Ira Kohler: The Story Behind Once a Paratrooper

[upbeat music] Wherever you're listening in the world, it's a pleasure to welcome you to Israelcast, the podcast powered by Jewish National Fund USA, your voice in Israel.

I'm Steven Schalowitz, and on this episode, we're coming to you once again from JNF House in the very heart of New York City, where our featured guest is Ira Kohler.

He's a former lone soldier, and he's written a brilliant memoir about his experiences serving in the IDF.

It's called Once a Paratrooper: The Story of a Lone Soldier in the Gaza War, and I urge you to pick up a copy wherever you like to buy your books.

And Ira joins me right now.

As I said in this episode, so great to have you aboard, Ira.

And before anything, I have to thank you for your service, and I have to really thank you for writing this book because it is so revealing, it's beautifully written, and I really want everyone to pick up a copy to understand what it's like to be a soldier in the IDF, let alone a lone soldier.

Steven, uh, first of all, thank you.

Thank you for the kind words and obviously the invitation to be here today.

Just a little bit to share, I've been listening to you on Israelcast through the years, and to actually get to be here and to share about my book and my story on your, on this Israelcast with you is really such a pleasure.

Uh, I, I want to thank all the viewers and to thank you, and I'm excited to get into, you know, who I am, my story, and what I wrote about in my book.

Well, first of all, thank you for your support of Israelcast all these years.

Of course.

We, we'd like to hear that here on the show.

It's a phenomenal podcast, amazing episodes.

My dad's listened to it too.

We, we love you and, uh, and JNF and the podcast.

Well, thanks very much, and a shout-out to your dad for listening to the show.

[laughs]