Can there be such a thing as an Israeli hero?
The death of Asaf Ramon: It may be all too true that the best of us, Israelis, and Palestinians, go young.
By Bradley Burston Tags: Bradley Burston Israel news IDFClick here for more articles by Bradley Burston
In Israel, where vitriolic self-criticism is the norm, we have become accustomed to living without heroes. As statesmen, our once-admired military leaders have often proven to be inept, corrupt, narrow of vision, devious of execution.
There are exceptions, of course, none more exceptional than astronaut Ilan Ramon, who lost his life in the last flight of the Columbia space shuttle nearly seven years ago. Another might have been Ramon's son Asaf, a young pilot who had set out to follow in the footsteps of his father, and who was killed in a training accident this week.
Can there be such a thing as an Israeli hero? Much of the world appears to have come to believe that there cannot. Many molders of opinion, whether journalists, human rights activists, or present or former world leaders, indicate with unequivocal conviction that Israelis - and, in particular, all Israelis in uniform - have lost their right to be considered extraordinary human beings.
There is an element of racism in this, especially in the implication that Israelis as a whole are so belligerent, brutal and insensitive to Palestinians, they have lost their very humanity - if, in fact, it ever was humanity to begin with.
Following Asaf Ramon's fatal crash, a Haaretz reader from Switzerland wrote in response, "Every Israeli should learn from him how to crush your head on some Hebron rock. Your war and death cult ist [sic] simply disgusting."
There is a sense that the transgressions of Israelis are so grave, that they have lost their very right to grieve over their own very real tragedies. At the same time, there is a sense that Israelis have also lost all right to take pride in themselves, in their accomplishments, or even to believe in their own future.
On the far left, in Israel and across the world, there is a sense that the only heroes among the Jews are those who function as patriots exclusively of the Palestinian cause - those who believe that the Palestinians have every right to a state, but that the Jews, if they ever had such a right, have long since shown themselves morally unworthy.
The Jewish far right has also made a mockery of the word hero, exalting those who shoot innocent Arabs and burn their crops, battle IDF soldiers and brand them Nazis.
Perhaps the time has come to ask, as the Talmud asks, "Who is a true hero?" The sage Ben Zoma responds that the true hero is the person who succeeds in conquering the basest of impulses, the worst of human instincts.
In an age of quietly tyrannical political correctness and instant-messaging, the complex heroism of individual Israelis may have no place. Israelis themselves have by and large learned to hide it, to dismiss it, to denigrate it.
Three days before Asaf Ramon was killed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from his Likud to put on a display of toughness, told party leaders "We have proved time and again that we are willing to make concessions for peace, but we won't delude ourselves - we are not willing to be freierim."
The word Netanyahu used, a word for which the English translation "suckers" is an anemic equivalent at best, is at the heart of the secret heroism of Israelis.
There is no small element of tragedy in the circumstance that hardline Israelis are often so desparate to act so as to avoid "coming out a freier" that in the end, they cause themselves, their loved ones, and their country tremendous harm.
And there is no small element of irony in the fact that the most truly heroic of Israelis fit precisely the mantle of "freier." People who give of themselves for the sake of others, people willing to do the work when no one else is, people of genuine honor, profound and silent self-esteem, people who see moral complexity without allowing themselves to be paralyzed by cynicism or seduced by simplicity.
Ilan Ramon was a hero not despite his complexity, but in many respects, because of it. In an interview he gave soon after returning as one of eight Israel Air Force pilots who bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981 - an interview which was released to the public only many years later - he said:
"You go around on the street just like any person, and you come upon the people of the Land of Israel - shoving, yelling, and all manner of things of that sort - you know what you're headed for, and you often ask yourself, are you willing to give everything you've got for these people, because you live among these people.
"Of course, in the end, you do give, because you give not because of all these people, but because of the people close to you."
On Monday, as preparations were underway for the burial of Asaf Ramon beside his father's grave, Netanyahu's voice on Army Radio was that of a different man, the very human brother of an army officer and fellow member of a commando unit, who gave his life in 1976 leading a mission to rescue 100 hostages held in Entebbe, Uganda.
Netanyahu's voice was that of another kind of silent Israeli hero, a member of a family who has lost a loved one. His voice was that of the Israeli who knows most intimately, that it is the freier who, in the end, is responsible both for Israel's survival and for its moral compass.
For many years I wore the uniform of the IDF with pride, specifically because of the heroic freiers with whom I served. I learned that for every story making world headlines, and justifiably so, in which IDF men are accused of undue violence against Palestinians, there are easily scores of unreported incidents in which IDF commanders, enlisted men and reservists, marshaling their creativity and their individuality and their humanity, have aided and refrained from injuring Palestinian civilians, often endangering their own lives in the process.
But the secret heroism of Israelis is by no means confined to the military. Large numbers of Israelis work tirelessly, heroically, to help pave the way to a common future with the Palestinians. Many Israelis have opened their hearts to helping refugees from foreign genocides. Their stories go largely unnoticed abroad, in no small part because it takes work to make a people long marketed as villains, into flesh and blood fellow humans.
This is the truth. It is politically incorrect in the extreme. It muddies the colors of cardboard ideology and blanket support for one angelic side over the diabolical.
In a post-modern world, many of Israel's true heroes may have no place. Abroad, extremists of the right and left are often singled out for recognition as heroes, while the people who simply get up in the morning and keep the state safe, are dismissed as fence-sitters or dupes.
In a post-modern world, we have come to believe that self-defense, self-esteem, compassion, love of country and love of peace are issues of the left and the right. It is the true hero, though, who realizes that all of these together are parts of the same whole, the conquest of our lowest impulses for the sake of our best version of a reflection of the heavens.
It may be all too true, that the best of us go young. I have spoken with Palestinians who say the same thing. For those of us left to grieve, there is a constant impulse to give in to revenge, to fury, to callousness. Heroism may be nothing more than defying all of these, and seeking, in our feeble way, to follow the example of our best and our lost.
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Lebanon War II ... Just as down broke after the last moments of dark, Roi reported that his group was attacked from the rear. Corporal Merchavia took his troops and set out to flank the terrorists. Due to the darkness he ran straight into a wall and was injured. So Roi took more soldiers and went toward Merchavia to rescue him. When Roi arrived, he saw that Merchavia was wounded. A few of the other soldiers then pur Merchavia on a stretcher. As they lifted the stretcher a grenade was hurled at them. Roi saw the grenade and jumped on it. By absorbing the inpact Roi saved the lives around him. Suddenly I heard Roi shout with deep intent, "Shema Yisrael!": "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One...". He said this with real intent... Just as in our legends.. Moments later Roi succumbed to his wounds. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrAtif91gI8
to surpass things and believes you thought cannot be surpassed, the difference between being human and really divine inspired. You are what you do, you do what you are.
Not the thugs with guns who are flatteringly called the Israeli Defense Forces.
On a runaway train some give way to terror, all try to save themselves, some push and shove others but a parent will still have their primary concern for their children and will consider them first, They are not heroes -they are doing what they must.
...he would only open his eyes and abandon all that lefty peacenik pie in the sky cunmbiah surrender "human rights" definitions to all the international gang of paid off oil guzzling nations who force their "World Government and misguided "International Lawa" mumbo jumbo on it seems just 1 tiny Jewish state to the exclusion of far worse culprits...IF BB would give up the Lefty mattra of "make the jew feel guilty" (nobody else in the world does Bradley-but you expect the Jews to wallow in guilt as a good lefty does... IF only uou could understand REALITY and REALPOLITIK --if only you would dump your lefty naive thinking-THEN you Bradley would be that new Israeli hero - a convert to political incorrectness ..a REALIST, not a dreamer of false hope.
Amira Hass.
They die fighting and the living "heroes" get, proudly, the medals. Thirty three freierim soldiers died in vain in Lebanon so that Olmert and Peretz could brag how strong the IDF is, under their leadership that is. Freierim make great discoveries, inventions, and their bosses get the honors. These freierim remain forever unknown...that is heroism...
One person's hero may be another's villain. Thise Soviet soldiers that were defending Leningrad and fought in Stalingrad werw also oppressing their ownpeople in the worst way. While you and I might consider Leutenant Kubilay a hero many in Turkey still weep after the black robed mullah who carried Kubilay's head in the streets of Menemen. While most Turks consider Kemal Ataturk as the greatest hero if a Turkish Kurd or Armenians in the USA would speak out freely their opinion would be the opposite. Personally I do not have any heros. I do repect the great achievements that people did. I respect Jonas Salk for developing the polio vaccine, Kemal Ataturk for crating a modern state etc. but I have no doubt taht all heros have their weeknesses and some dark side just like any human being.
i agree about the borders in that everyone is wrong to some degree. Some incentives from the international community in the form of money and re-development are essential for the Palestinians. A viable Palestine should give Israel a better sense of security and a good trading partner. There is a better chance for me to be in Geneva than in the West Bank, but it not will be as interesting! Regards
Of course, as Switzerland did during WW2, Israel today has the full right to protect her borders. The difference is, that Israel currently has no internationally recognized borders. Now from Israel critics to Israel friends all over the world, there is an overwhelming agreement, that Israels permanent borders should be some- where around the 67 line in exchange for a "warm peace" with the Arabs. No sane person will then dispute Israels right to defend that border. P.S. Judging from your name, at least you don't seem to intend to settle down in the West Bank over the next couple of months...:)
Your thoughts have merit in a sane world, but you should study the history of the countries which surrounded Switzerland in the 1930's and 1940's. Israel may not be entirely correct in all of its positions on peace but has the basic right to survive within secure boarders as do its neighbors. Switzerland protected it borders in WWII in addition to her neutrality. Israel does not intend to leave or be imprisioned.
The real hero is always a hero by mistake, he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else. "Heroing is one of the shortest-lived professions there is."
"and they loved not their lives unto the death". Revelation 12:11. it not about lives nor death, it simply about their love... loving truth, respecting lives even that of their enemies... to be, is: the obedience of Abraham, leaving rich Haran for Canaan when G-D called... the grief of David, as he rent his clothes and mourned for Saul's death... the prayers in tears of Jeremiah the prophets who fear the L-RD... yet to be human, is not limited to those recorded in the Scripture, but also to many unsung, unrecorded Jews in past, present, future, not just in Israel but round the world. Can there be such a thing as an Israeli "human"? who are not? let he that is sinless amongst you cast ye the first stone... toda, Haaretz, toda, Bradley. toda, my beloved L-RD G-D Almighty!
they do not expect to be celebrated or awarded medals.they hope only to be able to get back to their wives and children.they dearly love their children but will march to aid the state as they did during defensive shield the lebanon war and cast lead.israel's own and very special heroes.
they are called reservists.they leave their wives and children and join the army when called in times of emergency.
I don;t think there is a sense that Israelis cannot be heroes. Israel does polarise international opinion because of its ongoing conflicts. But it is just one of many countries, its conflict is one among a number in the world and Israelis are human beings like anyone else. It must be very annoying to feel that the entire world is condemning you the whole time, but I don;t think that perspective is accurate anyway. Still, it goes to the heart of how some Jews feel that Jews and non-Jews are cosmically destined to interact. The very fact that some people feel that way changes the dynamics of any political situation.
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11. ... and they loved not their lives unto the death... is about "human" who recognized himself made in the image of the L-ORD G-D Creator. To talk about "hero" i rather not, but dwelt me on; can there be such a thing as an Israeli human, made in the Image of G-D? why not? can Israeli not laugh, not weep, not grief, not bled, not sin, not repent, not worship his Creator? To be human, simply not just to "die gloriously, heroicly"... simply to live. yet loved not my live unto the death... for greater is HE, greater is truth, greater is goodness, greater is righteousness, than my living or my death. Believing that: my L-RD forgives my enemies when i can't, holding on steadfastly even when your loved ones forced you to sin, bearing silently when the people all around you even one you respected most misunderstood you... is human. toda, Haaret
Why do we need heroes? Heroism is concentrated courage and is a label usually associated with individuals who have taken risks, sacrificed their best interests, to achieve something outstanding in the context of war. But we want peace. What Israel really needs now is a small jar of that courage concentrate, less than contained in even one hero, thinly spread over the whole of Israel's population. Each individual needs but a lick of it because courage, not heroism, is what it'll take to make peace. What happened to Israeli courage, Bradley?
Ofcourse there can be Israeli heroes. I just don't think that bad fortune is the same as heroism. He was a pilot. He knew the risks. And unfortunately he died during his job.
To become a "local hero" is not really that difficult, all it takes is to impress your fellow compatriots by showing your skills, talent or charme. It takes much, much more to become a "real hero", which is also admired and respected by people abroad. That will always require a special amount of courage and sense of humanity (Mandela, Gandhi etc...). Unfortunately soldier Ramon didn't have the time anymore to become a "real hero". Who knows, maybe he would have been the man, who would have convinced his fellow compatriots that it will require a readyness for compromise on all the 3 core issues in order to make peace with the Arabs....??? Or maybe he would have been the man, who would have stepped into the footsteps of the current governement and forced the "Greater Israel" project at any costs....??? We simply don't know that with certainty. And that is not soldier Ramon's fault.
A fitting tribute. However, it can be noted that the real heroes among seem to act without thinking. They act despite moral complexity or simplicity. They simply act. They simply do the right thing. For one foolish instant all that matters is the right thing; the hero disappears no longer matters. The hero is the person who stands with their back to the guardrails of the bridge, facing the panicked stampede of lemmings rushing headlong over the guardrails into the abyss. And in their own fear and panic at the insanity of the act being committed yells "STOOOOP!!!" The fool who for an instant tries to change reality to make the world a better place. G-d bless the life and memory of Ilan Ramon and Asaf Ramon and all those that have fallen and all those living defenders of all Israel and all life everywhere.
Assaf Ramon was heroic in that he embarked on a career of military service knowing the danger, and his family having suffered already. But the media and high profile politicians went way overboard. Other soldiers lost their lives recently but received virtually no public acknowledgement, so it suggests we are in desperate need of heroes at this difficult time as Israel is really confronting itself and it's long standing avoidance of negotiating honestly with the Palestinians. Assaf was a good young man, and we can all be proud of his efforts, and let us use his short life as a boost to the importance of renewing the peace process and self examination as a nation in keeping with the coming Holy Days. Israel needs to withdraw from the territories, from excess pride and nationalist religious zealotry. We will all be heroes then.
One of the essential qualities of heroes is the ability to persevere or change course appropriately. This, ironically, is shared by many villains, so what distinguishes the two? The effects on other people in the long run. Bibi may end up a hero if he can reverse direction of himself and the state on the issues with the Palestinians. And the religious settlers and Rabbinate, for all their self righteousness pretensions, may be the villains in the mid east driving a process that is both illegal and against Halacha and ultimately damages the cause of peace. . Anyone who actually promotes peace is heroic, and anyone whose actions delay it is evil. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Simple, but not easy.
humanity, insight, and moral integrity. you're bit of hero yourself, bradley.
A beautiful article. I'm sending it to my family and friends in the US
"...It may be all too true, that the best of us go young" I beleive it was the American Civil War historian Bruce Catton in his seminal work; "Stillness at Appomattox" who stated that the best of America, its potential leadership cadre, for the next 3 or 4 generations was completely wiped out by the conflict. If the current leadership of Israel and the Jewish community as a whole are any indication, I would say that the Holocaust and Israel's wars have had the same deleterious effect upon the collective.
Resisting Arab wars,terror and annihilation threats since the day 1 of Israeli creation until today is more than heroic. Europe,America,Australia,Canada they all accepted Arab occupation.The only resisting country is Israel. Congratulation Israel!
Herod.
Shimon Peres seems like a genuine hero as he speaks out repeatedly on issues from a moral standpoint. That he secretly met with Saeb Erekat to encourage meeting with Bibi, that he publically took a stand on the racism against Ethiopians, and over and over expands the ceremonial role of president to enhance the true national moral interest make him a true hero in my eyes. What ultimately is the nature of heroism is an interesting subject, but perseverance, bucking public opinion and easy paths, taking risks, dealing with doubt in a measured way are all factors. And lets not forget for all the slurs he has been subjected to, Shimon built Israel's nuclear capability, still the ultimate defence at this time of Irans belligerence. Thank you Shimon. Thank you Bradley.
An extraordinary article. Rich, deep and true. I want to send this to everyone I know.
where a Jewish victim is more easily accepted than a hero, he is truly a small spark in a huge dark world. God bless you.
For a long time I have pondered on the question who is a real hero. It was clear to me that neither the propaganda of the past nor the hypocritical commentaries of modern medias were able to offer a satisfaying definition. Then I read about a Bundeswehr pilot in the sixties who had refused to open his ejection seat of a notorious "Starfighter" plane which would have meant to let it drop over a city. He died leaving his family whith a mortifying pension. Two days ago a Munich businessman was killed in bright daylight trying to protect some youths from two violent juvenile robbers at a mass transit station. Despite of all public tribute his wife will live in poverty. My feeling is that real heroes are no tools for state propaganda but rather an embarrassment for the treating of their families. Let me wish the best to Ramon's family!
The story of the creation of Israel is both epic and heroic. Mr. Burston has produced a fine essay. Asaf Ramon was not a 'hero'. He was just a kid working hard at learning a job. "Of course, in the end, you do give, because you give not because of all these people, but because of the people close to you." - Ilon Ramon Too true. Mr. Netanyahu likes to use the word 'freier' which means a 'chump' or' sucker.' Did the kibbutzniks of the Etzion Bloc seek to be 'hero's' or were they 'freir'? Neither. They were just protecting theirs and their own. "In camp was found a book, the first of the kind I had ever seen, in which I was made a great hero, slaying Indians by the hundreds." - Kit Carson A 'Hero' is in the mind of the beholder. I would not wish to serve with someone intent upon becoming a 'hero'. I might end up dead with him. . .
Israel has become a deeply polarized nation like the USA. The things which polarize Israel aren't similar to all of the things which leave the USA polarized. The only similarity between Israel & the USA could be the visceral hatred of the parties to this ugly polarization. Harted is rife. There is no unity or patriotic feelings among Israelis or Americans. The several states of the USA aren't united any more. That is true of Israel too. Don't expect any agreement on who could be a national hero. Israelis & Americans are too self centered to agree among themselves. It isn't like 1948 in either nation.
"...It may be all too true, that the best of us go young" I beleive it was the American Civil War historian Bruce Catton in his seminal work; "Stillness at Appomattox" who stated that the best of America, its potential leadership cadre, for the next 3 or 4 generations was completely wiped out by the conflict. If the current leadership of Isarel and the Jewish community as a whole is any indication, I would say that the Holocaust and Israel's wars have had the same effect upon the tribe.
and rightly so...But mind you, only for Israelis and some non-israeli jews... They were probably both good people who did a high-risk job not for money but for passion and idealism and anyone should be apploaded for that, be it an Israeli, Iranian or Palestinian. Death of an astronaut or a 21 years old is a tragedy. Yet for someone non-israeli and non-zionist who sees the enormous amount of pain inflicted on the Palestinians by the IDF and IAF it is practically impossible to consider any member of the IDF (apart from the refusniks and a few isolated cases, see below) as heroes, it is an impossibility. This does not mean that I cannot consider foreign soldiers as heros. For example the Soviet soldiers and officers who defended Leningrad and fought in Stalingrad during WWII are heros for me. Also, a few years back an IDF soldier had stopped another soldier who crazily had opened fire on the Palestinian civilians with no reason.I think that IDF soldier who stopped that lunatic was a hero.
Bradley, I like it. It's true.
Heroics are always personal. If those personal circumstances transcend one person, or group they can take on a larger significance, but they must have at least that resonance. The more significant issue is what to do with conflicting emotions towards persons or events because of the conflicted nature of that event considered for heroics. While the author raises some aesthetic questions raised by postmodernism -- which has roots as an art movement -- nonetheless, postmodern elements, such as a too-tidy arrangement with narrative, both run counter to the author`s main claim -- that most heroics are unsung -- and in lockstep in that the author is attempting to, albeit GENERICALLY, inscribe such heroics. To draw that point out -- the most narrativized -- in fact, overblown heroics concern the wtc attacks. So, while 3000 die each day in other conflicts, because they are unseen they do not exist, whereas with wtc, they do. That`s the nature of the problem with heroics.
... for putting 'pen to paper' so eloquently
It's often in suffering rather than in fighting that I perceive heroism. When holocaust survivors tell their stories, I sometimes feel small. A friend had to bury his father and brother in the same year. But he came to play cards with us the day after his brother's death, saying that he needed some distraction. In the evening, I asked when the burial would be, but I regretted my answer because I had hardly known his brother. He said: "Tuesday, if anybody wants to come?" I feared a wrong answer could reveal my sympathy which might not be helpful among buddies (I thought sympathy could even add to his demolition) and with a calm and dark voice I heard myself saying: "Well, if it was You who'd be burried I would go there of course." His wife put an arm around him saying "Please not!" Fortunately, he found some of that combative spirit and gave me the answer I deserved: "No, I'm not planning to die before you!" I silently thanked God. The evening went on and he even laughed when leaving.
What a beautiful and sincere article. It's an inspiring reminder that we must not give in to the urge of stereotyping, generalizing and demonizing. Thank you for your wonderful insight.
A sad eulogy for a pilot who lost his life in a place where he shouldn't have been in the first place. We feel for his mother as we do for all mothers who lose a child, but why accusing us of racism if we disagree with Asaf Ramon being a hero? And why assuming that those of us who are appalled by Israel's behaviour towards the Palestinians are "on the far left". Does the left have a monopoly on ethics? Israel's F16 pilots have never encountered an enemy plane, they are used solely against presumed "terrorists" and civilians. But yes, there are heroes also in the IAF: the ones that have the great courage to say no, no to war crimes, no to targeted assasinations, no to dropping bombs amongst children.
Erekat. Protect him Israel.
Condolences to the families of all who have lost their lives in the struggle.
This says what what everyone should but no one seems to. Thank you.
I live in Israel, and consider myself second to none in admiration for the country and support of its right to exist and defend itself. Nonetheless, it is a painful truism, expressed in Burston's article, that the occupation is a moral impairment that eclipses the country's otherwise fine qualities. The swine from Switzerland showed by his posting that he is no better than the most chauvinistic settler living in Hebron, if not worse. Nevertheless, we must recognize the severe and possibly fatal damage the occupation is wreaking on the country, and the true heroes must struggle against it.
A hero is someone who performs a defining act of courage and self-sacrifice for the sake of others. In this limited sense, I would not call Assaf Ramon a hero, which is not to denigrate him in any way - he was an able, admirable, and patriotic young man. The tragedy is that he did not live long enough to demonstrate heroism. Heroism requires not just the man, but the act. Certainly, he was a potential hero, which is more than most of us can say.
...to the tragedy of Asaf Ramon's death.
Very well written on a truly interesting topic, it goes right to the core of Jewish morality. In my opinion an Israeli hero is indeed something difficult, I think this is because as Jews we learn (correctly) not to have heroes because there is something idoltorous about it. But as this article also depicts Ramon came to be a hero of Israel as he was a brother of its people. This has nothing to do with nationalism, I believe. I get the same feeling, a very unique feeling indeed, when I read stories about Baal Shem or Martin Buber (perhaps because my need is not a hero to protect me physically but psychologically). Also as Jews the comfort of brotherhood is more essential than that of heroism. As the Swiss commenter indeed shows, we have only our self to turn to.
There is a certain balance to be considered. Fighting wars does not make you a automatic hero. What you did in the war also counts. What you did to make peace and compromise also counts. And how about some understanding of other's situation.
Yes, there is such a thing as an Israeli Hero--and surely the entire Ramon family qualifies--what tremendous strength it must take to see your loved ones sacrificed. No words can console. I remember another hero--Jonathan Netanyahu who died to bring Jews back from Entebbe. How many others have sacrificed themselves so that we can live in this land. Each day I marvel that such very young people put their lives in danger guarding our borders. I pray for the day when this will no longer be required...and each day I am thankful that there are so many who stand strong so that I may live my life safely.
Simply beautiful.
beautifully written. Thank you
to all of today's brave young men who die too soon. Thank you.