Israel in a Different Light

 What was I doing, volunteering with the army, and the Israeli Defense Forces at that?

As it turned out, I was doing something amazing. While there are any number of ways to experience Israel, the Sar-El program (Volunteers for Israel in the US) makes for a different perspective. Instead of missions and tours, there was roll call and  flag raising-the Israeli flag to boot. The opportunity to get up at 6am (was this vacation?) and truly contribute.

Sar-El started over 20 years ago, when a reserve call up created a labor shortage in the Galilee at harvest time. Asked for help, then commander General Davidi reached out to international friends for assistance who in short order responded by the hundreds to bring in the crops. The group wanted to continue the assistance on a more regular basis, and thus began Sar-El.

For me it was an opportunity for altruism. Looking for an outlet to contribute without thinking about it and to do something for Israel, when a break in employment allowed I jumped at the chance to go. I spoke with the Volunteers for Israel office in New York, got the requisite forms (application, medical, waiver), made arrangements for an interview with a local former participant (in my case, Jack Markowitz), got my recommendations from a rabbi and another local person, paid my $80.00 processing fee, found my flights and I was off.

I was assigned to BATZAP 382, a communications and electronics unit at the Home Front Command in Ramle, not far from Ben Gurion Airport. The volunteer groups are divided by language (English, French and Russian speakers) and had a variety countries represented-along with the US and Canada, we had South Africa, Australia, Brazil and Poland in our bunch. While most are Jewish, that’s not a requirement, either. Occupations in the real world abounded, including doctors, filmmakers, farmers, actuaries, students and  the retired with age ranges from 18-80 just in my group alone.

After settling in to rooms-men and women, even married couples, are separated-and getting acquainted with procedures (we really were in the Army now-uniforms, boots, ID’s, roll calls, base and program rules) we had our first army experience-dinner. Our unit is one of six that eats at the Home Front Command’s dining hall, and to our astonishment the food was much better than we expected. The offerings weren’t what our American/Ashkenazi Jewish palates were used to-eggs and dairy products not only at breakfast but at dinner as well, with lunch being the main meal.

Fabulous salads, soup, vegetables and fleishigs at midday certainly confused our taste buds (I’m lucky I can spell kohlrabi, let alone know what it tastes like…it was great, actually). It didn’t take long to acquire new favorites. I personally liked the yellow ‘piklis” salad and avocadoes for breakfast. Many of us have actually encouraged Sar-El to do an Israeli army cookbook (proceeds to Sar-El, of course). Since we couldn’t, for security reasons, purchase anything IDF related, we’d all buy at least one of those to take home as a souvenir.

We quickly settled into our “jobs”. This BATZAP (the largest of three) does communications and electronic equipment repair and refurbishment, with volunteers providing much of the

assembly work. I personally became the antenna queen, restringing seven part collapsible field antennas with new cord, getting them ready for painting and then inclusion in field packs. Others cleaned, repaired, rewired, reassembled and painted communications helmets. We had evening lectures on a variety of subjects-“IDF” night, Sar-El within Israel, a history of our unit, as well as hearing a former shaliach speak about his view of aliyah.

There were field trips as well-trips to Tel Aviv (David Ben Gurion’s home) and Jerusalem (the Supreme Court, the Jerusalem Cinematique) and the opportunity to go to work on other bases. Our group spent a day at Mazon packing boxed meals for soldiers in more forward areas as well as a day at gas masks, helping with kit component updating. Shabbat-Friday and Saturday in Israel-is on your own (with dormitory style free accommodations available at a Sar-El hostel in Tel Aviv should you need), then back to the Ramle bus station at 10am Sunday morning and back to the base to start all over again. Most came for a three-week program, but we found that some stayed for more extended periods of time-there is always plenty of work to do.

Most rewarding was talking with the soldiers in their environment. Finding out about them, so young and yet so responsible. Qualified with M-16’s, but still occasionally acting like the 18-21 year olds that they are. Answering their questions of us-why were we there, where were we from…it was amazing to see, looking around the dining hall, the beautiful and diverse faces and colors of Jewish youth. We were honored to be useful to Israel and to them. They were grateful that they hadn’t been forgotten in these troubled times, and amazed that others would come to Israel (at their own expense) and stand with them, even if only for a few weeks. The conversations always ended with everyone thanking each other.

The experience certainly did what I needed it to do-to give Israel something more than just a check and me something more than just a tour of ancient places and visiting relatives. I found my renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm not only for my personal pursuits but also for a different view of Israel to share with all those who will listen. I look forward to doing this again and encouraging others to go as well. It does a body good. 

Linda Pickholtz
PA USA