Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu

Dear Mr. Netanyahu, 

I recently completed reading a book that so totally captured my attention, I could hardly perform my work. It was not some gruesome murder mystery, or sappy love story, or even a generational saga of a family blessed and cursed throughout the generations. But yet, in some ways this precious gathering of personal letters written by his own hand has given me more to chew on than any in a long while. 

SELF PORTRAIT OF A HERO, LETTERS FROM JONATHAN NETANYAHU, is a wonderful life story on what this man’s life meant and the love he had for his family and friends even when he chose to pursue his own way. 

I discovered this book while visiting family in Houston, Texas, while browsing at a bookstore, and thought my husband would enjoy reading it. It was I who then read the book cover to cover, referring back occasionally to remember and refresh, and then after completing it, turned to the Internet in search of facts about the Entebbe raid. 

Now I find myself writing to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to you and your family for allowing Yoni’s very personal life to be made in this treasured reading. 

Yoni was such a young man when it seemed his whole life quickly came and went. The writings or so pure, from an innocent soul. When I had finished the book, and read accounts from Entebbe, I realized these were two different people. On one side, he was a passionate, simple, and extraordinarily intelligent man who took so much pleasure in the sights, sounds, and even smells of his environment. How is it that we have lost that simplicity, just enjoying sleep, listening to rain, or looking at the stars. It is incredible that he chose to put all these things into words. On the one side, Yoni was a warrior. Israel was in Yoni, and Yoni was Israel. There was no question of his life’s work to the point that he even lost his wife due to his devotion and personal obligation to his country. 

Last year I traveled to Israel and while traveling by tour bus from Galilee to Jerusalem, three soldiers rode along with us. We all discussed the upcoming election and talk soon turned to their personal feelings. All three were strong supporters of Barak, who along with our tour guide, felt their lives were more important than the constant fighting for a somewhat distant cause in their minds, that being of the survival of their country. Ah, but Yoni, he was a real soldier. I believe GOD created the Jewish people to have that strong desire for survival planted deep within their very beings. They have certainly needed it almost since the beginning of time. Yoni did not care for politics , he did care about action. He was a true son of Israel. 

I felt I came to know your mother, father, and brother Iddo while reading this book. The letters tell of his sadness during the absence from his family. Oh, how he loved his father. Hardly ever, do you see a son who respects and loves his father as Yoni did. 

His distaste for America is understandable. The years of wealth and fatness have made us slothful nation, caring little about honor, responsibility or decency. 

I had thought to myself, if ever Yoni needed to be resurrected, it is now. The men who served under him gained strength, ability, wisdom, and much courage from their leader. The spirit is Israel, I always feel it when I travel there. 

The eulogy by Shimon Peres for Yoni was heartwarming as well as heart wrenching. Did someone once say, “The good die young”? Then we have no more good. 

Life is so short, sometimes we miss out on our mission in favor of the safety of the sidelines. Allowing such a personal reflection of a Jewish man to be made public was an act of courage for your family, and it was good. What other way was there, life is so short and now he is gone. He would be a great military leader today and I believe his hear would have still been pure. He loved his brothers, both in his family and in his country. 

Mr. Netanyahu, re-read your brother’s book and gain courage to do what you are destined to do. You are a great leader, and you have been on vacation too long-Yoni would insist! 

Thank you again for allowing your brother’s memory to come into my house and my heart. 

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