Former torah scholar to become Israeli Naval Commando Head
Shayetet 13 received a new commander on Monday; the commander, who spent the majority of his military career in the unit, was sent to command a land forces unit to gain a wider understanding of the IDF; the new commander won the Youth International Bible Contest when he was younger.
The colonel spent most of his military career in the unit leading secret missions and climbing up the ranks from squad commander to deputy commander of the unit.
"Everyone really appreciated him, he was humble and down to earth, and he really influenced us," said Yonatan Burger, one of the people who served under the colonel.
"He was able to make things happen without the haughtiness which we saw in other officers. We would joke with him, and he would take everything with a good attitude. He didn't have a huge ego because he knew he didn't have to prove anything to anyone."
The first hints of Col. T's strives towards greatness can be found in newspaper reports of him winning the Youth International Bible Contest. The newspaper clippings quote him as saying that he would study for the contest for seven hours a day on top of his yeshiva studies at the Or Etzion Hesder Yeshiva.
Col. T's father, who made Aliyah from Brazil, represented the South American country in the Youth International Bible Contest in the 60's.
After making Aliyah, he settled in Gush Katif.
The IDF said that the colonel's military career path reflects the widespread perception of integration which the navy has been undergoing.
This integration is seeing career naval officers become commanders in the land forces brigades so that they can have a wider understanding of the IDF, and to form relationships with other land forces commanders.
The commanders then return to the navy after gaining this ground forces experience.
