Apples of Gold May/Jun 2026
High school administrators have called me many times over the years to ask me to speak to the students. They want to know how I received many medals and decorations from the army. I tell them I didn’t get them as birthday presents! I explain how I fought many wars to defend Israel, not because I wanted to fight, but because my country needed me.
I lost all my family in the Holocaust and nearly died then myself. I was so close to death many times, even feeling jealous of those who had died. These perils began when I was only 10 years old.
When I left Poland and arrived in Israel as a young man among many other immigrants, no one greeted us with flowers. Instead we were met with war by our enemies who shared the same motto as Adolf Hitler: Schlacht die Juden und wirf Sei Ins Meer: “Butcher the Jews and cast them into the Sea.”
I remember the day an elderly lady stopped me on the street in Jerusalem after our War of Independence and handed me a copy of the Holy Bible, complete with the New Testament. I began to read the Word for the first time, seeking answers to my questions about the Messiah. So, I looked for people who believed in the one true God.
My search led me to a church where people were praying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a big surprise to me. I listened and learned more and more about Jesus until I finally came to know Him as my Savior. It was the end of my search but the beginning of my journey with Him. I went to people who were like I once was—without faith, without hope—for it is our duty to bring His salvation to those who are far from the Lord.
The beginning of my mission was not easy. I dealt with many stiff-necked people who fought against anyone who believed in Jesus. But some people engaged with me.
Recently, one said, “You do not come to our synagogue to pray, and you do not cover your head. Who gave you this great privilege to come to us? We are Orthodox; we believe in God.”
“If you believed in God, we could have a friendly conversation,” I said. “But I am sorry to say that you believe in many gods—your rabbis—not the one true God in whom I believe.”
“This is the first time someone like you, who is far from our God, has tried to take us away from our true faith,” a man said. “Show us where the Bible says that people like you, with your head not even covered, can speak about your faith with us.”
I showed them one of my military medals and asked them, “Do you see this great decoration I received from the army?”
They looked at it and softened their tone. One said, “We wish more Israelis would serve the way you do!”
“Yes,” I said. “But what have you done for our land? Indeed, listen to what the Lord says we must do.”
I read Isaiah 49:3 for them: “You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Then I said, “God is not glorified by your dancing around a golden calf of the many false gods in which you put your trust.”
“We want to know who sent you to share these false teachings with us,” one man said.
“I was not sent by a man. I only am obeying what is clearly written in the Bible: ‘You shall not go after other gods’ [Dt. 6:14]. Now, who are you really following?” I asked.
These words were too much for them. No one had ever accused them of following false gods before. But I told them the reason that I speak about Jesus is because of His command: “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3).
That is what I am doing here in Israel each day.
From The Friends of Israel archives
