Yes, It’s Possible by Ehud Diskin, Gefen Publishing House, 2015
By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — On the first page of the Preface – as well as several more times throughout his book – Ehud Diskin makes the following statement: “Long ago I defined the principles by which I would live my life……to try and live by my own values and beliefs rather than those dictated by family, society, or country.” This credo brought him as much trouble as it did satisfaction.
Born in Jerusalem a few years before the birth of the State of Israel, he witnessed the travail and the joy of that event. He details growing up in Israel at that time as well as the tensions and tenderness of family life. When he briefly describes many of the people who inhabited his childhood landscape, we can all relate to the “types” he sketches. Occasionally, he over reaches and the description slips into being gratuitously cruel, especially when a name is attached. His English teacher (name given), whom he acknowledges was a good teacher, is nevertheless eviscerated by his comments on her physical appearance – it is both unkind and unnecessary.
As most young people do, he participates in pranks, takes unwarranted risks, enjoys youthful romantic escapades and in general avoids as much as he can the expectations made by family, society and country (as promised in his credo) or else fulfilled them on his own terms. Shortly after graduating high school he was drafted into the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). This opened new doors but it did not change his modus operandi of avoiding required tests, cheating on some of those he took, disdaining to take the course work to acquire various military skills and certifications, leaving the base whenever he could – but should not have. He exhibits a seam of arrogance that goes beyond the normal mind set of the young.
Details of his service during the several wars between Israel and its neighbors and especially his description and insight into the events of the Yom Kippur War, are riveting. However, the listing of the officers who commanded the various battalions and other minutia is of less interest to the general reader. Diskin delves deeply into the official report which investigated the operations of that war. I am sure that someone studying this event would find the esoteric discussion of great interest, but again, for the general reader, less so.
The author’s life repeatedly revolved in and out of the IDF, the Reserves, academia, private sector employment and a myriad of business schemes. Through it all, he attains both the rank of Colonel and a Ph.D. He also marries and divorces several times, ultimately fathering four children and getting involved in a nasty and costly custody suit.
His business activity takes him all over the world, several times rising to rarified heights and then plunging him into financial depths, even to the point of using his skill at casino gambling to pay his debts. His life is a carousel of repeated risks, triumphs and tragedies as well as a roller coaster upon which he never hesitates to ride.
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Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. Your comment may be sent to sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com, or posted on this website provided that the rules below are observed.
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