Legacy of a Lone Soldier: Michael’s Story Lives on

In 1968, an 18-year-old Canadian named Michael Greenberg first arrived at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu. He had come not in search of adventure, but in search of identity — a search for connection to the Land of Israel and the Jewish people. There, he worked the fields, studied Hebrew, and ultimately declared his intention to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. Many kibbutz members doubted him, yet their skepticism only fueled his resolve.

Michael went on to serve proudly in the Paratroopers Brigade during the War of Attrition. After completing his service, he returned to Canada, but when the Yom Kippur War broke out a few years later, he left his studies abroad and returned to Israel to fight once again on the front lines.

This decision to enlist and serve in Israel’s time of need would leave a lasting mark on his life and mark the beginning of a lifelong mission: to ensure that lone soldiers—young Jews who, like him, chose to serve far from home – would never feel truly alone.

So began Michael’s quiet philanthropy. From building dormitories for Garin Tzabar groups across Israel to founding entire cultural and educational centers, he was always guided by humility. He refused to have his name inscribed on any building, insisting, “The objective is what counts, not the person behind it.” Supporting lone soldiers became his greatest passion, culminating in the creation of the “Habayta” campus – a safe haven where young Jews from abroad could live, learn, and grow while serving the State of Israel.

Michael Greenberg passed away in December 2024, before he could see the completion of his final project – the new Lone Soldier Home at the Hannaton Educational Center. Despite this, his spirit was strongly felt last week, as more than 600 people gathered in the Galilee to dedicate the building, alongside partners from KKL-JNF, JNF-USA, and supporters from around the world. At that same moment, roughly thirty young men and women from North America arrived through the Garin Tzabar program of the Israeli Scouts, stepping into the home as its very first residents.

For the first time in Israel’s history, lone soldiers will share a campus with their Israeli peers: the participants in Hannaton’s pre-army leadership academy. They will live side by side, celebrate Shabbat and holidays together, and learn from one another in a genuine community of equals.

Each soldier brings with them a unique story and a conscious choice to connect their life to Israel’s future. Ariana, 23, from Chicago, described how her pluralistic upbringing inspired her to choose Hannaton, a place that honors Shabbat while also empowering women in leadership. While Ilan, 22, from Philadelphia, recounted his experiences with antisemitism at an American university and his resolve to serve in a combat unit, carrying forward his grandfather’s legacy as a Holocaust survivor and defender of Kibbutz Sa’ad in 1948.

Their stories echo Michael’s from more than fifty years ago: leaving the comfort of home, facing the skepticism of others, and choosing to be part of something greater than themselves. These young Jews are not merely visitors in Israel – they are partners, builders, defenders, and dreamers, living out their personal commitment to protecting Jewish life everywhere through the courageous choice to serve in our country’s time of need.

The events of October 7th further underscored the depth of these soldiers’ courage and commitment. Far from home, lone soldiers fought on the front lines, many falling in battle far from their biological families, yet embraced by the love of their second family – the people of Israel. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder: lone soldiers may be called “lone,” but they are never truly alone, so long as we remain committed to standing beside them.

At Hannaton, our mission is to ensure that no soldier faces service in isolation. We provide more than a bed and a roof overhead; we offer emotional, social, and spiritual support, a community that welcomes them fully, and the tools to integrate meaningfully into Israeli society during and after their army service. In each of them, we see the seeds of Israel’s future leaders.

Michael Greenberg’s journey began with one young man’s journey and determination to belong. Today, his legacy lives on in every soldier who walks through the doors of Hannaton’s new home. May we honor his memory by making sure none of them ever feel alone.