An American as Israeli soldier

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COMPANY C: AN AMERICAN'S LIFE AS A CITIZEN-SOLDIER IN ISRAEL

By Haim Watzman

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, $26, 387 pages

REVIEWED BY SOL SCHINDLER

All lives are worth exploring and Haim Watzman's, because of its many contradictions, even more so. Born in an American suburb of middle-class or reasonably affluent parents he turned from a typically semi-secular Jewish existence to Orthodox Judaism. He did this, he states, because of his exposure to two Orthodox rabbis whose intellectual approach in dealing with ethical problems he found particularly attractive. On the inevitable trip to Israel he did not become rapt with admiration but found a country with flaws and deficiencies.

The same overdeveloped conscience which brought Mr. Watzman to Orthodoxy also made him stay and work in the country to help remedy those flaws he felt existed. In time he became an Israeli citizen, was drafted into the army, and after release became subject to the mandatory reserve until his 45th birthday. His book, "Company C: An American's Life as a Citizen Soldier in Israel," chronicles for the most part his life in the reserve.

Life in the army was not easy for the author. As a teenager like so many of his generation he had demonstrated against the Vietnam war and developed an anti-military attitude; and like many urban liberals he did not particularly like guns. He was also a self-styled klutz, unathletic and uncoordinated. The one physical activity he did enjoy was running, which perhaps made the infantry with its long hikes the least inappropriate service for him.

Politically Haim Watzman was of the left and felt the Israeli presence in the occupied territories morally wrong and politically foolish. He was also a staunch feminist which put him at odds with some of the more traditional Orthodox practitioners. Wherever he looked, he was the odd man out. How these contradictions resolved themselves, and although he does not say so, made him a valuable member of his community, both army and civilian, is what this book is about.

Every veteran of the Israeli Defense Force is required to serve one month each year in the reserves. Since the date of service may vary according to national needs a great deal of personal hardship could be involved in a call-up, but exceptions are frequently made. Nevertheless some veterans made a political issue of refusing to serve because they might be required to police the occupied territories.