Celebrating Jewish icons: Ilan Ramon

Some little boys dream of being fighter pilots. Some dream of being astronauts.

Israeli born Ilan Ramon was both - and a whole lot more.

The son and grandson of Holocaust survivors (his mother and grandmother were held in the infamous Auchwitz camp), Ilan Ramon was raised in Beersheba Israeli. As a young man, he joined the Israeli Air Force where his natural talents were recognized and he was accepted as a fighter pilot. During his service, Ramon saw action in the Yom Kippur War and the first Lebanon war. He flew in the operation to destroy Iraq's nuclear facility in 1981. 

After those sorties, Ramon's star continued to rise, straight on through the the air force (where he eventually made Colonel) and into the prestigious ranks of NASA. Ramon made history and became the first Jewish man in space. Though he was tragically lost in the Challenger disaster along with six other astronauts, his legacy as a inspirational Jewish figure lives on.

Ramon's accomplishments alone would make him a historic figure. However, it is his humility, humanity, and introspection on the Jewish experience that really makes him stand out.

Although personally secular, Ramon never lost sight of the rich history of his culture or the many sacrifices that were made by his people to lead to a world where a Jewish man could fly through space. During his extraterrestrial trip, Ramon brought several Jewish artifacts and mementos with him to celebrate his people.

Among the objects he carried into space was a crude drawing of the earth, as if seen from the perspective of someone standing on the moon. The drawing was made by a 14 year old who died in the Terezin concentration camp. He also brought with him a small Torah. This particular Torah originally belonged to a rabbi in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He gave it to a man named young man, Joachim Joesph, after performing a secret bar mitzvah for him under the nose of German guards. Joseph would survive the camp and become one the scientist at NASA working on the Challenger mission. Both he and Ramon agreed that it would be a touching tribute to take the Torah into space, escaping the bonds of worldly hatred.

Two months after the disaster, Ramon's personal diary was found mostly intact in Palestine, Texas. The unlikeness of a book made of paper and cardboard surviving an explosion and subsequent 37 mile journey is nothing short of a miraculous. Inside, the diary contained the Sabbath kiddush prayer for Ramon to recite during the Sabbath in a radio transmission to earth. He also wrote about the strange beauty of being a man who "lives and works in space, just like in the movies" and viewing and a lightning storm that was traveling over multiple countries in Asia.

This was a man who understood the beauty and majesty of the world God has given us and the triumphant reliance of the Jewish people. Ilan Ramon may have been taken from us, but we can all learn from his humble, joyful, spirit.