A Line in the Sand: An American's Story of Service and Sacrifice in the Israeli Special Forces

by Corey Feldman

Overview

A Line in The Sand is an honest, balanced, and at times humorous glimpse into the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of an IDF combat soldier. It is not a chronicle of war but rather a chronicle of love. Corey's book describes the sacrifices that must be made in the subjugation of one's own desires in deference to something greater. It is one thing to draw a line in the sand; it is quite another to summon the commitment and willpower to stand guard over that line.

At twenty-two years old, Corey Feldman left his sheltered, idyllic American life to move to Israel and voluntarily draft into the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier. Over the next eighteen months, he endured grueling training, shattering exhaustion, and excruciating physical and emotional pain preparing for life as a special operations combat soldier.

Corey struggled to overcome the linguistic and cultural barriers required to integrate into the military and Israeli society. Simultaneously, he struggled to adjust to a lifestyle in which the unbridled freedom of his life as a university student was replaced by the regimented, unforgiving life of a soldier. Throughout his service in the IDF, Corey searches for the perseverance, resilience, and selflessness to become something more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734724240
Publisher:	Astor Place Publishing
Publication date:	03/22/2021
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

After receiving his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010, Corey Feldman left his home in Westchester, New York, and moved to Israel to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces. In 2013, he completed his three years of IDF service in a specialized combat unit within the Givati Brigade. He holds the rank of staff sergeant, and proudly returns to Israel each year to serve alongside his team in the IDF Reserves.
Corey currently lives in Manhattan. He is an Erickson certified professional coach, holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, and is currently pursuing his Masters in Healthcare Innovation from The University of Pennsylvania. Corey is a volunteer EMT, and works as an entrepreneur in the digital healthcare space. His website and blog can be found at TheExaminedLife.NYC. His podcasts, "The Lone Soldier Podcast," and "Healthcare Reimagined," can be found on Spotify and Apple podcasts.

Table of Contents

Preface 12

Introduction 19

Part One: The Early Years

The Beginning 23

The End of the Beginning 27

The Decision 30

Part Two: The Move to Israel

A New Home 33

Young Romance 35

Kibbutz Yiftah 38

The Bonds of Training 42

The First Notice 46

The Fight for the Tryout 49

Officially a Soldier 51

Part Three: Special Forces Selection

The Tryout 57

The Almost Tryout 61

Paratroopers Selection 64

Draft Day 70

The Final Tryout 73

Part Four: Training Begins

Basic Training 83

I Can't Believe They Are Giving Us Guns 84

Being a Lone Soldier 87

Frags and Family 89

The Making of a Soldier 93

Tear Gas 100

The Paratrooper's Oath 102

Jump School 106

A Beautiful Prison 115

Part Five: Advanced Training

Sunday Mornings 118

Guard Duty 119

Training Continues 125

Duvdevan 129

Navigation Begins 135

Confronting a Façade 140

The Navigation Final 141

The School of Counter-Terrorism 148

The Death of a Dream 154

Givati: Reconnaissance Infantry 157

New Beginnings 161

The Life of a Soldier 163

Navigation Begins...Again 167

Counter-Terror Training 172

The Final Test 174

Part Six: Life as a Combat Soldier

The Gaza Border 184

The Enemy 186

A Chance Meeting 188

Operation Pillar of Defense 189

From Me to We 197

The Quiet After the Storm 299

The Arrest 200

The Beginning of the End 205

Rocks 207

The Last Patrol 211

The Final Sunrise 213

Part Seven: Love and War

The Weddings 217

Operation Protective Edge 220

The Bomb Shelter Capital of the World 222

Reserves 224

Epilogue 233

Acknowledgments 235

Endnotes 237

Editorial Reviews

"An inspiring and gripping story of one young man's determination to defend Israel and the Jewish people through service in the IDF. For anyone contemplating aliya and service as a lone soldier, Corey Feldman's book is a must." Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Knesset Member, author of New York Times best-sellers Six Days of War and Power, Faith, and Fantasy

"This remarkable book sends you into the boots of an infantryman in the Israeli special forces. Corey is a courageous young American who travelled 5,000 miles to put his life on the line to defend a country that stands on the front-line of a struggle for liberty and democracy that confronts us all. Read it to understand the dangerous day-to-day life of Israeli soldiers, and gain a unique insight into their relationship with the Arab population in a place that has been one of the world's most controversial flash-points for decades." Col. Richard Kemp, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan.

"Corey tells a powerful story about his time training and serving in the IDF. He gives us a glimpse of what it is like to live in Israel and reminds us of the value of universal service. Whether in the military or our community, Corey's example of service is something we should emulate to develop the next generation of leaders of character." Patrick Murphy, 32nd Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, and first veteran of the Iraq War elected to Congress (8th Congressional District, PA).

"Corey Feldman's account of his IDF service is both a detailed handbook for a new recruit and a patriotic, passionate explanation of why it is that Israel has to fight. A candid, thoughtful memoir." David Horovitz, Founding Editor, The Times of Israel

"This book symbolizes the sacrifice and phenomenal contribution Lone soldiers make to the Israel Defense Forces, Israel and the Jewish people. Corey's personal story illustrates the will of the Jewish people and the in-gathering of the exiles. An amazing memoir that should inspire us all!" Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel's 17th Permanent Representative to the UN, Chairman of World Likud and author of Israel: The Will to Prevail

"Many Israelis will tell you that the phenomenon of Jews from the United States abandoning all pleasures in the world and enlisting in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is the highest level of sacrifice on the part of our brothers and sisters from abroad. We call it Mutual Responsibility (Aravut Hadadit in Hebrew). Corey Feldman's story will touch your heart. It is a sensitive and accurate description of what a combat soldier sees and does while serving in the IDF." Dr. Colonel Moshe Elad (Res.), Former IDF Governor of Jenin, Bethlehem (West Bank), Tire (Lebanon) and Head of RSC to the Palestinian Security HQ, PhD Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

From the Publisher