Cedarhurst native Josh Lent serves Israel

Operation Protective Edge, an Israeli military operation, was launched in July of 2014 in the Gaza Strip and Cedarhurst native Josh Lent, then 16, was visiting the Jewish state when what is also called the 2014 Gaza War was occurring.

Ignited by the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, the military conflict had a direct impact on Lent, 24, who said he had already absorbed Zionist values growing up in the Five Towns. “I was very connected growing up and wanted to do a little bit more,” he said before speaking at the Chabad of Hewlett on Aug. 14.

That little bit more turned into a nearly three-year stint in the Israel Defense Forces from August 2018 to March 2021 as a “lone soldier, ” a person who serves in the IDF without any immediate family in the Jewish state.

“It’s definitely challenging, said Lent about his time in the IDF. “It’s having to come home to do your own meals, your own clothes. I actually had a very good support system. In general there are plenty of people in Israel willing to volunteer.”

He served in an elite unit and remains in the reserves with a unit assigned near the Gaza border. Lent also attended a pre-Israel military academy two years before being drafted by the IDF.

“I had an advantage over a lot of other lone soldiers as I had a support system, friends that were with me in the army, I’m fluent in Hebrew which is definitely an advantage,” he said. “That’s why a lot of lone soldiers struggle, they get drafted, it’s exciting then on the first day it’s like whoa.”

Lent has taken his military experience and transferred it to Im Tirtzu, a grass roots Zionist advocacy organization that is active on 30 college campuses and has more than 6,000 activists in Israel.

“Definitely got the ability to work hard, definitely got the ability to be determined to work when even it’s a little difficult, even when you didn’t sleep, even when you have a little bit of trouble getting the job done,” he said about his military service.

As the director of external relations he propels the group’s mission to promote Zionism and battle anti-Zionism. Zionism is the development and protection of Israel.

He noted that Im Tirtzu has helped pas six pro-Zionist laws in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and this November will embark on a campaign to strategically plant what he said will be “gigantic trees” across the Jewish state.

“I’ve known Josh a long time,” said Hewlett resident Jay Saltzman, who founded a group Hewlett United for Israel to push for increased electoral involvement. “A lot of things come easy to him. One of the things that come easy to him is marching and running with 70 pound packs. Other fellows in his unit have a harder time with that. They can get through but it’s harder.

“So Josh would take candy with him on these marches, which they are not allowed to do,” Saltzman said. “ But he would hide it where he was supposed to have bullets he was hiding candy just in case he needs it. And sure enough when he was ahead and other guys were having a harder time, Josh would circle back, give people encouragement, give them a little candy so they had a little more energy.”

Rabbi Nochem Tenenboim noted that there are inherent “dangers” to having divisions in Israel and “not supporting Israel.”

Lent, who was married on Aug. 21, said understanding the issues is vital to becoming involved. “The most important thing I say to people is do your research,” he said. “Joining the army is a very serious decision. The best way to become a Zionist, the best way to really argue, advocate on behalf of Israel is really just learn. To educate yourself. To read books, to learn the history to learn the current events, hear all the viewpoints.”