Michael Domb, 28-29, is a Canadian from Toronto.
The Jerusalem Post published an article in 2009 about his desire to join the Israeli military’s air force as an adult. The article, published when he was 13, describes how he met veteran Israeli pilots while training at an airport in Markham, Ont., and was able to fly in one of their training planes.
Domb also spent time in Israel at a young age: “Domb came here for his bar mitzva, then stayed at the boarding school to sharpen his Hebrew skills and get used to everyday life here, hoping to prepare for his aliya after high school.” Domb eventually joined the Israeli military around 2013 as a so-called “lone soldier,” serving as a tank commander.
He has since discussed his service at multiple events, including at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue in North York, Ont., in May 2018. Domb was also the co-chair of a June 2018 Israel Bonds event co-hosted with The Lone Soldier Center, which honoured lone soldiers. The event was also held at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue.
Domb is quoted on the Israel Bonds website as saying, “As a former lone soldier and IDF commander, I was truly touched to see the Toronto community come together to support Israel at large, through Israel Bonds; and the lone soldiers specifically through the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin. We came together, over 500 of us, to stand for those who have stood for us- the sons and daughters of our community fighting for Israel.” (Another person included in this database, Jonah Osher, was also featured at the event.)
Domb made this appearance as a member of the Lone Soldier Center group, which he later became the deputy director of. In an interview with an Israeli publication, he said, “It is true that lone soldiers have difficulty integrating, but in my opinion, there is no better place than the IDF in which to make aliyah and be absorbed into Israeli society. For me, along with the difficulties that came with realizing my dream, I enjoyed every moment of my service.”
The Canadian Jewish News reported: “[Domb] said that Canadians make up a substantial proportion of the lone soldiers who are fighting for Israel. ‘A significant majority are from Toronto,’ said Domb.”
After finishing his service, Domb went on to complete degrees at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Columbia University, and eventually started a real estate investment company, Forest Hill Capital, which is based in Toronto.
Domb’s parents are Uriel Domb and Elizabeth Domb. The Jerusalem Post described Uriel as “an Israeli-born aerospace expert” that “worked for NASA on the first lunar landing and on the Apollo missions before moving into satellite technology,” and Elizabeth as a music director at a private school in Toronto.
