GI Yosef

Action figures for Israeli children

I came across an irresistible toy for sale in a local store. It’s an IDF action figure! As a kid, I was never into GI Joe - Star Wars was more my thing. But this is special!

The figure, picture here alongside a sefer that I’m learning, isn’t just a mass-produced toy soldier with an Israeli flag added to it. It’s part of a set called Giborei Yisrael, “Israeli Heroes,” created specifically as an Israeli approach to war. And there are several figures available, each with background stories, representing diverse parts of society. There are men and women. There’s a Druze soldier from a family in which everyone was a combat fighter. There’s an Ethiopian called T’chagar, whose father died on his way to Israel from Ethiopia, and who has been the man of the house supporting his mother and his siblings since he was a teenager. There is a man who is wheelchair-bound in charge of cyber operations. (Alas, none of them are visibly religious, which is a pity and non-representative.)

The figures also come with a sheet of stickers with motivational messages for children. In translation, these include: “Don’t worry - there’s a hero here!” “True heroes have confidence in themselves!” “A big smile conquers every fear!” “A hero is always there to help!” “True heroes listen to their mothers!” “Even superheroes brush their teeth!” You might laugh, but remember that there are many, many traumatized children in Israel, and they need help in any way that can be provided.

No doubt some religious people will object to the tagline yesh mi she-shomer alecha, “there is someone watching over you,” because isn’t it Hashem who watches over us? However, considering that such people would never dream of walking through Jenin or living on the border alongside Hezbollah without an actual IDF soldier watching over them, I think that such a complaint would be misplaced.

I bought mine in a general store in Ramat Beit Shemesh which had them on display. I am sure that many charedi kids who see them have a secret wish that they too could be heroes like this, being moser nefesh for klal Yisrael. Instead, they are told that such things are sinful, and true fulfillment means learning Gemara for the rest of their lives rather than doing anything material for society or even for their own families. I guess they can only play with the Kinder Velt Rebbe and Rosh Yeshiva Set.

Rabbinic leaders are certainly important, essential and to be treasured, but military heroes are also revered in traditional Judaism. Ironically, in Av haRachamim, the weekly prayer in honor of Jewish martyrs, they are praised with a verse borrowed from the praise of Shaul and Yonatan: “They were swifter than griffon vultures, they were stronger than lions.” As discussed in a previous post, this is praise of their physical strength and accomplishments in battle on behalf of the nation.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to buy the Israeli Heroes action figures, the Hebrew website is https://israeliheroes.com, and the English website for US purchases is https://giboreyisrael.com. (Yes, it’s weird that the Hebrew site has an English name and the English site has a Hebrew name!)