KU Chabad is rallying around one of its own and his compatriots in the Israel Defense Forces.
Leawood native and University of Kansas alumnus, Daniel Jezmir, 23, joined the IDF in December and is now a combat soldier in the 35th Paratroopers Brigade. Along with his platoon, he is preparing to spend the winter months on assignment in the holy city of Hebron.
KU Chabad is raising money to provide Jezmir and the 70-plus soldiers in the platoon with extra gear for the frigid months ahead in Hebron. The organization is a little more than half way to its goal of raising $5,000 to purchase heavy-duty coats for the soldiers.
With their deployment just a month away, Jezmir and KU Chabad are appealing to the local community to help them reach their fundraising goal. People can join the campaign through this website (www.CoatsforIDF.com), where a special site has been set where 100% of every donation goes directly to this cause.
Jezmir is part of a group known as the Lone Soldiers, young men and women from all over the world who choose to leave their homes and families to become soldiers with the IDF.
“It means so much that the people in Kansas care about us,” Jezmir said by phone to Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, director of The Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Lawrence. “Being a Lone Soldier from Kansas can make it more difficult as it’s not as common. It gets tough at times without the Midwestern love and warmth that I am used to from back home.”
Jezmir decided to become a Lone Soldier after his involvement with KU Chabad deepened his connection to the holy land.
“In recent years we are dealing with a rise in antisemitism, and sadly so much assimilation and disconnect from Judaism,” he said. “The more we can strengthen the connection of all Jews across the globe with each other and with Israel, the stronger the Jewish nation will become as a whole.”
While uprooting their lives and being away from loved ones is difficult enough for the Lone Soldiers, the turmoil of a pandemic makes a tough task even harder.
“It was definitely very challenging,” Jezmir said. “It pushes you to your limits, both mentally and physically, and it puts you in a place where you dig deeper into the drive and motivation to serve.”
As Jezmir’s platoon prepares to deploy for the winter months, they are fully aware of the risks posed by ongoing clashes between the Jewish and Muslim residents. In addition, Chevron has very harsh winters where the temperatures dip below zero.