Crying for Imma: Battling for the Soul on the Golan Heights

This extremely moving book will appeal to those readers with an interest in the Arab-Israeli conflict, particularly those who have studied the relevant military conflicts in the Middle East.The book describes one of the many land battles which occurred on the Golan Heights during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The book concentrates on one such battle at Tel Saki, where the reader is presented with a very personal narrative of how heavily outnumbered Israeli forces were taken completely by surprise by the Syrian forces which suddenly advanced catching the small number of Israeli troops utterly unprepared for the ensuing conflict.The presentation of this book is not what one would usually expect. It is presented through a series of photographic essays and a number of personal interviews from the soldiers involved which are seamlessly woven together. What comes across to the reader is how military conflict of this nature affects the individual soldier, revealing what the book calls "all the human intricacies" and tragic consequences of conflict.The story enfolds in the context of the handful of Israeli soldiers (five) defending this isolated position whilst enfolded by the advance of a large Syrian force consisting of 150 tanks & infantry. The book presenting a sense of the soldiers' own combat experiences on the ground, including their fears, hopes and anguish. (The reinforcements sent to assist these soldiers in a rescue mission were nearly all killed.)The cruel, personal aspect of warfare is demonstrated throughout this book. One such example described is that of Yair on page 109, when he is badly wounded in an exchange of fire. Shot through the neck, he describes his feelings of terror as his blood spilled over his gun which jammed in the face of the advancing Syrians. Trying desperately to bandage himself & throw grenades at the closing enemy, he describes being further hit in "every place on his body where he was not wearing a vest or helmet". Convinced that all the Israelis were dead, he further describes how the Syrians casually wandered among the lifeless Israelis lying on the battlefield. The book describes how one Syrian soldier walked over to Yair's body, took Yair's head in his hands and proceeded to move it around and around in a search for any sign of life. Finding none he finally poked the lifeless body with his rifle before moving on.The latter section of the book also contains interviews & photographs of the family members of the soldiers involved in this battle and of those who fell. This is indeed a necessary reminder of the horrors of war and how such conflicts affect the individuals involved & a tribute to those involved. Highly recommended.

This book is an incredible blend of high quality photography -- from Lerman and archival --and memorable writing. These two skills seem most often to be mutually exclusive, but this is certainly not the case here. The story is compelling but it is the quality and passion of the writing which most impressed me. Not reading this book is like being aware of a great sunset and not watching it.

Hallie Lerman did a wonderful job finding a way to express the sentiment of Israeli soldiers who experienced the devastating frustration of the opening events of the Yom Kippur War on the Golan Hights. I served with Menachem Ansbacher until his release from the service several months after the war. We all looked up to him and thought of him to be the quintessential Israeli warrior. He was full of life and had a unique ability to motivate people when the chips were down. After reading this book, I realized the great pain Menachem and the others carried with them. A pain that was never verbalized, but, exposed in great detail in the book. I now know what was hiding behind his great smile. Though beyond all hope the war was won, many veterans of the Yom Kippur war are reluctant to discuss their experiences. As this wonderful, warm and poetic book illustrates, war is a terrible waste of human life. I lived 2 miles away from Tel Saki in Moshave Ely-Ad. When I would pass by There, I was always reminded of what Churchill once said -" Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few". [email protected]

I am one of the Israeli soldiers that was there in that war.I think that Hallie succeed to do what no other until now dared to try. and this is a kind of courage as well. I couldn't leave the book until I reached the back cover, although.......I know all the details... I'm greatfull, Thank you Hallie. Menahem

Crying for Imma, by Hallie Lerman, presents the 1973 story of a handful of Israeli soldiers trying to defend their small border outpost from the invading Syrian army on Yom Kippur, and the rescue efforts that followed. The author has interviewed survivors of the battle and relatives of those who died. She artfully weaves together riveting accounts of the soldiers' experiences with poignant memories of lost young men by their loved ones--accompanied by historical photos of the soldiers, and the author's photography of the people interviewed and of the battle site. Lerman skillfully weaves the past and present together into a compelling expression of love (of country, of family and sweethearts, of fellow soldiers), loyalty, courage, and loss. Jewish readers and those interested in Israel will most certainly find this book significant. But the book's deep and sensitive insights into war's wide-ranging human impact is relevant to all. As a non-Jewish reader, I was deeply moved, and recommend it highly.