The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin is a grass-roots Israeli non-profit founded by former lone soldiers to support the more than 6,000 lone soldiers serving in the IDF today. Michael Levin was an American-born lone soldier who fell fighting in the Second Lebanon War. The Lone Soldier Center was created by a group of Michael's friends, fulfilling his dream that one day lone soldiers would have a home away from home to receive meals, advice and help.
Contents
- History
- Mission
- Branches
- Events
- Shabbat Meals
- Thanksgiving Dinners
- Advising
- Leadership Staff
- Lone Soldier Center Board of Trustees
- Lone Soldier Center Executive Committee
- References
The Center is powered by 300+ volunteers who work tirelessly to offer a warm, supportive, and inclusive community for lone soldiers. While family can never be replaced, the Center aims to create a family-like environment to help lone soldiers thrive in Israel before, during and after their military service.
History
Michael Levin, 21, fell in combat in the summer of 2006 in the Second Lebanon War during a mission to rescue two IDF soldiers who had been kidnapped by Hizbollah. Levin was a Philadelphia native who made Aliyah in 2002 to join the IDF. His dream was to one day create a center to serve lone soldiers from around the world. Tziki Aud became close to Michael Levin during Levin's service. He empathized with Levin's dream and decided to create the Lone Soldier Center to honor the death of Levin and preserve his memory.
Mission
The Lone Soldier Center, supports lone soldiers before, during, and after their IDF service.
The Lone Soldier Center's goal is to provide them with an equal opportunity to succeed both in the army and in civilian life following their release. The Lone Soldier Center (LSC) builds a family and community for lone soldiers and takes care of their many needs (primarily off of base). The LSC provides lone soldiers with personal and individual care, and an opportunity to meet and network with their peer group, growing their social circle (as primarily new immigrants in a new country - the wider their circle of friends and connections, the greater their chances to succeed).
The organization's mission includes:
An opinion piece published by the Jerusalem Post in July 2014 described the Lone Soldier Center as “a grassroots, nonprofit organization created by former lone soldiers to assist the next generation of lone soldiers in all aspects of life, in the military and out.”
The Lone Soldier Center provides services to 2,500 of Israel's 6,000 lone soldiers annually.
Branches
The Lone Soldier Center has four different branches across Israel, but only the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv branches have physical centers. The Tel Aviv branch also features a fully functional "clubhouse" for lone soldiers which opened in 2013. The Be'er Sheva and the Haifa Center's are satellite branches, of volunteers who live in those cities.
Events
The Lone Soldier Center hosts a number of activities to help build a lone soldier community and allow international lone soldiers to adjust to Israeli life. Some of these take place weekly, like yoga, Ulpan Hebrew lessons, and a running group, members of which participate in the annual Jerusalem Marathon as part of "Team Mikey." The organization also holds a number of meals and parties on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights each month.
Shabbat Meals
The Lone Soldier Center provides Friday night dinner to over 300 soldiers per month, according to the IDF. Many of these dinners are held in Jerusalem's Great Synagogue.
Thanksgiving Dinners
The organization hosts an annual Thanksgiving dinner for American lone soldiers and all others wishing to participate. Hundreds of lone soldiers show up for the event to eat turkey together and watch American football. In 2013, the event was held in conjunction with the Israel Forever foundation.
Advising
The Lone Soldier Center has a team of trained advisors, all of whom are themselves former lone soldiers. Tziki Aud is the group's senior advisor. Advisors offer counsel to lone soldiers before, during, and after their service, giving them information on everything from how to adequately prepare for the service to how to handle the emotional stresses of the army to how to find a job after being released.
Leadership & Staff
The Lone Soldier Center is led by a small professional staff of nine, and over 300 volunteers, many of whom were lone soldiers themselves. It operates with the support, input and oversight of a Board of Trustees and a four-person executive committee.
The Lone Soldier Center's senior staff is composed of the following: