Leibel Mangel, at The Blogs

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Sep 1, 2020, 2:05 AM

The Magen Am Lone Soldier Veterans Program

Serving as a 'lone soldier' in the Israel Defense Forces is not easy. Leaving your family and friends to move to an unfamiliar land to enlist in the military. You are left to figure out the madness of Israeli...

May 15, 2018, 11:10 PM

Tikkun Olam and the IDF

I am so tired of seeing Jews invoke "tikkun olam" and Jewish values as a reason to vilify Israel and the IDF. "Tikkun olam" does not mean we must be slaughtered in order not to harm others. In fact,...

Jan 9, 2018, 2:23 PM

Are you religious?

Are you religious? For some reason, I am asked this question over and over. On dates, by old friends, when I meet new people, by followers on social media, etc.. My answer is always the same: "what does religious really mean?" I...

Dec 22, 2017, 1:17 PM

Takeaway From the Celebration of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin

I thought long and hard before deciding to write and post this piece. I know there are many who will dismiss what I have to say immediately. There will be those who will misrepresent the points I make. I...

Oct 24, 2017, 4:15 AM

We are all ‘one of us’

My great-grandfather, Rav Yisroel Shimon Kalmanson (left) with the Lubavitcher Rebbe

I used to be Hasidic; then I rebelled, and was forced out

Jul 24, 2017, 3:37 AM

Light in a sea of darkness

A knock on the door, a visitor to celebrate a new life. Another precious soul brought into the world. Only this visitor had different intentions. In a matter of moments, our celebration of life would quickly turn into their celebration of death. Another family destroyed. More...

Jul 4, 2017, 2:07 AM

Every Letter Has A Soul, A Story

During a recent visit to the Western Wall, I took a moment to step back and really appreciate what this wall means and represents for so many of us. With all the recent controversy and negativity surrounding the wall,...

Jun 12, 2017, 8:24 PM

The Positive Within the Nightmare that was Operation Brothers Keeper

Three years ago today, the unthinkable happened. Three years ago today, my life and the lives of so many others changed in ways that we could have never imagined. Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaer, and Eyal Yifrah were kidnapped and...

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About Me

At the age of nineteen, Leibel Mangel left his home and family in Cincinnati, Ohio to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier. As the son of a Rabbi and the grandson of one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz - serving in the IDF was not a matter of if, but rather when. Leibel served as a machine gunner in the Kfir Brigade, where he took part in numerous high profile anti-terror operations including the tragic discovery of the bodies of Gil-Ad Shaer, Naftali Fraenkel, and Eyal Yifrah who were kidnapped from Gush Etzion in 2014. Leibel has used his story and experiences to continue his service by fighting for Israel in both mainstream and social media and in cities throughout the country. Leibel is also the recipient of a 2017 Jewish People's Choice Award and 2019 Hometown Hero Award.