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Documentary on Michael Levin to Premier in Israel

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By FJN Staff

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The family of Michael Levin (z"l), the 22 year-old Philadelphia area native who was the only American-born Israeli soldier killed during the clashes against Hezbollah last August, has commissioned a documentary film in his honor. "A Hero in Heaven" will soon be broadcast on Israeli television and made available for worldwide distribution in April.

Levin fell in Aita al-Shaab, a village in southern Lebanon that was the site of heavy fighting. The 40-minute film tells of Michael’s devotion to his family, his people and Eretz Yisrael. It features the music of Naomi Shemer, the songs of Rachel, the poetry of Shaul Tchernokovsky, and the words of Michael, his family, friends and fellow soldiers. Because of the plethora of lessons that can be taught from the footage, the Levin family decided to commission educator Yossi Katz of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) to create a curriculum to accompany the documentary.

Born and raised near Philadelphia, Levin grew up in a traditional, loving Jewish household. Active in HaGesher Region USY and Camp Ramah, he went to Israel as a teenager to attend both the Alexander Muss High School and the yearlong Nativ USY program. In his Nativ yearbook, Levin had written: "You can’t fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

At age 16 he decided to make aliyah and join a front-line combat unit in the Israeli Defense Forces. He followed his dream three years later and was chosen for the elite Paratrooper Unit #890.

Last summer Levin received permission to travel to the United States for a family visit. When fighting broke out on Israel’s northern border, he decided to immediately return to the army. Levin went straight to his commander, demanded to be sent north in order to join his unit and seven days later was killed. On Tisha B’Av Levin was laid to rest in Jerusalem’s military cemetery on Har Herzl where his family was joined by thousands of mourners from every part of the country. His mother, Harriet Levin says her son was the personification of the word ‘hero.’ "He made the ultimate sacrifice for the Jewish State and the Jewish People."


"A Hero in Heaven" will be available at no cost to synagogues and Jewish youth organizations. It should be considered for viewing on Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Independence Day) or Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) and as a synagogue or youth group educational program. For information or to obtain a copy of the film, contact Harriet Levin (Harriet@AheroInHeaven.com) or visit The Michael Levin Memorial Fund for Israel (http://www.AheroInHeaven.com).



Posted by FJN Staff on 03/23 at 02:00 AM • Hits: 547



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