Yesterday, we went out with family and had breakfast at Aroma Café. Many of you who have been to Israel probably know it—it’s such a familiar, very Israeli place.

While we were ordering, I noticed the soldiers around us. Some looked so young, some were reservists, and some were ordinary citizens—carrying a gun and taking on the responsibility to protect wherever they go.

Here, at 18, teenagers are called to serve in the army. It’s hard to explain unless you see it.

Young people here grow up differently. At an age when many are still discovering life, they are already learning how to protect it. They are shaped to be strong, to carry responsibility, to stand as a shield for their home—not because they chose this path, but because they want a safer, quieter life for the people they........

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