A Lone Soldier’s Journey from Iran to the IDF

The Fellowship  |  May 15, 2017

The IDF’s lone soldiers are those from places other than Israel, who leave behind friends, family, and home in order to serve the Jewish state. Israel Hayom’s Danny Brenner brings us the story of a young man from Iran who came to Israel knowing that his trip was one-way, and that he would most likely never see his loved ones again:

Thousands of lone soldiers from numerous countries serve in the Israel Defense Forces. The majority, who left behind parents and friends, a promising career and an easier life, came with one goal in mind: to contribute their fair share to Israel’s security.

Cpl. Y. is also a lone soldier, but he is very different from his comrades. Cpl. Y. is from Iran, an enemy state that threatens to destroy Israel and supports terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Y. left relatives behind in Iran, and unlike other lone soldiers, he has not seen his family since his arrival and probably never will again.

“Until I was older I never even thought about moving to Israel,” said the soldier who was born and raised in Iran and who for the past year and 10 months has been serving in a sensitive position in a classified unit in the IDF.

“Only after finishing high school and working a bit, I suddenly decided that what I want to do is move to Israel, build my life there and also serve in the army,” he said.

Y. and his sister left Iran on a “vacation.” Once outside the Islamic republic, the path to Israel was far easier.

“I knew it was a one-way trip. Close family members knew what my intention was and were very much against it, but I was determined, despite knowing it was a difficult goodbye and that I might never see my relatives again,” Y. said…