The October 7 attack on Israel prompted a number of American Jews to courageously leave their careers and families to make Aliyah to Israel and join the war effort. This was facilitated by Nefesh B’Nefesh, in partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and JNF-USA. 

We spoke with Andrew Silberman (21) and Ezra Ruderman (23) during a quick break after spending a month and a half in the field. Both men made Aliyah to Israel together in 2021 and enlisted in the IDF as lone soldiers. They are roommates in Herzliya and have recently both officially received their Aliyah certificates. 
Andrew is originally from Chicago and enlisted in the Paratroopers brigade, and Ezra is from Texas and served as a military officer in the Kfir brigade. Both completed their service last summer. 

Andrew, who began his Aliyah process immediately upon his release, said, “When the war broke out on Simchat Torah, I was visiting family in the US. After I returned from synagogue, I immediately turned on my phone and discovered that a good friend in my unit, Benjamin Lev, may he rest in peace, was killed in the war in the battle of Kfar Aza on October 7. As far as I was concerned, it was no longer a question – as a Jew, who always dreamed of being a soldier in the IDF, and as a recently released soldier – I was returning to Israel.

Despite protests and attempts to delay his departure, he left for Israel. “My mom wanted me to stay a little longer,” he recalled. “We had a Bar Mitzvah on Shmini Atzeret, but I was already on my way to Israel. I felt that I couldn’t stay there anymore, when I didn’t know what was happening with my friends or be together with them. When I updated my family about my friend who was killed, and later learned the full story about the war, everyone understood the magnitude of the situation and how important it was for me to go back to Israel to serve.”

“Instead of attending the family event, I left despite having no clarity on what I was flying into. I told myself, like any other soldier who is able, there is no reason why I would not find somewhere to help in this war. But apparently, I was in a problematic situation: My team was still in active duty, and I had not yet been assigned to the reserves, nor did I have an ID or Aliyah certificate. However, I knew that things would work out and that they would find me a place to serve. At first, I was sent to the Nahal brigade in the reserves. Even if I was far from the other members of the unit, I was happy that I could play a part in defending my country.”

Andrew is currently stationed with the Nahal patrol in the north of Israel. His friend, Ezra, is also in the North in the Kfir brigade. On November 12, both completed their official Aliyah to Israel together at the offices of the Population and Immigration Authority in Holon. “It was quick, and we returned to the North with the stamp that we’re Israelis,” Andrew said with a smile. “Ezra and I were talking to each other about how we had our first break after 30 days in the field. When I fight side by side in the war with soldiers from Israel and abroad in defense of our country and homeland, this is the best way to show that I deserve the citizenship.”

“Receiving the Aliyah certificate and my Israeli ID, in the middle of the war, is the most significant thing I could have done at this point in my life. Every soldier, especially an American, has a choice of where to go in life – and I know that if I were to go to university I would feel out of place and stuck. Here in the war, every moment I feel that I made the right decision. I also feel the support of everyone – family, friends, as well as the entire Jewish nation. Everyone wants to help, sometimes just because I’m in uniform. You really feel how the people of Israel have rallied together, even those who are from far away.”

Ezra Ruderman was at home in Herzliya on October 7. “I saw myself as someone who’s in the worst possible situation during the war. I hadn’t been asked to join the reserves yet, I hadn’t yet become an official citizen, and my teammates were still in active duty. But I didn’t give up. Without knowing exactly what was happening, I immediately packed a bag and left.

I was assigned to one of the units in Kfir. At first, they wanted to kick me out because I wasn’t officially registered as a soldier, but I told them, ‘I’m not leaving. There’s a war here and there’s no way I’m not serving my country.’ After two weeks I was able to join my team in active duty. I left for a few hours one afternoon and returned with the official certificate of citizenship,” he shared proudly.

“This is my home, my heart is here”