“When I was growing up, big dreams were only in fairytales,” Nitay Ledany describes his childhood. “I was born and raised in Dimona, so in my environment everyone wanted to be a factory worker, because they had the nicest houses in the city. But that wasn’t enough for me. I knew you could dream of much more. I took matters into my own hands – a 14-year-old boy from Dimona with a kippah and a heart full of motivation – and decided I was going to teach myself to dream big, like in the stories.
“As a teenager, I studied acting in Tel Aviv, led the media and community field in the robotics group I established in Dimona, managed a course for young tour guides, participated in all possible youth programs and delegations, and received the ‘Ramon Award’ (a leadership program for 12th-grade students who made an outstanding contribution to society and community)”.
Around The World In 80 Days
“I realized that media was my dream field and started writing for the school newspaper and local paper. I fought to enlist to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, and finished the training with honors. At first I was assigned as spokesperson for the Border Defense Corps, and later as a content creator in the IDF’s international digital department and as chief editor of the IDF website in English, Spanish, and French.
“After my discharge, I started working as a travel blogger and as an independent reporter for Mako, Channel 13, and Makor Rishon, as a volunteer narrator in the library for the blind, and recently also as a presenter in Kan digital. As a blogger, I went on big journeys, including a trip around the world in 80 days with a daily blog and a journey to the happiest countries in the world.
“The war started just as I arrived in Israel as part of the journey to the happiest countries in the world. I stopped in Israel, the fourth country on the list, intending to write my last article in the series of articles. But the article about Israeli happiness exploded in my face and turned into a harsh reality.
“The first days of the war were unimaginable. The imbalance between ‘the fourth happiest country in the world’ and the loss and sadness threw me into deep frustration, which only meaningful action could pull me out of. It came when I got the opportunity to be the spokesperson for Kibbutz Nir Oz, initially as a volunteer, and to tell one of the most important stories in the State of Israel. The opportunity turned into a life-changing mission.”
The Most Important Activity
“My work as the spokesperson for Nir Oz is the most important activity I’ve done. It has one central goal – to no longer be needed. That means for the hostages to return home. Professionally, we’ve achieved impressive accomplishments with the team. We managed to change the perspective of countries on the war, while promoting articles in countries that were ‘wavering’; to advance moves with senior officials in governments around the world; and to significantly influence the Israeli and American broadcasting schedules.
Personally, I deal with emotional challenges in formulating death notices and distributing immediate responses to psychological warfare videos created by terrorist organizations. It’s hard work, but I see it as a mission”.
What do you recall as the peak moments of your activity?
“When I circled the world in 80 days according to the plot of the famous book, I was recognized by the Reform Club, the club where the book began and ended, as the first person in the world to complete the route. I was invited to England as a guest of honor at the 150th anniversary celebrations of the book, and a signed copy with my name is in the club’s archive”.
