Sar-El Volunteers for Israel

Saying Goodbye to Sar-El

By Lieutenant (Segen) Yarden Avriel, outgoing Sar-El Officer

It was on Holocaust Memorial Day two years ago that I decided to become an officer. I was a madricha on a base with a group of volunteers, some of them the best people I know and good friends till this day. On Holocaust Day, I brought in a Rabbi to talk to the volunteers. In the middle of his lecture, I received many phone calls from an unfamiliar number and then a message to come outside immediately.

Afraid that it might be serious, I went outside. A few meters from the lecture room, a few soldiers were sitting and they asked me to come to them. As I approached them, I saw that they were drinking on base on Holocaust Day.

I just couldn’t believe what I saw. (On left:) Outgoing Sar-El Officer, Yarden Avriel.

When I asked them why they were doing this, they said that they just didn’t care and that the Holocaust had nothing to do with them in their lives. I left them and returned to the group. The volunteers, some of them not even Jewish, were crying by then. I understood at that moment what the volunteers already knew. When you have strength and the will to give more of yourself, you are obligated to do so because in an army like ours, not everyone will be able to do the same.

I have remembered that moment many times during the past year as an officer. It seems to me that whenever the system looked too overwhelming, the soldiers too difficult to handle, the commanders too demanding, I thought about you, the volunteers, doing exactly what I was attempting to do: to give without asking for anything in return. You have reminded me why I worked late, why I was on the phone 50% of the time, why I spent six hours every day on a bus, why even when I was sick I came to work, and why I sat in front of a computer and did silly reports for hours. Why? Because you were worth it, because it is people like you that make me want to give more.

We share a great love for this country and we want to help it in any way we can. We believe in Israel even when it seems as if the country doesn’t care about itself.

So now I am leaving this unit but I will take you volunteers with me, to remind me of the value of each day here and what unconditional love for this country is; but more than anything, to remind me when I might forget, of just exactly who I am.

I salute you.

Love,

Yarden

(Note from Sar-El Program Coordinator Pamela Lazarus)

Yarden has been with the Sar-El unit for 2½ years, first as a madricha, then as an officer in charge of all the madrichim. Yarden is the “best of the best”. Those of you who were fortunate enough to have her as a madricha know how much she loves this unit, the IDF & her country. We here at Sar-El will miss Yarden very much but we know that it is time for her to move on, expand her horizons as an officer in the IDF and prepare for the day when she leaves the army. Kol ha Kavod to Yarden & we wish you the best of luck in your new unit.


Saying Goodbye to Sar-El By Lieutenant (Segen) Yarden Avriel, outgoing Sar-El Officer It was on Holocaust Memorial Day two years ago that I decided to become an officer. I was a madricha on a base with a group of volunteers, some of them the best people I know and good friends till this day. On Holocaust Day, I brought in a Rabbi to talk to the volunteers. In the middle of his lecture, I received many phone calls from an unfamiliar number and then a message to come outside immediately. Afraid that it might be serious, I went outside. A few meters from the lecture room, a few soldiers were sitting and they asked me to come to them. As I approached them, I saw that they were drinking on base on Holocaust Day. I just couldn’t believe what I saw. *(On left:) Outgoing Sar-El Officer, Yarden Avriel.* When I asked them why they were doing this, they said that they just didn’t care and that the Holocaust had nothing to do with them in their lives. I left them and returned to the group. The volunteers, some of them not even Jewish, were crying by then. I understood at that moment what the volunteers already knew. When you have strength and the will to give more of yourself, you are obligated to do so because in an army like ours, not everyone will be able to do the same. I have remembered that moment many times during the past year as an officer. It seems to me that whenever the system looked too overwhelming, the soldiers too difficult to handle, the commanders too demanding, I thought about you, the volunteers, doing exactly what I was attempting to do: to give without asking for anything in return. You have reminded me why I worked late, why I was on the phone 50% of the time, why I spent six hours every day on a bus, why even when I was sick I came to work, and why I sat in front of a computer and did silly reports for hours. Why? Because you were worth it, because it is people like you that make me want to give more. We share a great love for this country and we want to help it in any way we can. We believe in Israel even when it seems as if the country doesn’t care about itself. So now I am leaving this unit but I will take you volunteers with me, to remind me of the value of each day here and what unconditional love for this country is; but more than anything, to remind me when I might forget, of just exactly who I am. I salute you. Love, Yarden (Note from Sar-El Program Coordinator Pamela Lazarus) Yarden has been with the Sar-El unit for 2½ years, first as a madricha, then as an officer in charge of all the madrichim. Yarden is the “best of the best”. Those of you who were fortunate enough to have her as a madricha know how much she loves this unit, the IDF & her country. We here at Sar-El will miss Yarden very much but we know that it is time for her to move on, expand her horizons as an officer in the IDF and prepare for the day when she leaves the army. Kol ha Kavod to Yarden & we wish you the best of luck in your new unit.
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