Arriving in Akko early one spring morning, an elite IDF paratrooper unit started exploring the narrow stone streets of this ancient seaport. As part of their rigorous training, they need to learn how to navigate in an urban environment. So they found themselves in Akko, a city in which Arabs, Jews and Christians all manage to reside together. The old city walls that surround the port are remnants from the Crusader period.
Divided into groups, the paratroopers glanced around to get their bearings. Though alike in their olive-green uniforms, with their M16's casually dangling down their backs, one soldier stood out from the rest of his comrades. His name was Dov, "bear" in Hebrew. At six foot four, wide shoulders and bulging muscles strained against the fabric of his extra-large uniform, it was a most appropriate name. Yet Dov was always cheerful, kind-hearted and popular with his fellow soldiers.
Just then a group of young Arab schoolchildren hurried past, chattering rapidly to one another.
"I wonder what they're saying?" Yair, one of the soldiers, commented.
"They said if they're late for school, they will be in trouble," Dov replied.
"Since when do you know Arabic?" Tali laughed.
"I learned it in school, just like you did," Dov told him.
"Okay, if you know Arabic so well, go talk to one of those school kids," Tali challenged, "and we'll listen into your conversation."
"Sure," Dov agreed amiably.
He noticed one tiny girl trailing slightly behind the rest of the schoolchildren. She must have been about five but small for her age, with olive skin and short black hair. A fragile little sparrow of a girl, but she had spunk. When this enormous Israeli soldier with an M16 squatted down in front of her, she was unperturbed. Her dark-bright eyes looked directly into his hazel ones.
"Hello, cutie, how are you today? My name is Dov. What's your name?" he asked in fluent Arabic, using a soft, friendly tone.
The child smiled but did not reply.
"Let me guess your name then. Is it Fatima?"
The little girl shook her head.
"Could it be maybe, Hanan?"
She giggled. "No."
"Hmm, let me think then…is it Yasmin?"
"That's my big sister's name," the child replied.
Dov's knowledge of female Arabic names was exhausted. "I give up!" he exclaimed.
"My name is Cinderella," the child announced proudly.
Dov laughed. "You're joking! Is your name really Cinderella?"
"Yes," she insisted. "That's really my name."
"Well, Cinderella, it was nice talking to you. Have a good day at school."
Dov unfolded himself back to his towering height. The child scampered off down the narrow stone street.
"Well, what do you have to say?" Dov turned to his friends with a smug smile. "Now do you believe I can speak Arabic?"
"I guess you do," Tali reluctantly admitted.
"Yeah, but you spoke only to a little kid. How hard was that?" Yair challenged.
But Dov was still following Cinderella with his eyes. Perhaps she sensed he was watching her for suddenly she turned around, gave a quick grin and a wave of her small hand, whirled round again and smashed her head into a stone wall. She cried out in pain and in an instant Dov was beside her. He scooped her up, examined the bump on her forehead, and gently wiped away her tears with his huge hand.
"Cinderella, don’t cry," he murmured comfortingly. "It's a big bump but it will feel better soon. I wish I had some ice to put on it. That's what my mom did for my bumps when I was a little kid."
Cinderella sniffed. "You bumped your head too?" she asked wonderingly.
Dov laughed. "Sure, my head may be big but I still get my share of bumps. We all do. Tell me, would a candy help your head feel better?" he asked, fishing inside his uniform pocket and offering her the sweet.
She nodded, blinking away her tears, and popped the candy into her mouth.
"Now tell me where your school is, Cinderella, and I’ll take you there."
She pointed with a tiny finger. "Down that street."
Both were unaware how incongruous they looked. But at that moment, it did not matter.
So Dov, the huge Israeli soldier with the M16 on his back and compassion in his eyes, gently carried his new little friend right to the gate of her school. Both were unaware how incongruous they looked. But at that moment, it did not matter. At school, Cinderella may be taught to hate the man who had so tenderly carried her there, but perhaps she will remember him with fondness, as he will remember her…
The media was totally unaware of this event. CNN was not there to record it, British reporters did not witness the sight.
But this story did come from a very reliable source – my own soldier son, Tali, who was there to witness this encounter in ancient Akko early that spring morning.
(26) VALERIE BARTLEY, January 12, 2019 8:27 AM
THE STORY OF DOV AND CINDERELLA WAS SO SWEET.
THE STORY OF DOV AND CINDERELLA IS LIVING PROOF THAT LOVINGKINDNESS CONQUERS ALL
(25) Stan Roelker, June 12, 2018 5:51 PM
Israeli soldier are good people and good fighters
You guys/girls remind me of our Marines and our other fighters of the dedication and passion you serve and fight for your country. God bless you all. Good (meaning "good fighters") must overcome evil.
(24) Beverly, August 18, 2014 5:29 PM
I loved the stories.
The love the feeling one gets from The comradship of the Israeli Soldiers. And of course hearing the Hebrew Music
(23) Idan Greenberg, April 14, 2013 11:22 AM
prejudice and racist
This article shows the author's own prejudice towards the Arab population of Akko. The story start with the fact that the children were speaking in Arabic and yet, despite passing some soldiers, were mundanely talking about being late for school. The story should have ended their, however, Tal, the author's son did not believe this and challenged Dog to continue talking to a girl. Why did Talk not believe that Dog spoke Arabic, or why did he not believe that the kids were merely commenting about being late for school? Perhaps the closing paragraph shows this where the author make the assumption that ''at school she may be taught to hate the soldier.'' This seems highly unlikely as, not only did the girl in the story seemed completely unphased by the soldier, but the first group of children were merely commenting on being late and not swearing at the soldiers or anything else that will make us think that at this particular school hatred of soldiers is taught. Perhaps Tal grew up in a house where every Arab is a suspect, even children walking to school. So, let us not assume that they ALL hate us and let us seek peace where these little opportunities lie.
Holy man, July 31, 2013 6:49 PM
Critical
Why can't u stop looking to criticize every little move and analyze every thought just enjoy the story and experience
Yehoshua Shiloni, October 28, 2013 8:39 AM
Yeh Idan!
It's people like you who believe in the "goodness" of these terrorists and children of terrorists who just can't seem to understand that they are taught to HATE US! Our country doesn't even exist on the maps that WE pay for with our taxes!
Sure, cinderella is cute, but her older sister is already learning on why Jews are the root of all evil in this world!
BE REAL IDAN! You would not last 5 minutes in ANY Israeli Arab village in uniform, let alone if they knew you were a DIB!
Kit di Pomi, June 1, 2015 5:46 PM
Glow Challenged
Your response merits rebuttal, though it reeks of your own prejudices and the dysfunctional nature (off-topic, tangential and toxic) of your response shows that you need rabbinic and possibly psychological help more than that of some Jewish hillbilly from rural southern California - still I will sally forth with some clarification.
This was not a story for deconstruction.
Normal, good, even adequately (much less well) adjusted people, not just we Jews, but also my Buddhist and evangelical neighbors, will get a warm glow from a story like this.
That you did not is a sign of a significant moral and physic health problem. If you want not to be miserable for the rest of your life, you need to get that fixed.
Good Luck & Bless your Heart
(22) dia, December 15, 2011 7:46 PM
Cinderella
Breathtaking and beautiful....
(21) Eli Gelb, December 1, 2011 3:32 AM
Heartwarming!
WHY don't good stories about Israel make the news?
Sharon Pinsleyq, November 19, 2013 4:04 PM
CNN and the IDF i Haiti
If we could truly answer that question, we'd be on the way to solutions! I'll just remind you of the occurrence in Haiti during the 1st days of the IDF rescue mission. A CNN reporter was looking for something to film when she came across the remarkable field hospital already set up and running (the first one on the island!). She got permission to shoot and interview and sent in a report that aired ONCE on CNN after which she was reprimanded and told specifically to leave the Israelis alone! You tell me why- the media at large is soooo willing to portray us as the villains! Never mind. God watches and we are of good faith.
(20) Shoshana, November 30, 2011 5:11 PM
Acco
The story is really beautiful and typical of our wonderful Jewish soldiers. Just one correction, though. The Arabs and Jews don' t get along. The arabs are trying to push out the Jews and recently held a demonstration agaisnt Jews moving into Acco. And the Israeli Left Wing was out there for the Arabs.
Anonymous, October 28, 2013 8:40 AM
Idan were you there?
Probably!
(19) Yehudah, October 24, 2011 11:21 PM
Never mind the reporters -- Someone else also saw this happen:
Hashem.
(18) Davida, October 6, 2011 2:42 AM
This account of universal playful spirit and loving hearts gave me inside-outside joy! Thank You!
(17) Anonymous, October 2, 2011 5:36 PM
My husband and I toured Acco this past summer. It was an unusual site to see Israelis (Including chareidim) walking next to Arabs and conversing with them.
(16) Anonymous, September 28, 2011 3:40 PM
Good story.
Now, this is Judaism.
(15) Rose, September 28, 2011 3:01 PM
I have just become a member of the Friends of IDF, and I really enjoyed this story./ I pray daily for Israel and the IDF, which now includes Dov and Tali.
(14) Beverly Kurtin, September 28, 2011 2:31 AM
He can skip Yom Kippur
A friend of mine, an Arab, told me that he got into trouble at school because of an event just like the one described above. He told me that he was taught to hate all Jews and especially Israelis. But one day while he and his friends were playing soccer the ball went out of bounds and rolled away from him and his friends. An IDF soldier stopped the ball and kicked it back to him and his friends. Once again the ball went rolling down the hill. The soldier brought the ball back and started playing with them. One of the kids fell, scraping his knee. The soldier immediately took out his first aid kit and tenderly picked out the gravel and other stuff that had gotten into his skin. My friend and his pals were astonished, that was not what they had been told the soldiers did. Afterwards, the soldier bought them soft drinks and came back from time-to-time to play with them. They learned to love that soldier. When his teachers tried to shove hate down their throats, he called his teachers liars. As soon as he could, he moved to the U.S. Had he stayed where he was brought up, he would have faced beatings and probable death. Our troops are something else!
(13) Kendall, September 27, 2011 3:29 PM
Wish we had more of these
The media tells us shadowy facts and gives us implications based on opinions. Sadly stories of truth, like this one, never get the press recognition they deserve. Thanks for posting this.
(12) Annie, September 27, 2011 3:20 PM
ok... this is what we mothers love to hear
heart warming stories - that are true! yasher koach
(11) Tonna, September 26, 2011 12:31 PM
Beautiful...
What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it! Please, also thank your son for sharing it with you. May G-d bless your son and those around him and keep them safe.
(10) Yehoshua, September 26, 2011 6:56 AM
NY Times?
I'd like to see this story depicting Israeli soldiers in a positive light in the NY Times.
(9) dov, September 26, 2011 4:53 AM
and thait is why they want to kill us for our compassion,genius,and caring for all people no matter what . imagine the 6 million my family included a world at peace but no we jews denied that moment it seems our destiiny but why dov ben ess
(8) Anu, September 25, 2011 8:58 PM
So beautiful
So beautiful! These are the stories that should be published. These are the ones that inspire goodness! God bless those who do good!
(7) Leah Naor, September 25, 2011 8:01 PM
May this be the wave of the future.
What a wonderful story. I do hope it's the wave of the future. If only we can get to the young before they are turned the wrong way. Your story proves that there really are angels around, here to give us hope for the future. A simply beautiful heartwarming story. Thanks friend, K'tiva v'chatima tova and a gut gebenched yar.
(6) Hilary, September 25, 2011 6:28 PM
A wonderful, heart-warming story!
This is a lovely little story. It is the kind that the media generally will not cover -- but they should!
(5) Anonymous, September 25, 2011 5:16 PM
Many Israeli children also are taught to hate
Great story but what a crummy ending! As if only Arab children are taught to hate. Far too many Israeli children are taught to hate, too. Not that there's any value in a numbers game, how many and what percentage on each side, but really, why end a lovely account of young people on each side who likely learned something valuable about getting along with a nasty swipe at one side only and at the media, which both sides alike villify endlessly to no worthwhile effect. News organizations are mostly mirrors. When more Israelis and Arabs truly seek peace, and more act on that basis, that's what you'll see in the media. When more on each side work together to promote and insist on the dissemination of accounts like this beyond Aish.com, that is what will appear in the New York Times, Le Monde, AP, Reuters and the rest. Think of the nachas that would bring in 5772.
Silky, September 25, 2011 11:16 PM
Perhaps you have been watching the wrong media
While it is true that many Israelis are not raised to love their Arab neighbors, it was the Arab children's TV that used Sesame St. characters to teach their hate. You don't see Israeli babies dressed up ready to kill Arabs, but you do see Arab children dressed as suicide bombers. So which state teaches more hate? There will be peace when Palastinians can say that Israel has a right to exist. Perhaps when they put Israel on their maps. Israel unilaterally gave up the Gaza and what did they get in return? Rockets coming from closer. There may be enough hate from both sides to go around, but if you look honestly, you see the Palestinians clearly have the most.
joe, September 26, 2011 9:51 AM
reply to many Israelis taught to hate
It is very irresponsible for you to make a blanket statement that accuses many Israeli children taught to hate. It is absolutely not true. Show me an Israeli text book that is sanctioned for use by the Israeli Education Minister as opposed to the Ministery of education from the PA that sanctions it.
(4) Anonymous, September 25, 2011 4:48 PM
pittrey@comcast.net
You can only stop hate one small child at a time. No matter what is done to us, we must not become them. You can only break down prejudice an hate by your loving example as that soldier did with that little girl.
(3) Angelica, September 25, 2011 4:08 PM
The media...
All, this week I watch main stream news. I don't do that often but I wanted to see for myself. I watched and no news on how a small baby had been hit by stones throw while been carried home by the parents. What, I saw all week, was soldiers shooting guns and young terrorists,for thats what they are,throwing rocks. I want the people in Israel to know, we who support Israel, see articles and stories like the one I just read. We send it around the world in email, face book...we will do our part to send the truth. We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem..
(2) Anthony, September 25, 2011 3:22 PM
Hope and good news doesn't interest media
Touching and inspiring, trust the reporters not to bother to print things like this. The bbc would possibly write that the soldier rammed her head against the wall and then chased after her until she reached the safety of the school. Obviously the bbc would not be alone in this.
(1) Sophie Sarah, September 25, 2011 2:27 PM
Media's never there
This story is sweet but somehow I don't feel sorry or moved by the stories like this after seeing so many Jewish children and adults murdered by the Arab terrorists. Media is never there to record the truth and they only show up when there is something disgusting to make the show out of it.