experience the conflict as an Israeli, but also
as an Israeli soldier.
Stationed on the border with Gaza,
Jonathan was constantly under threat from
the barrage of rockets and incursions from
Palestinian Arab terrorists. “I remember
spending many long nights on the border
thinking about how Israelis in the south have
managed to cope with such terror for so long.
These were the days before Iron Dome, with
less bomb shelters than there are today, and
I struggled to compartmentalize such an
untenable situation.”
Jonathan went on to explain that Operation
Cast Lead was a turning point that justified
Israel’s right to defend its citizens from the
years of rocket and terror attacks from Gaza.
Jonathan’s firsthand experiences as a soldier
in the IDF exposed him to the geostrategic
complexities Israel faces on a daily basis.
“My service in the army helped me grasp the
strategic significance of areas like the Jordan
River Valley and the various communities in
Judea and Samaria. It made me realize how
important it is for Israel to maintain freedom
of action in order to keep Israelis safe. After
the army, I didn’t go to India or Southeast
Asia, but I spent time travelling in Europe,
and it was there that I truly understood the
importance of grassroots advocacy as well.
Defending Israel can be done in many critical
ways.”
Jonathan explained that while unwinding
from his army service, he was able to connect
with different people from all over the world,
acting by default as an ambassador of Israel,
as he shared his experiences as a soldier and
as an oleh, an immigrant. “Essentially all Jews
and Israelis, wherever they are in the world,
play the role of ambassadors for Israel whether
they like it or not,” he said.
Jonathan took this new role seriously. After
trading in his army uniform for civilian
clothes, he knew that there was still an
ongoing effort to aid and defend Israel. After
witnessing the constant anti-Israel propaganda
being spread on social media and in circles
right before his eyes, Jonathan felt compelled
to act where it was needed the most; “The
most pivotal battleground is on campus,”
he said. “There is a constant diplomatic and
political war being waged against Israel; a
constant war of the narrative – including a
delegitimization campaign against Israel after
Operation Protective Edge in 2014 that was
at unprecedented levels. All of this made me
want to get involved.”
In 2015 Jonathan relocated from Tel Aviv
to the U.S. with his wife Celine. Upon his
return, he immediately established his new
home with the ZOA, committed to combating
28 ZOA People
the unprecedented levels of anti-Israel
hatred that had spiked following the 2014
war in Gaza. His goals were clear: to connect
with students and to engage with them about
Israel; and to empower students to speak up
and to speak the truth.
When asked “why the ZOA,” Jonathan said,
“The Zionist Organization of America is a
pillar of the Jewish community and stands up
for Israel in the most important areas. I found
that ZOA was a natural home for me and I
felt, and still do, that ZOA grasps Israel’s
security needs better than any organization.
Having lived there as a citizen and having also
served in the army, it is this proud record and
lineage that drew me to ZOA.”
Almost five years since Jonathan’s first
position with the ZOA, the anti-Israel
climate has changed a lot, while Jonathan’s
determination and motivation have stayed
the same. There is a noticeable difference in
the challenges that today’s students fight on
“My service in the
army helped me
grasp the strategic
significance of
areas like the
Jordan River Valley
and the various
communities
in Judea and
Samaria. It made
me realize how
important it is for
Israel to maintain
freedom of action
in order to keep
Israelis safe.”