In The News…
Lone Soldier Center May 2026 Tour - Featuring Lone Soldiers, the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin’s CEO Liora Rubinstein, and Chairman of the Board Brid. Gen. Amit Edri
Lone Soldiers talk about their lives at Bergenfield program - The Jewish Link
Middlesex JCC Hosts Lone Soldier Center - The Times of Israel
Nechum Segal and Liora discuss Lone Soldiers and the tour on JM in the AM - Nachum Segal Network
Friends of the Lone Soldier was honored to partner with the Lone Soldier Center In Memory of Michael Levin to bring two Lone Soldiers, alongside the organization’s CEO, Liora Rubinstein, and Chairman of the Board, Brig. Gen. Amit Edri.
Over the course of a week, they connected with communities and shared their personal experiences of living in Israel during wartime, serving in the IDF, and the vital support they received from the Lone Soldier Center. Liora and Amit also spoke about why they chose to dedicate themselves to this mission, sharing the meaning and importance behind their work supporting Lone Soldiers. We were welcomed with open arms into homes, JCCs, synagogues, and organizations throughout the community.
Yom Hazikaron Ceremony Honoring Lone Soldiers
We were honored to welcome Mike Huckabee, picture with the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin CEO Liora Rubinstein, to our Yom Hazikaron ceremony, in paying tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. His presence and words of reflection added meaningful depth to an evening dedicated to remembrance, unity, and honoring those who gave their lives in defense of Israel. Watch the full event, including Mike Huckabee’s speech which begins at minute 33:18. Mike Huckabee’s remarks honored the profound sacrifice of Israel’s fallen soldiers, emphasizing that their courage and commitment, while calling on communities around the world to stand in continued solidarity with those who serve today.
What it means to be a Lone Soldier Parent on Yom Hazikaron in America
The experiences a mother of Lone Soldier’s goes through creates a quiet heartbreak in the distance, but there is a sense of comfort to know her Lone Soldier’s are not alone. Her daughter lives in of of the Lone Solider Center in Memory of Michael Levin’s new homes in Tel Aviv, where she is surrounded by those just like her, creating their own community. On Yom Hazikaron, there is another level of emotion. She is a mother. She is an Israeli. She is a Jew living in America. “And I am reminded that these are not separate identities. They are bound together by memory, sacrifice and an unbreakable responsibility to one another.”
Housing for Lone Soldiers is Essential to Israel’s Wartime Resilience
The Lone Soldier Center’s CEO, Liora Rubinstein, shares how The Center is helping care for our Lone Soldiers now more than ever. Ensuring stable, community‑based housing for Lone Soldiers is not just about providing shelter but about strengthening national resilience during wartime by giving these service members—who lack family support in Israel—a sense of home, belonging, and emotional backup. “Stable housing is… more than a place to sleep; it is a place where soldiers feel they belong…”. By providing not only accommodation but also mentorship, community, and ongoing support, The Center ensures that these soldiers have the practical and emotional resources they need to thrive.
From Colorado to the Front Lines: A Lone Soldier’s Vow
"I sit on my balcony... an almost full moon peers through light clouds... Other than the occasional passing car, it is quiet." For one of our Lone Soldiers, the silence of a Colorado winter is a world away from the 250 days he recently spent in combat search and rescue. But even in the quiet, his heart is in Israel. His unit was recently called up from reserves for Operation Lion’s Roar. While his friends in the U.S. might find it perplexing, his first thought wasn't about the distance it was about the duty. "How much can one Lone Soldier impact a conflict like this?" he asked himself. "If every soldier felt that way, we would have no soldiers." This is the reality for thousands of Lone Soldiers. They build lives abroad, but when Israel calls, they answer. They land at Ben Gurion, put on the uniform, and rejoin the fight. Because for them, the defense of the Jewish State is existential. Read the full story on Times of Israel
Former St. Louisan leads U.S. effort to support IDF lone soldiers
“Our mission is to help assist organizations in Israel that assist the lone soldiers,” Sirkin said during a visit to St. Louis in late December. “We provide funding based upon grants we receive from organizations in Israel. What makes us a little bit different is we have people on the ground. Out of the eight board members, three of us are in Israel and five are in the U.S.”
Lone Soldiers and Mental Health: A National Responsibility
The mental health of lone soldiers is a national responsibility because isolation and wartime stress place them at higher risk. The growing impact of the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin has expanded therapy access, resilience programs, and community-based support to ensure soldiers receive the care they deserve.
Jewish Link- May 2025
The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale—The Bayit hosted a “Brunch of Honor” to celebrate the delegation, local lone soldier families and veteran lone soldiers.
