't do it any favours in the long run. You insulted thousands of IDF soldiers and million of others, who are no different than the religious soldier described in the article. You prejudged them based on your misconceived notions of religions and in this case orthodox Judaism because you have never come across them in your life, outside the news articles you read on them. Just because someone studies the Torah in a yeshiva, keeps kosher, the sabbath, rituals, and beliefs in some ancient texts.

The article accurately describes the religious types of these two IDF soldiers that died for their country. Now, tell me if they are some fanatical lunatics with guns because they studied in yeshivas, had strong faiths in God and observed all the required rituals?...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbbaQbzUb6o

[Flamming_Python]

You just sound like a complete clusterphuk of contradictions, but parade it as some "philosophical" approach to religion. Philosophy involves some consistency in logic. :) The men that you accuse of being some dangerous religious zealots with guns, most probably have more reasoning and logic applied to the way they approach their faith, beliefs and convictions. But that's another topic.

How is it a contradiction to say, that I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, just not with the crazy stuff written in the Bible about the Earth being created in 7 days, etc...?


You insulted thousands of IDF soldiers and million of others, who are no different than the religious soldier described in the article. You prejudged them based on your misconceived notions of religions and in this case orthodox Judaism because you have never come across them in your life, outside the news articles you read on them. Just because someone studies the Torah in a yeshiva, keeps kosher, the sabbath, rituals, and beliefs in some ancient texts.I've come across them in my life, had lengthy conversations with Rabbis and been to Israel many times. Many of them are very much progressive people; I'm not talking about them.

I mean jeez is there anything that I can say without offending you people? Guns and religion don't mix; I don't care who you are. It's one thing to observe religious and cultural traditions, study religious texts, etc... while at the same time being very open minded, educated and largely immune to propaganda. It's completely another thing to think of your country as some sort of holy power, or a battle as one between good and evil, or that you should just 'trust in god' and never question why your politicians are sending you to this war or that war. All of this is an example of brainwashing and there is no room for this in a modern state or army.

[Yehuda]

in fact,guns and religion can be an excelent combination