Son of Susan and Max. He was born on September 15, 1962 in New York, United States. He is the second son of a four-member family. Already in his childhood he liked to correct, to build, and to discover how things worked. He had tremendous energy and cheerful, infectious moods. When he came up with an idea he immediately tried to realize it. Alex grew up to be an open, sociable, handsome boy who impressed his charismatic presence and discovered artistic talents. Since he began drawing, at the age of four, he has recorded in writing and sketches his experiences throughout his career. In 1973, the family arrives in Israel for one year for their firstborn son, Shaul. Their stay in Israel lasts for four full years. They live in Jerusalem and Alex studies at the elementary school. In the last year of their stay in Israel, Alex and his brother Shaul move to Kibbutz Kissufim, where they study in the regional high school. The parents, who were not educated in Judaism, learn and acquire Jewish tradition and customs, and when they return to the United States, to Washington, they lead a traditional Jewish way of life. Alex begins his sophomore year at cBethesdacChevycChase High School, and in his final year he begins gymnastics. Alex believes he can be a good gymnast and therefore wants to be admitted to college with exercise programs, but when he comes to Cornell University in September 1980, he wants to become a gymnast. Alex spends three of his four years at Cornell. He is accepted into a special track, which allows him to build his curriculum on topics of interest to him, such as Russian studies, Jewish studies and economics, and undertakes to write his thesis in the fourth year of his studies. During summer vacations, Alex is staying at the cBCIc camp in California, a camp that gives young people a deep experience of learning and Jewish life. His stay in the camp convinces him that one of the main goals of Judaism is Tikkun Olam. This discovery fits well with his unquestionable commitment to use his life to make the world a better place. Alex did not become a religious observant, but combined a course of learning Judaism in his life. He spent his third year at the London School of Economics. This year, he traveled in England, Scotland, Spain, Italy and Greece, and even traveled to the Soviet Union for a short visit, where he met with refuseniks. Everywhere he tries to learn about Jewish life past and present, documenting and painting that he sees and writes his thoughts in a stream of letters. When he returned to Cornell for his final year, the experience of the previous year became his thesis topic – Letters from the Diaspora. On the basis of this work, Alex graduated with honors. After completing his studies, he began his settlement process in Israel and devoted the summer of 1984 to study Arabic at the Hebrew University. Afterward, with the help of the new language he acquired, he travels for two weeks in Jordan and hitchhiking. On the last day of 1984, Alex officially goes to Israel. In one of the letters to his brother in the United States, he writes: “The purpose of my aliyah is a combination of several factors: my desire to participate in the development of the State of Israel as a nation and as a light for the nations … I prefer Israel’s challenges to the easy life of America.” At the beginning of February 1985, six weeks after his aliyah, Alex enlisted in the IDF, where he was absorbed as a lone soldier in Kibbutz Ein Zurim (where his younger brother, Daniel, also serves in the IDF), and adopted by the Yehuda family and Michal Chen. Because he is a new immigrant and due to his age, he is committed to service for only a year and a half, but Alex, who chose a combat course and aspired to take an officer’s course, He attaches great importance to serving in the paratroopers, volunteers for the army, and goes on basic training. Alex wanted to influence others and knew that as commanderWill have more influence. He continues his training as a combat combatant and as a commander in a course for commanders and officers of the infantry corps, and at the end of the officers’ course he is stationed in an air force unit. Alex accepts this in a harsh spirit and claims that he immigrated to Israel to volunteer and serve in a combat unit, and after long efforts his wish is fulfilled and he is stationed as a platoon commander in the Givati Brigade. According to his acquaintances, this was a Simcha time in his life. After several months of training, Alex leaves with his unit to the Lebanese border to secure the northern settlements. During this period, too, he continues to write in the journal he began with his enlistment. The diary includes many descriptions, accompanied by paintings and drawings. On the 17th of Elul 5747 (September 15, 1987), on his 20th birthday, Alex and his company commander, Ronen Weissman, lead a tour of the security zone. A group of terrorists making their way to attack civilian targets in Israel surprises them. The company commander was hit (and later died of his wounds) and Alex, who felt his help with a paramedic, was killed instantly. Magist Oren Kamil tries to help the wounded officers and finds his death. Alex’s last diary is on his body. Alex is laid to rest at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, leaving behind his parents and three brothers – Shaul, Daniel and Benjamin. After his fall he is promoted to lieutenant. Yitzhak Rabin, the defense minister at the time, wrote to the family: “Lieutenant Alexander Singer gave his life for his homeland … He was an excellent officer, always ready to help everyone, a friendly figure, his soldiers followed him for every mission. The commander of the unit adds: “To all of us, commanders and soldiers, Alex was an example and a symbol, a soldier and an exemplary, responsible, dedicated and intelligent commander with a personal initiative and excellent operational ability.” Alex volunteered for every mission and showed personal involvement in the education of every soldier in the company. And as a true friend. ” Alex left a wonderful collection of illustrated diaries, sketches and paintings, which were assembled in the exhibition “Art and Operation”, which was first exhibited in his memory at the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Gallery in Jerusalem and later in Israel and in several Jewish communities in the United States. The exhibition included paintings from various periods and landmarks in his life: places in Jerusalem, a beret journey, officers’ course, a visit to Petra and many other places he loved. At the opening of the exhibition, his commander said: “Alex did manage to be absorbed and to be part of the society that gave her his life.” Alex’s parents gathered his letters, diaries and drawings in a book bearing his name “Alex-Building a Life”.
