Michael Levin was born and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia. Michael grew up in a traditional, suburban Jewish home, was active in the Conservative Movement, attending Camp Ramah, USY, and spending a year in Israel on Nativ. At sixteen, while studying in Israel, Michael decided that one day he would move to Israel and join a combat unit in the Israeli Defense Forces.

That dream was fulfilled when Michael made Aliyah in 2003 and joined the elite paratrooper unit. On August 1, 2006, Michael was killed in combat during the Second Lebanon War.  Michael's yahrzeit, 7 Av, will be observed this Sunday, July 16.

You will find below a memorial prayer for soldiers of the IDF. The text comes from the new Masorti Siddur, V'ani Tefilati.

August 1^st  2010 marks 4 years since Michael's death.  Michael Levin has become a household name for millions of young Jews around the world. Thousands have followed in his footsteps.  Today there are over 5,000 lone soldiers serving in the IDF. They leave their friends and family at home to help defend a country and people they love: Israel.

In honor of Michael's memory and heroic choices, in 2009, a group of former lone soldiers created the Michael Levin Memorial Center for Lone Soldiers (MLMC). Confronted with the harsh realities lone soldiers can face - at times going without adequate food or knowing where they will sleep on weekends off base - the Center's volunteers quickly went about establishing infrastructure and programs to deal with these basic needs.    

The MLMC for lone soldiers was founded in the midst of a global financial meltdown, but has still managed to stay on its feet because of the leadership and hard work of the former lone soldiers who themselves volunteer at and manage the center. Despite meager funding, donors have kept the Center alive and are creating a lasting legacy in Michael's name. 

The Center currently assists over 1,300 lone soldiers and hopes to one day expand to help all 5,000 lone soldiers overcome obstacles in the path to learning, serving, and making a life for themselves in Israel. With the help of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, the Center hosts Shabbat dinners once a month where over 200 lone soldiers, including many former USYers, gather with friends. For many of the lone soldiers, the Center has become their family far away from home.

Last Saturday night, 50 Jerusalem lone soldiers were treated to an evening of homemade cookies and milk, to show them that they are appreciated, and can get warm cookies even if mom is 2,000 miles away. The Center helps hundreds of soldiers move into apartments, pays for moving trucks, buys furniture and sets-up adoptive families for soldiers wanting this support, and also gives guidance and career advice to soldiers who have completed their army service.

Michael Levin and all lone soldiers are heroes. The center was created with the sole purpose of helping these young Zionist heroes succeed. To learn more about Michael Levin, Lone Soldiers and the Center go to: http://lonesoldiercenter.com/

If you are in Israel, please join us in marking Michael's Yahrtzeit on Sunday July 18^th, at Michael's grave on Har Herzl, at 4:30PM.