How was Israel?

This is the opening question I get from my friends since I have returned from my stint of volunteer work with the Israeli Defense Force(IDF).

Well how was it indeed?

It was something completely new, exciting and so rewarding at the age of 65!!!! I thought that at my age I had been there and done most things, but I was so wrong. This is the manner in which I describe the privilege that was given to me by Sar El (service to Israel).

A Zionist since childhood it is difficult to describe the emotions I felt during flagraising on an army base or watching the beautiful young men in the IDF singing and laughing, AND being part of it, not just as a bystander, not as a visitor, but as a participant, living on the army base, in uniform, eating and working with them, and performing a much needed contribution to Israel.

It may sound a little far-fetched but not at all. It was a real experience which any one with a spark of adventure could participate in.

The history of Sar El goes back some 14 years and has over this period enlisted 92,000 volunteers, the bulk over the last few years. Through the year 2002, Sar El saved the IDF 40,000 man hours, which can be directly translated back into the Israeli economy by keeping the Reservists out of Military Service in their productive occupations as civilians.

As an MD I was asked why I did not join the Magen David Dom. The answer to this question is the very reason why anyone who enjoys good health and has the time, should go: “BECAUSE YOU ARE NEEDED”. There is a surplus of doctors but not enough workers who are prepared to give their time and talents to the more mundane but essential tasks, such as, packing food parcels, assembling radio antennae, wiring communications into tank helmets or cleaning tank engines. These are absolutely vital tasks that if not performed by Sar El volunteers would have to be done by army personnel.

Personally my crowning moment during my service materialized when my commander told me he needed 200 communication antennae as soon as possible. He told me in such a manner that even his poor English could not camouflage the urgency. Two days later, when I proudly showed him 230 assembled and painted antennae, he smiled and thanked me, but it was I who should have thanked him for giving me the opportunity to fulfill a Zionist ambition.

On another occasion 12 volunteers were uplifted from the communications base where we were working and hurried to a food packaging base some 30 miles away to prepare food packages for the army personnel. Clearly it was an urgent issue and the volunteers experienced the need for their work on a personal basis, quite apart from being told by the camp commander that their contribution is highly valued and that without them he would be hard put to meet the demands placed on the camp. What a great, great wonderful feeling.

How many of my readers last felt so valuable? A long time ago perhaps.

If I have misled you into thinking that Sar El is all work and no play, perish the thought. It is just that above all else the motivating factor is to meet the needs of the IDF.

Most certainly the social aspect of Sar El is unique. I have never made so many friends so quickly in my life. The ambience of living, working and eating together with a common purpose is a great formula for instant conviviality. Amongst the 20 of us at the base at that time were MDs, psychologists, TV producers, construction personnel, Wall Street brokers, architects, engineers and a Priest. Yes, a Priest!

About 30% of the volunteers were Christian, some very devout, others not, but their devotion to the State of Israel was never in doubt. Talk about an eclectic bunch of people. The range of discussion was vast and at times very furious but fortunately usually moderated by someone who was an expert in the field. What fun!

They came from the USA, Ireland, Norway, Holland, Canada, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and Israel, Christian and Jew with the common purpose of supporting Israel in its time of need.

Our direct liason with the army personnel was with 2 Madrichot who took care of helping us find taxis, buses, hotels and instructing us how to keep to the schedule of lectures, flag raising, work and dining, which is not only kosher but very very good. Mealtime often gave us the welcome opportunity of sitting next to an Israeli soldier and learning more about Israeli life. We really only worked for 4 days of the week because Thursday was usually a field trip to places of interest such as Jerusalem, the Dead Sea or to an archaeological dig etc with the army. On Fridays and Saturdays the volunteers are left to their own resources to tour or visit family and friends.

The accommodation, food and ablutions were pretty basic but, hey, the only cost to you is getting there and back, not bad for a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling experience in Israel as a volunteer for the IDF.

FRED SPILKIN