Ep 638: The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen and guest Ira Kohler on hmTv [Hebrew]

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 638 of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, host Gal Swisa Cohen welcomes Ira Kohler, a Long Island native who moved to Israel and enlisted in the IDF as a lone soldier.Ira shares his journey from growing up in a close Jewish community to serving in the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade. He reflects on the challenges of military training in Hebrew, the deep bonds formed among soldiers, and the sense of responsibility that led him to serve.The conversation turns to October 7, 2023, when Ira was called into battle and deployed to southern Israel, including Kibbutz Be’eri. He speaks candidly about fear, courage, loss, survivor’s guilt, and the emotional impact of serving for more than one hundred days inside Gaza.Ira also remembers his friend and fellow lone soldier, Omer Neutra, and discusses his book, Once a Paratrooper: The Story of a Lone Soldier in the Gaza War. Through his writing and public speaking, Ira hopes to preserve the stories of those who served, challenge misinformation, and help audiences understand the human beings behind the headlines.This powerful episode explores service, sacrifice, Jewish identity, resilience, and the vital bond between Israel and American Jewry.Support the show