Self-Portrait Of A Hero: The Letters Of Jonathan Netanyahu

by Yonatan Netanyahu

Although 30-year-old Lt. Col. Jonathan Netanyahu, brother of Israel's current prime minister, was killed in battle during Israel's 1976 daring hostage rescue mission in Africa, his personal reflections live on in these letters written to his family and friends. 21 illustrations.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Middle East, Israel, Military Fiction, Jewish

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Murray ᛘᚢᛦᛦᛅᛁ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn’t call this a military biography even though Yoni is remembered for Entebbe. It’s letters he wrote talking about his life and his life beliefs and different experiences he’d had. About courage and commitment and heart.

He writes well. He’s interesting. He explores. He thinks. He wonders. He loves. This volume is very approachable and easy to take in.

ze yehaya basder .. that was always his line .. and it’s the last line in the book .. since I read this collection of his letters I’ve used that expression constantly (in Hebrew) .. זה יהיה בסדר .. it’ll be alright 🌿

I found his letters inspiring.

["Ben" Yair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing this book is a Pyrrhic victory. On the one hand I'm blown away by the image created of yoni netanyahu the man as given by his letters to family, friends, loves. On the other, (spoiler alert?) his death makes the correspondences harder and harder to read without difficulty. This was one of the few truly 'complete' men, nigh, persons I've ever read about. A giant with arrogance and coldness but brilliance and warmth to match. As complex and nuanced as any tortured poet, as wildly thinking and analyzing as any philosopher, Yoni was and continues to be a testament not only to the inherent weaknesses and greatness of the Jewish people but of humanity but of the pitfalls and grandeur of humanity as a whole. Culminating in tears, this book has forged a place in my heart, my thoughts, and every drawing breath i take from this moment onward.

[Daniel Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason why Yoni Netanyahu is my personal hero. This book had a profound impact on me and I recommend this to any Jew who is trying to understand zionism.

Yoni's passion, work ethic and drive for success is unparalleled.

[George Serebrennikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book. He was a remarkable soldier and a beautiful human being. He had a very short life, but what a life.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never mind my love for all things Israeli, this is a great read because it's a look inside the mind of someone I consider to be a great model for humanity. A beatiful, noble, honest, flawed and real human who did his best to make a good mark on the world the best way he knew how. If you're looking to be a better version of yourself, this book gives you some fuel to work harder at that.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to Benjamin Netanyahu's memoir "Bibi: My story", Bibi's brother Yoni was one of the most influential persons. For the memoir, the part on Benjamin's youth and his brother Yoni is the best. The rest part is about handling politics. Thus, Yoni's letters is a must read. In just a few pages, Yoni has shown to the reader as a sober and thoughtful youth. The criticism of American high school culture makes one laugh. Yoni used the words: frivolous to describe American youth. In one letter, he mentioned that in high school, people talked about just one thing: sex. Somehow he wondered whether he was with a group of apes or human. Indeed, very sharp.

[Hercules Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

At age 17, a thought runs across the mind of a young man:

“I must feel certain that not only at the moment of my death shall I be able to account for the time I have lived; I ought to be ready at every moment of my life to confront myself and say - This is what I have done."

Yonatan Netanyahu

I can’t convey into words on the book I digested all year. It didn’t feel right to read someone’s life In one sitting. His conviction only grew at a young age into his adulthood. His love of country, self development, and integrity was felt in his writings.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy biographies and things Israeli. I can't remember whether I read the book first or saw the movie first. This is actually letters though, not a normal autobiography.

[Orlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing human being, being let into someone's struggles, triumphs and everyday days in letters is incomplete, inspiring, heartrending, uplifting. Plus, maybe the best eulogy ever, given by Rabin.

[Nirmal Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read a book of letters before, but knowing how this ended with Entebbe, I decided to pick the book up. I was intrigued by the idea of knowing someone, exchanging ideas with someone, emotions, and all of a sudden communication just stopping.

The end of the book became that much harder as I got to the end knowing the fate that Yoni would face.

Using Yoni's lens of commitment to country, I can see where Bibi got his ideas from, but you can also see how far he's veered from what Yoni would consider noble and just.

I don't have much to say about the contents itself. He was/is a national hero, but it's obvious why the family would publish the letters that put him in such high regard.

[Aman Negi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! can't put into words what an inspiring personality (Late) Lt. Col. Jonathan Nethanyahu was. Took me more than a year to complete this one (I read multiple books in parallel). This is how real heroes look - served the military, got into Harvard by 23, could have had a comfy life in the USA, but came back to his country because of his sense of duty towards the nation. At the age of 30, leads the world's finest rescue operation on ground - 4,000 kms away from his country in Africa and gets martyred in the process. The width of knowledge, from philosophy to military plans and how gentle he was towards people he loved and cared about stands out.

I wish this is turned into a great movie someday and more people get to know about him.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely Read about Israel’s Battle to Survive

Before reading the letters of Jonathan Netanyahu, I read his brother Bibi’s autobiography. I was drawn to read more of this exemplary family. Israel’s plight today is reminiscent of the state of war in the 1960s and 70s. There’s no way the Arabs will ever accept Israel’s place in the world. “Death to Israel and death to America!” There is no possibility of reasoning with terrorists. America has once again today abandoned Israel.

[Daniel Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words from one of Israel's best and brightest hero's.

I had watched the movie about the Entebbe rescue and became interested in the commander who ran the mission which also cost him his young life. It is clear from his letters that he was an outstanding person on many levels who, had he lived, would have gone to achieve whatever he wanted. He was a true inspiration.

[Noah Kagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. no clue how heard of it but what an interesting read. the guys integrity and character were 10/10. sad ending but great inspiration of how to live. his letters to his parents, girlfriends, sibblings and more show an amazing internal strength and sense of self. if interested in israel or strong-character - read it.

[Charles M Deosdade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Soul of a Man ...The Heart of a Lion

This book is one of the best that I've read! Yoni Netanyahu exposed his inner being in his letters. His thoughts put to paper were like poetry. Israel should be forever proud of his life in its military. Had he lived, he would have been a great leader and citizen of Israel.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I know I’m not with you enough, and that it’s hard for you to be alone so much, but I trust you, me, both of us, to succeed in living our youth to the fullest—you to live your youth and your life, and I—my life and the flicker of my youth.
It’ll be okay.”
p.277 (to his wife, the last letter Netanyahu wrote)

[DuWayne]

What a true hero!!

Fantastic! Such a credit to Yonis family, Israel and the IDF!! Wonderful to have a more rounded understanding of Yoni the man!
Thank you to his family for sharing these very personal letters!!

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best people you will ever read about.

[TaniaRina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you know nothing about Israel during this period or the Entebbe rescue, read this book if only for the old school letter-writing.

Such a loss.

[Cassie X · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful and so sad. What an amazing family

[Jayde Schwerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read.

[Abid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I met the guy back in ‘03. He was alive and well actually.

[Sharon M Bressen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-Portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu (1963-1976)
With an Introduction and Afterword by Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu

After reading A Voice Called by Yossi Katz and visiting the Golan Heights in Israel, I set out to read more about Yoni Netanyahu. I picked up this book as well as Yoni’s Last Battle by Iddo Netanyahu and proceeded to read both books at the same time. The 34th anniversary of the Rescue at Entebbe told place when I was reading these two books.

The book is a collection of letters collected from Yoni’s friends and family after his death. Beginning in 1963 with the first letter to an Israeli schoolmate, he chronicles the time spent in America where he is forced to move because of his father’s research. He knew at a very young age that his heart and soul belonged in Israel.

In this time and age it was very refreshing to follow a man’s maturing with his written words. It was a different time when people corresponded by letters. It made me stop and wonder if in the future we will have this documentation for our records of our heroes’ thoughts, dreams and desires.

Through his own letters, we see a man that does not blindly follow all superior’s commands but finds a way to work within the system. Yoni by way of example gets his men to follow him because of their respect for the man. Yoni is very detail orientated and never leaves anything to fate; he checks and double checks.

The last letter to his girlfriend is only days before the Raid on Entebbe in 1976 during which he is killed in the line of duty. In this letter, he pours out his frustrations and doubts about losing his joy for life; he wants to spend more time with her and start to make time for a personal life. At times, we forget our heroes are also human and have their own personal desires.

Our countries would not have succeeded without the unselfish acts of outstanding men and women. Please read this book for more insight into the makeup of one exceptional person who put his life on the line for the good of the people and made the ultimate sacrifice.

[Mouselet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self-Portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu is at once unlike and like the books I am more accustomed to reading. Because the book is focused on his years with the Israeli Defense Force, it reads similarly to much of the military science fiction and space operas already on my shelf. On the other hand...this is real. These are real people and places that I have some familiarity with in a historical sense, but with the added dimension of getting to know Yoni (Jonathan) and his family through the letters he wrote.

That's what makes this a sobering read, instead of just an interesting read through the lens of the consumate soldier. In some ways I prefer my books - because the end of this one was predetermined, and no matter how attached and invested the reader becomes in Yoni, there is no hope that he'll make it out alive in the end. The last 100 pages or so I was watching the dates thinking, "time is running out, he's going to die soon."

Don't get me wrong, I don't demand that every book I read have a happy ending. But one of the experiences I desire from a book I've never read before is that it surprise me. I don't want to know what happens, at least, not the first time I read it. I despise spoilers in every medium, and find myself feeling somewhat depressed and unsatisfied after finishing this book, purely because I knew the end.

I believe Self Portrait of a Hero is certainly worth reading: it's educational in multiple ways and Yoni was a skilled writer. The translations were done wonderfully and I don't feel much has been lost.

I just spent the last third of the book wishing I didn't know the ending, to create more tension and interest on my part.

[Welles Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unwitting autobiography of dedication & selflessness.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collections of letters are often quite dull since most of us write correspondence that would interest no one but the individual we are writing to. Yoni elevates letter-writing to an almost poetic art. My copy of this book is dog-eared and underlined. Like Love Letters from Cell 92, another stirring collection of letters, it's overshadowed by the fact that if you're reading it, you know how it ends. This adds a sense of tragedy that infuses every letter with a sense of loss and hope.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always inspiring to run across someone who is completely true to him/herself. And not in a self-serving ARod or Richard Sherman way but rather in a Pat Tillman or Mickey Marcus way. This book will give you pause for many years.

[Evan Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An overall very powerful and informational read, I was really able to personally connect to this book. I enjoyed reading it, sometimes being taken on emotional ride, and at other times, it seemed to be an action story.

[Jairam Ranganathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal collection of letters from one of the giants of Israeli recent history.

[renny feld · Rating 5 out of 5]

my hero - yoni netanyahu. the hero of the israeli raid on entebbe - these were his letters written over the years to family and friends....who sez we don't need another hero?