Safe and Sound: Mauricio’s Journey from Venezuela to Israel

Pvt. Mauricio

Pvt. Mauricio was born on October 10, 1991 in Caracas, Venezuela. There, he studied at a Jewish school and led a normal life. But normalcy did not last for long.

At age 8, Pvt. Mauricio was abducted near his home and forced to stay in the trunk of a car with a bag over his head for eight hours. After lengthy negotiations between his parents and his kidnappers, he was released in a public park where he was reunited with his family.

On April 11, 2002, protesters attempted to overthrow the government of Hugo Chavez, former president of Venezuela. Pvt. Mauricio was present at the protest, where he witnessed the murder of several people. The event traumatized him.

At the age of 12, horror once again struck Mauricio's family as a group of criminals broke into their home, holding the family hostage while ransacking the house. 

This incident prompted Pvt. Mauricio's parents to send him to live with his mother’s family in Mexico.

While in Mexico, yet another tragedy occurred. Pvt. Mauricio's father died due to medical negligence. Pvt. Mauricio traveled to Venezuela to be with his family during the mourning period. Shortly after, he returned to Mexico with the intention of strengthening his ties with Judaism.

In 2010, Pvt. Mauricio traveled to Israel with the Israel Challenge program and participated in the Marva course in which young people from all over the undergo basic training in the IDF. It was then that he decided to officially immigrate to Israel and enlist in the IDF.

“I decided to make Aliyah because I realized that this is where I wanted to live. It is a Jewish country, it belongs to us, and it has a bright future ahead. Though it is not easy to start a life from scratch, Israel is where we should be.”

Mauricio on a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem with the Marva course, 2010

Filled with hope and optimism, Pvt. Mauricio returned to Israel in late 2011, this time to stay. “I knew I would face challenges, such as learning a new language and adapting myself to a different culture. My main goals were to become proficient in Hebrew and become a good soldier in the IDF.”

His decision to enlist was influenced by his time in Israel in 2010, when he says he finally began to feel a sense of calm. “No matter where I was, I felt safe when I saw an IDF soldier” he recalls. “That was why I decided to become one of those soldiers, who could provide that type of comfort.”

Pvt. Mauricio

He describes the importance of serving in the army: “It is important because this is the only land that is truly ours. We are surrounded by enemies who are determined to take it away at any price and we are the only barrier holding them back. We have no other place. This is our only home.”

Pvt. Mauricio and his fellow servicemen

His army service has been full of hard work, but also camaraderie that he says only a combat soldier can understand.

“When you are doing a Massa [march] or a tough exercise out in the field and you see your friend, who is even more exhausted than you, you come and help so that you can all continue forward–this type of bond is impossible to explain.”

Nahal Brigade soldiers in the Beret march

Today, Pvt. Mauricio serves in the 931st Company of the Nahal Brigade and plans to complete the commanders course in order to become an IDF officer. “Things have been going very well. I am so happy where I am and with whom I serve. I have grown as a person and learned many things that make me a good soldier.”