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To Israel Defense Forces soldiers who have testified that their army has committed war crimes in Gaza, and to "policy makers of the future" on campuses who believe the same, IDF Sgt. Benjamin Anthony counters with his experiences from the battlefield.

Through their lens, Israeli sharpshooters see a child's face that represents the next generation of Palestinians, Anthony said, and the soldiers ask themselves "Is that really a shot you take?" For media reports on how IDF soldiers relish the art of killing, Anthony shoots back with how his decisions as a machine gunner were made with a heavy heart.

"Yes, I've fired on many targets, but my conscience is completely clear," Anthony said at Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park Monday. "Our decisions are made in real time and under real fire, but they are made in accordance with real codes of ethics."

Anthony is the founder of Our Soldiers Speak, an organization that aims to tackle "the imbalance that Israel's soldiers face in the media around the world," according to its Web site. The group lectures at synagogues, schools, and universities worldwide.

Due to negative momentum against Israel in public opinion, Rabbi David Bassous of Etz Ahaim said, "I think that all synagogues should be involved in spreading the word" about what the IDF is really about.

Anthony said that IDF soldiers never fire on civilians, and explained that he has never fired without receiving full confirmation that his target was a clear and present threat to Israeli citizens.

What's unique about Israeli soldiers is how they act after battles, Anthony said. They don't dance and celebrate or boast about killing an enemy combatant, he said, but instead seek out a quiet corner and write a letter to a loved one.

While headlines about Hezbollah rockets in Northern Israel towns during the July 2006 war with Lebanon must have been troubling for Americans, Anthony said, "for the men with whom I serve, those towns are not headlines, but homes, just like mine and just like yours."

Anthony recounted his experiences from July 2006. When a captain read out a short list of names to report to the office at 9 a.m., the soldiers had 10 minutes to call their loved ones and then were sent on ambushes, Anthony recalled. Anthony watched those soldiers transform from boys to men in a matter of moments.

"Ten minutes. That really is how long they had," Anthony said. "Nobody is asking whether they are ready or not."

One soldier named Dudi approached Anthony with what he described as the most chilling request he ever received: "Promise me that if I die there, you won't leave behind for them my body to take. Promise me you'll take me back to Israel."

While Israel's sons are marching off to war, 18-year-olds in the Diaspora are preparing to go to college, Anthony noted.

"What vastly different experiences taking place at precisely the same age," he said.

Anthony also shared a message for Jews outside Israel, which he received from a soldier that he stood next to during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza: "Tell the Jewish people abroad do not fear, because with our souls, with our blood, and I'm afraid with our bodies, we will defend you. Because you're Jewish, and that's what we are here for."

While Anthony's job is telling soldiers to hold their line, and to find victory against impossible odds, he said that the job of American Jews is to try to win a different kind of seemingly un-winnable battle. The easy thing to do in America is to see headlines coming out of Gaza and let someone else deal with it, but "it's you here in this room that we look to from Israel to hold our line," Anthony told the audience of about 35 people.

Anthony asked the crowd to find 10 minutes to learn what goes on in the front lines of battles in the Middle East, rather than guessing, and to educate their children about the truth. Rather than simply being disappointed about media coverage, pen a response and submit it to an organization, he said.

"Stop being voices in the wilderness," Anthony said. "Your connection to your brethren will never be broken, and I believe that's worth your 10 minutes."

Joining Anthony at the front of the room, IDF Capt. Matan Horvitz said that "The IDF trains its officers not to be the best soldiers, but to be the best analysts and decision makers."

During a question-and-answer session, the officers were asked how they developed bonds of trust with soldiers in their units, especially when it comes to major decisions. Horvitz said that he tries to set an example during training and battle, so his soldiers know his values and the reasoning behind his decisions.

Anthony said Jews on college campuses are often scared to bring in IDF soldiers. Therefore, Anthony questioned how the Jewish community can rely on those students when they are our policymakers 10-15 years down the road. In hostile campus environments, Anthony said his "golden ticket" is speaking from his experience in the army, which audience members don't have.

Both officers noted that IDF soldiers who have accused Israel of war crimes have not given specific evidence to support their claims, such as the names, ranks, and serial numbers of the soldiers in question. Anthony added that critical soldiers have yet to agree to debate with him publicly.

When accused of simply "preaching to the choir" by speaking to crowds that agree with him, Anthony said he responds that "the choir isn't singing," meaning that his goal is to inspire Jewish audiences that aren't active enough.

After the program, Ann-Sheryl White of Highland Park said that many people in the room have traveled to Israel or even lived there for different amounts of time, but had never heard of IDF soldiers' experiences because the common practice of soldiers has usually been to shy away from discussing the army with anyone else.

That made Monday night's speech particularly important, White said, because if parents are to send their college-age children to Israel and maybe even one day to the Israeli army, they need to understand how the IDF operates.