A Line in the Sand: An American's Story of Service and Sacrifice in the Israeli Special Forces

A Line in The Sand is an honest, balanced, and at times humorous glimpse into the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of an IDF combat soldier. It is not a chronicle of war but rather a chronicle of love. Corey's book describes the sacrifices that must be made in the subjugation of one's own desires in deference to something greater. It is one thing to draw a line in the sand; it is quite another to summon the commitment and willpower to stand guard over that line.

At twenty-two years old, Corey Feldman left his sheltered, idyllic American life to move to Israel and voluntarily draft into the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier. Over the next eighteen months, he endured grueling training, shattering exhaustion, and excruciating physical and emotional pain preparing for life as a special operations combat soldier.

Corey struggled to overcome the linguistic and cultural barriers required to integrate into the military and Israeli society. Simultaneously, he struggled to adjust to a lifestyle in which the unbridled freedom of his life as a university student was replaced by the regimented, unforgiving life of a soldier. Throughout his service in the IDF, Corey searches for the perseverance, resilience, and selflessness to become something more.

After receiving his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010, Corey Feldman left his home in Westchester, New York, and moved to Israel to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces. In 2013, he completed his three years of IDF service in a specialized combat unit within the Givati Brigade. He holds the rank of staff sergeant, and proudly returns to Israel each year to serve alongside his team in the IDF Reserves. Corey currently lives in Manhattan. He is an Erickson certified professional coach, holds an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, and is currently pursuing his Masters in Healthcare Innovation from The University of Pennsylvania. Corey is a volunteer EMT, and works as an entrepreneur in the digital healthcare space. His website and blog can be found at TheExaminedLife.NYC. His podcasts, "The Lone Soldier Podcast," and "Healthcare Reimagined," can be found on Spotify and Apple podcasts.