Signer Spotlight: Eli Wininger
Eli Wininger is a Los Angeles native, and recently returned to the United States after serving in Gaza as a member of the Israel Defense Forces.
Why does Israel’s existence matter to you?
My grandfather is a Holocaust survivor, while my mom’s parents escaped religious persecution from Tunisia. In both cases, they made their way to Israel. Israel saved my family on both sides, so I grew up very much feeling Israel is my home and the home of the Jewish people. While it wasn’t my birth home and I wasn’t living there, Israel felt like a home for my soul.
In 2016, you enlisted in the IDF through the Garin Tzabar (lone soldier) program after graduating university in the U.S. Tell us about your experiences and why you felt compelled to enlist and defend Israel.
I was in college when the 2014 Gaza War (Operation Protective Edge) broke out. Despite my on-campus advocacy, rallying, and raising money, I felt I wasn’t doing enough. I knew I could give more for something that was clearly so important to me, and decided giving a few years of my life was beyond worth it to defend a country that saved my entire family.
I moved to Israel in December 2015, and by April 2016 I was enlisted in Sayeret Egoz, Israel’s special forces unit in northern Israel focused on combating Lebanon and Hezbollah. I spent three and a half years as a commander in that unit, working in Gaza, the West Bank, and a significant amount along the border of Israel and Lebanon. One of our key jobs was destroying tunnels from Lebanon to kibbutzim in Israel, protecting the safety of Israelis near the border.
Tell us about re-enlisting in the IDF last year following the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.
As soon as I heard about the attacks, I texted my officer from my first stint. He said he’d love to have me, but also understood if I wanted to the stay in the U.S. where my life was. It took me one second to make the decision to go back.
I couldn’t imagine a situation where my brothers were out there fighting for their lives and defending their families, and I was living a comfortable life in the U.S. It was the time for the Jewish people to stand up and defend Israel against enemies that clearly showed they wanted to kill and destroy us.
It’s the story I would have wanted to tell my future children or grandchildren. Just like our ancestors did in 1948 or during the Yom Kippur War, this is what I needed to do after October 7. As scared as I was, I knew very much what I wanted my story to be. I booked my flight, and by October 10, 2023, I was in uniform.
What was it like fighting on the front lines in Gaza?
I think often about a quote from G.K. Chesterton that says, “the true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” Israeli soldiers in Gaza have a high sense of purpose. A resolute belief in defending Israel, defending our families and our land, and bringing back our hostages meant that morale was high.
Despite what you might see on the news, we fought to save both Israeli and Palestinian lives. We were in Gaza not to create any unnecessary harm, but to carry out our Jewish values in order to do good, find the hostages, and save our country.
Why is it important for the Jewish people to defend Israel and its right to existence?
The only country that will always defend the Jewish people is Israel. It’s my home as much as yours. I don’t keep kosher or pray three times a day, but if I see another Jewish person I instantly feel a connection.
Non-Jews may not understand that we’re not solely fighting for our kosher laws or the right to pray, but instead fighting for our Jewish culture and for the Jewish people. Most of my Jewish friends’ religious involvement is celebrating a few big holidays a couple times a year, yet they wear their Jewish identities with pride.
Why did you sign the Jewish Future Promise, and why is it so important to support Jewish organizations?
When we needed the world on October 7, they turned their backs on us right away. There are so few of us, so we need to have each other’s backs and stand strong as a united front. That means stepping up financially and supporting your Jewish brothers and sisters. At the end of the day, we are all a big tribe and must feel that unity and act upon it.
Bio
Eli Wininger is a Los Angeles native, and currently resides in Park City, Utah. Following his two stints in the Israel Defense Forces, Eli is a motivational speaker and life coach working with clients to build and carry out customized nutrition, fitness, and mindset plans. Send Eli a message on his Instagram page or his Facebook page to learn more.
