I’ll begin with a good ending.  Throughout our three weeks on the Sar-El program we felt that the work we performed helped Israel and was an effective show of support.  Without a doubt, the fabulous memories we have of our experience and the new friends we made gave us an enormous reward far more than we gave.

Our base assignment was a medical equipment center.  Soldiers are in charge of checking, selecting, packing and shipping medical supplies for military, domestic, and international emergency use.  Packing up the chemical warfare first responder kits is very sobering.  All the volunteers agreed that we would like to return and repack the expired, unopened, unused medicine and equipment.  The supervisors are great to work under and the soldiers are a delight to work beside.

We quickly adapted to the simplicity of base life.  Breakfast is followed by flag-raising, a short news report then off to work assignments.  By far, our shortest ever work commutes.  The mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks are nice.  Lunch with the soldiers is a fun culinary and social experience.  Between work and supper is down time or Ulpan.  After supper is a political, cultural, or fun evening activity.  Remember, in the army, time is everything.

Volunteers are clothed, housed, and fed by the IDF.  Shelters are army barracks with cots, good enough.  Volunteer uniforms are clean and well patched, good enough.  Food.  Lunch is great; a delicious, hot meat meal (with vegetarian options) with plenty of fruit and veggies.  Breakfasts and suppers are cold dairy meals consisting of the standard tomato and cucumber salad, various types of cheeses, and eggs in one form or another.

Having previously served on a Sar-El program, we knew to pack as though going to summer camp.  Packing light and planning to do laundry are essential.  However, the most important things to take don’t require a suitcase, these are an open mind and a sense of humor.  Armed with these items, everyone returns from a Sar-El program a changed-for-the-better person.

 Melanie Doctor volunteered for Sar-El together with her husband Mark and father Martin Cohen.