Making Aliyah: Some inspiration

I write to you now on board our overnight ferry from Italy to Greece, the last country on our voyage before we arrive in Israel. On Monday we traveled from Siena to our evening stop-over in an amazing castle just north of Rome. Tuesday, we drove down to Naples driving through the winding hills of central Italy.

As promised, I'll take this opportunity to share with you some experiences that we have had with a particular individual on this trip.

The way that each of us lead our lives has a significant impact on the lives of those around us. For some people, this 'sphere of influence' stretches out to family, friends, teachers, students, business associates and people we just come across as we go about our daily lives. Some people's net spreads a little wider, such as for those involved in positions of responsibility in the many Jewish organisations and charities that you will no doubt be familiar; and there are of course those who hold positions of authority or responsibility in the public domain. Then there are those whose action may change the course of history, specifically the history of the Jewish people in Israel.

We are honoured to have with us one such person on the rally. Moshe Levy is one of five individuals who has been awarded a 'Hero of Israel' award for his acts of bravery in the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Moshe, together with his son Itzik are driving a 1932 Deusenberg to which a few modifications to the steering (including a knob on the steering wheel and power assisted steering) have been made, the reason for which will shortly become apparent. A few evenings ago, Moshe spoke to us about the circumstances he was faced with in the Yom Kippur war in respect of which he received this 'Hero of Israel 'award.

Moshe's Israeli Army Special Forces Unit had been told that a massive attack from a group of Egyptian commandos was imminent and he was charged with the task of leading his soldiers to stop the attack. Moshe's unit approached the area under attack in the armoured vehicle from which they were tasked to defend a key Israeli bunker. A unit of Egyptian commandos was stationed nearby and was preparing to ambush them and take over the bunker. On one side were the Egyptians and on all other sides were swamps, so they had no choice but to fight. In the events that followed, Moshe told us of how he had his right arm blown off by an incoming Egyptian rocket and how in the minutes that followed, he left his team of soldiers and single handedly (quite literally) approached the bunker that the Egyptian commandos had occupied. Moshe told us that, at the time, his intention was to enter the bunker holding the grenade and to blow up the bunker, taking his own life as well, but he was somehow able to get the strength to throw the grenade and his own life was spared. As you can imagine, there are many more details that he discussed and these are well documented in books and movies. A year later, he received the 'Hero of Israel' award for these incredible acts.

At the age of 62, Moshe in participating in his first London to Jerusalem JNF Car Rally. He is a multi-millionaire, runs several international businesses and has homes in Israel and the USA. The 1932 Deusenberg that he is driving with his son, is one of 60 classic cars that he keeps in his own car museum in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is spoken of as a person who squeezes the most out of each moment of his life as if it were his last. Moshe Levy is an inspirational personality and a true hero of Israel.

I'm off to get some sleep before we're woken up at 5am tomorrow morning at the port in Greece.

Aly