Despite Tough Conditions, 'Nottingham Girls' Ace Gaza Base

By Sylvia Corsham

I am not sure how many times I have joined  Sarel volunteers for tours – is it 5 or 6?  Some might say that I am having a “senior moment”, and should be more precise – but well working with the IDF on Sarel  programmes is so eventful, so emotional, and so absorbing that memories tend to blur.  How ever many times we Sarelniks put on our uniforms and roll up our sleeves, is just as exhilarating as the first time.   

This time however, I felt extremely proud to be from this part of the world.  From a group of 19 – 4 of us were from Nottingham.  When we all met at Ben Gurion it was like a school trip, with familiar faces all around.  There we were, Jean, Chris, Barbara and me, Sylvia, and for the other three it was the first time.    

It would take far too long to even describe the high points and the low points of the week that followed, so I am sharing with the readers of Hadeshot the most important things we all need to learn from the things we saw and did. 

We were sent to a base very close to Gaza – it was hot, dirty and morale was extremely low.  This was definitely not the Hilton of bases and our rooms contained nothing but army beds, with a mattress and a sleeping bag - pigeons were living in the roof space making the hallway smell like a pigeon loft.    

Despite all this we would not have been anywhere else.  We immediately loved our Madrichot.  It’s a source of wonderment to me how 18 year old girls can be so mature, capable and responsible and yet so full of fun and wisdom.  Our two were just that.   Lovely girls and amazingly competent soldiers.  I am sure that if I had to organise a group of mature people from all over the world at the age of 18  -I would have ‘freaked out’.  Not so our girls, they took it all in their stride. 

Conditions did nothing to dismay us, as we soon organized a few chairs from the heder ochel, and a kettle and cups for tea.   My mosquito net was quickly assembled and all of a sudden it became home. 

Unforgettable joyous moments:  Singing ‘ten green bottles’ in Hebrew to teach Jean her misparim.  Working alongside good friends and brave young conscripts.  The night that a lost engagement ring was found.  Fun and laughter, roll call, and breakfasts made by the Madrichot. Who found avocados for us, and cooked eggs. An evening of ‘whose line is it anyway?’ and a nice cup of tea after a hard, and hot day. 

Unforgettable tragic and moving moments:  Listening to a young soldier’s story which began with “My name is Scholmi and I have seen 8 of my friends killed before my eyes”

Our remembrance day meeting when we considered the great sacrifices that have been made in the loss of life. 

Things I loved:  The air we breathed, the ceremony to welcome a new base commander.  The feeling that I was doing something meaningful and worthwhile.  Gazing at the mural on the wall painted by former Sarel volunteers.  The smile on the faces of the young soldiers.  The way we were treated – with such love, respect and gratitude. 

Things I hated: The hurt and pain that Israeli citizens live with each day.  Mosquitos and dust and pigeon droppings.   Childish squabbles. 

Finally however, I have to say, that there was nowhere on earth that I would rather have been in that first week of May this year, and no other people that I would rather have been with.

If anyone from our Nottingham community reads this and wonders if its ‘worth’ doing Sarel, then I have to say, go for it.  Don’t be put off by the difficulties, because as far as I am concerned the tiny effort that we put in to help the IDF brings us the greatest privilege and reward.

So well done girls from  Nottingham.  We increased our numbers by 300% in May and our lives will never be the same again.