Before I begin, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am the mother of three sons who serve as combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. In my daily life, I also serve as President of Braude College of Engineering in Karmiel, in the Galilee.

But the truth is, the story I want to share with you is not only my story. It is the story of many mothers in Israel— The Moment When It All Begins

There is a moment when this story begins. The moment when you hold your baby for the very first time. He is wrapped in a blanket, his eyes still half closed, and he seems as though he belongs only to you. But for a mother in Israel, another thought quietly sneaks into the heart: One day, this child will wear a uniform and be asked to defend our collective homes.

I am the mother of three sons. Three soldiers. Three children I once held in my arms as tiny babies — today serve on the borders of Gaza and Lebanon.

The journey between teaching a child to walk and knowing he may one day walk into enemy territory is very hard to explain.

The Years When Life Looks Normal

Childhood in Israel is like that of every other kid in the world: Kindergarten. Soccer games. School trips.

But even childhood lives in the........

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