Loss, Sacrifice and Overcoming • Four significant moments in the past year of four soldiers, presented through the works of four artists • Daniel Cohen met Gilat Orkin
Daniel Cohen, a 20-year-old soldier, serving in the Carob Regiment, is a lone soldier who immigrated to Israel in August 2019 from Canada.
"I immigrated to defend my country," he says proudly.
"I grew up in a Zionist home and always dreamed of serving in the IDF." Today he lives in Kibbutz Lavi as part of Garin Zabar, along with 28 other lone soldiers from all over the world. "It's a little difficult to be here without the family, but I manage.
"After the army, I intend to stay in the country."
The pitta artist, Gilat Elkin, sculpts a lone soldier who donated bone marrow // Photo: Gil Kramer
On the day of the recruitment, Daniel joined Ezer Mitzion's bone marrow donor pool.
On one of the routine days of training, the company commander asked him to give him a special message - he was the only donor suitable for a patient.
"I was glad I was found suitable and immediately agreed. Things like this do not just happen. I was very excited, I felt I was doing something good. Only in a year can I know who I donated to."
The artist is Gilat Orkin.
The meeting takes place at her home in Tel Mond.
"I make portraits of temptations and food products," she explains.
"It started when my little daughter went up to first grade. She was a food refuser, did not eat a ten-course meal.
More in the project:
• Optimism during an epidemic
• Colors of memory
• The talking walls
I started making her interesting sandwiches.
Every day I made her a sandwich related to a historical or recent event, "she adds, addressing Daniel," in honor of the new year and your lovely story, I decided to make you a seductive portrait.
This is my art. "She works with pita, lettuce, cucumber, olives, chocolate candies, cottage cheese and more. She cuts and arranges and everything under Daniel's examining eyes.
To Gilat's Instagram account
At the end, she shows him the piece: "The face and body are seductive. Your hair and beard are made of chocolate candy. The uniform is a shelter. The shoes are olive. The dome is made of licorice. With blood, made of glucose and food coloring. In the other hand, the Israeli flag. "
