At the end of September, James Hirshfield joined 412 other young recruits in being sworn in on the Bible to the Israel Border Police. James is a “lone soldier,” those young immigrants and army recruits who come to the Land without their families. Yet, family is not the only thing that Hirshfield sacrificed in coming to Israel to serve. He also gave up a successful modeling career.

The former Hugo Boss model told Israel’s Ynet news portal that in 2014 he was deeply distressed by reports of the Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel and the IDF response known as Operation Protective Edge. Hirshfield decided then that it was more important to fight with his people than continue strutting the catwalk. “I had the feeling that I had to immigrate to Israel and play my part in the defense and protection of the Land,” he said.

For Hirshfield’s family, the decision was difficult to comprehend. Why would he give up so much, such a promising career and life of relative luxury, to move to Israel and serve as a simple soldier?...