hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 460: The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen and guest Orly Regev P1 on hmTv
hmTv | The Israeli Bond – Episode 460 (Part 1)
Host: Gal Swisa Cohen
Guest: Orly Regev
What leads American-born teenagers to volunteer for the Israeli Army?
In this deeply personal opening conversation, Gal Swisa Cohen sits down with Orly Regev, a Long Island CPA and mother of three, whose twin sons chose a path very different from the typical American high school graduate. Accepted to college, they instead made aliyah and enlisted in elite IDF combat units as lone soldiers, serving far from home and family.
Orly shares how she and her husband, Israeli immigrants raising children in New York, built a home rooted in identity, responsibility, and connection to Israel. She reflects on parenting between two cultures, the influence of community and Israeli Scouts, and the mindset behind encouraging young adults to give before they take. The discussion also explores the emotional reality of watching children leave for military service, the meaning of pride versus fear, and the unique support networks that exist for lone soldiers.
This episode focuses on the choices and values that led to enlistment. In Part 2, the conversation turns to the moment everything changed after October 7 and what it meant to be the parent of combat soldiers during wartime.
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