If one were to gather their news solely from The Jewish Tribune, that most auspicious of mouthpieces for Canada’s Bnai Brith, they could be forgiven for believing that Jews from coast to coast are up in arms over a decision by JNF Canada to invite Israeli former prisoner of war, Gilad Schalit, to speak in several Canadian cities this coming fall. Of course, the decision to invite Schalit to Canada is to be lauded as a natural extension of the deep interest that the Canadian Jewish community took in Schalit’s case. Several salient examples of that deep and abiding interest, which spanned the political spectrum, include a July 14th, 2006 rally in Toronto, calling for Schalit’s release, sponsored in part by Bnai Brith, and an article featured in none other than The Jewish Tribune, quoting prominent rabbis describing the mobilization of the Canadian community, titled .However, the Tribune has seen fit to vociferously turn its proverbial back on Gilad by publishing what can only be described as a revolting tirade, entitled , allegedly written as a letter by one Harry F. Smith of Montreal. “Mr. Smith” writes that he is “dismayed” that the Montreal Jewish Community will be hosting Schalit, “a hero and symbol of victory – to the Palestinian world.” According to Smith, “[Schalit] is not a hero” and “A few more like this hero and Israel will cease to exist.” [sic] Then-Corporal Gilad Schalit was wounded and captured in the line of duty whilst serving in the 188th armored brigade of the Israeli army. With which brigade, I wonder, did Harry F. Smith execute his distinguished combat service, which has given him license to so harshly judge Schalit’s conduct under fire? Smith poignantly asks “Why didn’t [Schalit’s superiors] just put him on kitchen duty?” Why indeed? Perhaps it is because while there is no shortage of Israelis clamoring to “[stumble] through [their] army service” in the kitchen (to borrow a phrase from the prolific Mr. Smith), Schalit actually overcame obstacles including a weak physical profile in order to draft into a combat unit. That is to say that whilst almost a third of Israelis of drafting age avoid military service altogether, and the majority who do serve do not do so in combat units, for one reason or another, Schalit went above and beyond to protect his country. What could be more heroic? Smith arrogantly describes Schalit as one who “could not be bothered to even bring his weapon out of his vehicle,” ostensibly referencing the fact that Schalit crawled out of his Merkava tank, unarmed and seriously wounded by a grenade that was thrown into the tank; his commander and another fellow tankist had been gunned down whilst abandoning the tank.“What exactly is it that Gilad will tell us when he addresses the community?” Smith asks. I don’t know the answer to that question, but I hope that he will describe his heroic decision to draft into combat, despite a weak profile. I hope he will talk about how difficult and bittersweet it must have been for his father, who lost his own twin brother in the Yom Kippur War, to see his son enlist in an armored unit. I hope he’ll talk about his heroic decision to speak about his experiences, rather than fade into the obscurity that Mr. Smith and others might wish upon him. I hope he talks about all of these things and more, and I hope that he does it with the strong humility and soft courage that have become the hallmarks of this remarkable young soldier. Gilad’s Canadian counterparts, myself included, would do well to remember that while we pursued our studies and enjoyed our freedoms, Schalit languished in captivity, for no other reason than that he chose to put on the uniform. Smith writes “perhaps it is the Palestinians residing in Canada who should be given front row seats.” I suspect that they will have to put forward quite the Herculean effort in order to snag the front rows of what promises to be an extremely popular series of engagements, but perhaps there is something to Smith’s suggestion. Schalit is, after all, a walking, talking, breathing example of the conduct of the most moral army in the world. We do not send our sons to sweat and bleed for us without the promise that we will never abandon them. Schalit has, after a ferociously arduous service, returned to the arms of the Jewish people, unbent and unbroken; let’s give him the hero’s welcome he deserves.The author is a Canadian lone soldier serving in a combat unit of The Israeli Defense Forces.
