On his tenth yahrtzeit, as they do every year, members of his family, friends, former and current lone soldiers, gathered at Har Herzl Military Cemetery.

Rabbi Ezra Amichai of the Jerusalem Soul Center was close with Michael and hosted the lone soldier for Shabbos in the Old City. He spoke of the significance of the tenth year, the decade that has past. The Hebrew letter which is used for ten is yud, the smallest, but most important letter. For just as the letter yud is part of every other letter, Michael became part of everyone who knew him.  While Michael may have been small in physical stature, like the yud, his legacy and impact have become exceptional. 

Every Birthright group that comes to Israel visits his grave on Har Herzl cemetery, as he has become the quintessential lone soldier, and over the years they have left behind piles of hats, tags, mementos which continue to accumulate on & around his kever. 

Chief IDF Rabbi Rafi Peretz was in attendance. His message related to the national tragedy of Tisha B'Av, which was caused by sinat chinam, needless hatred between Jews. The redemption can only come about when Jews engage in unconditional love for one another, just as Michael did. Michael's example brings us all together and hastens the redemption.

As Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rav Aryeh Stern spoke in Hebrew, Josh Flaster, Director of the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin, translated for parent's Mark and Harriet Levin.  He spoke of Michael's dedication to God and Israel and his parents' commitment to keep his memory alive through their commitment to the Lone Soldier Center.

Uri Palti, Israel's Consul General in Philadelphia in August 2006, has remained a close friend of the Levin family, and recalled the events of ten years ago, and the impact Michael has made since then. 

Mark Levin, Michael's father, shared his thoughts and thanked everyone for the support, love, and friendship they have offered to him and his wife over the years. He reminded everyone that Michael had received special permission to travel to the United States to visit his family in the summer of 2006. When he heard about the outbreak of the war, he decided to end his trip and return to help his unit. So Harriet and Mark and Michael's two sisters traveled to JFK airport and saw Michael off to Israel for the last time. He went straight to his commanders and demanded to be sent up north to defend Israel against Hezbollah. Seven days later he was killed. 

He closed his remarks with a comment from Sally Mitlas, the director of the documentary about Michael, "A Hero in  Heaven."  When she arrived in Philadelphia to interview them, he had prepared for her a list of people he thought she should interview in order to get a sense of who Michael was.  She looked at him, declined his offer and said, "I got all the interviews I needed in Israel. The people who Michael surrounded himself with in Israel are the most amazing people I have ever met.They are the best testimony about who Michael was."'

Some of those same people, who offered comfort and support from the tragic beginning, stood with the Levins again. One rebbitzen who also lost a son calls Harriet every Friday from Israel to say Shabbat Shalom and talk. Tziki Aud, "Israeli adoptive father" to Michael, and trusted adviser to thousands of other lone soldiers has worked tirelessly to turn the dream of the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center into a reality.

The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin was established by a group of volunteers, mostly former lone soldiers under Aud's direction. The center now provides multiple services to lone soldiers, meals and community, advising and counseling, housing and gear, from a place to wash their uniforms and hang out when they are on leave, to a place to live.

After the memorial service, the new Lone Solder Center on 51 Jaffa Road was dedicated. Pvt Noah Abramowitz from Baltimore was one of the current lone soldiers present. Former Ambassador to US and MK Michael Oren, also a former lone soldier, attended and spoke. Oren often retells the story of his days as a lone soldier, arriving in Jerusalem after a week in the army, and trying to find food for Shabbat after all the stores closed. He compared his feelings of being all alone to the attention that lone soldiers receive today.

Former lone soldier and volunteer Ari Kalker,spoke at the dedication. Kalker said, "Lone soldiers come from all over the world to serve the Jewish people. Michael Levin came from a comfortable home and a good family in Philadelphia. Michael left behind Mark, Harriet, Dara and Alisa to serve. In the summer of 2006, the Jewish people were attacked and our army went to war. Michael fell in battle. The only time we refer to the dead as fallen is when a soldier dies in battle. Falling is the the precursor to getting up. Michael fell and left us a mission and legacy to fulfill, on his behalf, we had to get up. Michael lived a life of fun, of brotherhood, of caring for his fellow soldiers, and especially his closest friends, fellow lone soldiers.

On his behalf, in his name and honor, this organization was established. This organization bears his name and carries on Mikey’s ideals. This Center has changed the reality of life for lone soldiers.Together we have changed the way lone soldiers draft, we have changed the way they serve, changed the reality of what units they get into, increased the number of lone soldiers who become officers and commanders.

The Center time and again puts facts on the ground. Opens real homes with real madrichim, surrounded by real and very strong communities, to absorb and support our lone soldiers. Although we lost Michael, although he fell, together….we have stood up."

The epitaph on Michael Levin's gravestone reads: An American oleh whose love of G-d and Israel is eternal 

His memory has become a blessing for thousands, may it continue.