In a Facebook message that's spreading like wildfire, On Rifman rips open the debate about combat service in Israel.
"Let me be blunt: since 2007, I've told every kid the same damn thing - if you can fight, you fight."
Even though they tell him "One intelligence officer can save the whole country," he's not buying it.
Combat soldiers - men and women who actually fight - are the rarest thing Jews have. For thousands of years, we buried our heads in books. Even now, we'd rather hide in research labs and universities.
But ––– those rare few who've got the the warrior spirit to stand on the front line are priceless.
Being a fighter is brutal. It often leaves you scarred, with invisible wounds. And although you cant see them, they are very much there.
As Jews though, we want to be gentle scholars, kind souls, always learning, always growing.
But that's exactly the point.
We desperately need those willing to get their hands dirty. To push through the hell. To be both iron and silk. To risk everything defending our nation, our people, our dream of building something extraordinary here.
To parents and teachers - stop tiptoeing around it. Talk about it. Now.
Tell them straight: Being a warrior doesn't mean you can't be wise, peaceful, or gentle. It gives you the steel to fight for everything that'll ever matter in your life.
Because this conversation? We need it now more than ever.
*Written by On Rifman, shared by Uri Shechter.
