by Alan Stein
It was 36 years between trips to Israel. And my time volunteering for Sar El was by far my best trip ever. On my first trip in '65, I spent a long time on a kibbutz. I last saw Israel in '67. Early this spring, I decided it was time for a third look.
An acquaintance told me it was possible to volunteer, as he had several times, on an army base to take some of the pressure off the Israeli men and women who have to spend part of their reserve duty every year in the Israel Defense Forces. Besides, he told me, I'd be proud to see how the youth of Israel do their duty.
I was never disappointed.
I booked my trip about two months before departure. As fate would have it, I took off on EL Al out of LA during not only the first code red terrorist alert-- the Battle for the Baghdad Airport was in full swing-- but also while the SARS scare was high during our stop at Toronto.
About 24 hours after leaving home, I caught sight of Tel Aviv, now spreading out wider than the city of San Francisco. Take El Al and you'll have an early introduction to the humor and warmth of Israel. A most gracious IDF representative met several of us and took us to "THE BASE".
When I saw the Israeli flag rising at morning line up, my heart pretty well stuck in my throat. You look out at the men and women, most in their early 20s, standing alert listening to their officers' instructions, and you just beam with pride.
We had a pretty diverse group of volunteers and the soldier assigned to keep us informed and happy was the most sparkling young woman who assigned us to our jobs and kept our spirits soaring. Whatever help was needed, she was the one to contact.
The volunteers must have ranged from twenty to eighty and hailed from New Zealand to France. Our soldier leader would hold meetings every morning arranging arrivals and departures and trips throughout the country.
Life was remarkably similar to a kibbutz and produced the same kind of joy that comes from living a simple life. We ate in a communal dinning hall with the soldiers, worked in some pretty interesting jobs while trying to sing along with the soldiers, had an evening lecture or discussion, and slept sound.
Bonds were formed that will last a lifetime. Insights were made that will never be forgotten. For instance, a French Jew arrived who told us about the extent of nasty anti-semitism raging through the school systems of France. It is one thing to read about it and another to hear firsthand examples.
I don't think it is possible to really understand Israeli society unless you spend time on a base. If you do, you will find out that you receive far more than you give.
Alan Stein
Mendicino, CA