Masa: Stories of a Lone Soldier

by Ilan Benjamin, Anna DeVries (Editor), Luke Patterson (Illustrator)

One morning, an ordinary American teenager woke up, reported to induction offices and enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. A month later, he stood in the middle of the Negev Desert in an olive green uniform with a vest upon his shoulders and a rifle strapped to his chest. He now had a stake in the most ancient war ever waged. But for all its significance, he found himself as no more than a foot soldier caught between politics and the realities of the front line. Without family, without a childhood home, he was called “Lone Soldier”. These are his stories.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2012

About the author

I was born in Oakland, California and then again in Tel Aviv, Israel. Both countries are home to me. I served from November 2009 to May 2012 in the Israel Defense Forces and in July I moved back to California. In August, I began studying Screen Writing at University of Southern California. I am also called Elan Lubliner.

Reviews

[Amy Suto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilan is a talented writer, and his debut book does not disappoint. This book is surprising and compelling in all the best ways. A must read!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book of short fiction stories about Israel/the Israeli army by an acquaintance based on his time as a lone soldier, which I now know is what you call a non-native Israeli who volunteers for the Israeli army. Quite well done.

[Jenny]

Wish I were one of these individuals in the book.