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Not a decision made lightly
By David Bates (Edited by Stacey Miller)
In retrospect, my decision to take part in a Sar-El programme in the summer seems to have been a logical one. At the time, Israel was embroiled in a month-old battle with Hezbollah terrorists in the north and over a million Israelis were living in shelters too terrified of rockets and too shaken by constant air-raid sirens to step outside. The IDF was facing mounting pressures and the international community was labelling Israel an “aggressor” and criticising its actions as “disproportionate”. This was certainly a crisis and offering to help seemed logical enough. But the reality was very, very different.
Volunteering for Sar-El is not a decision made lightly. For me, the crunch came when I attended a pro-Israel rally in North London during the height of the hostilities and heard the Israeli Ambassador, His Excellency – speak passionately about Israel’s right to exist within secure borders and the desire of the Jewish people to live in peace with its neighbours. I returned to work the following day only to discover that I felt completely frustrated at being unable to do more to help. Although I argued Israel’s case whenever possible with friends and colleagues this just no longer seemed enough.
I contacted the Israeli embassy and asked for their advice and after numerous phone calls I finally made contact with Sar-El’s UK coordinator, Jennie Goldstone. Jennie asked me a few questions about myself – why did I want to go, was I prepared to work and what were my expectations. After we spoke I thought again about what this trip would entail and about whether using up all of my available annual leave in order to serve in the IDF was really something I was willing to do. And I decided it was.
My next step was to fill out reams of paperwork for Jennie covering all aspects of my personal history, emergency contact information and insurance details. I was also required to attend a medical and submit this paper work in advance of my place being finally confirmed. I had some very interesting reactions from insurance providers and even my doctor but after explaining my intentions in proper detail I managed to get everything together and off in the post to Jennie without too much delay. Once I had been accepted by the UK Sar-El Office, I went ahead and booked my ticket.
I found myself boarding a flight to Tel Aviv to begin my two weeks of volunteer service with the IDF. I had absolutely no idea where I would be sent, who I would meet, or what the work would entail. But I knew I would be serving Israel and working alongside others who shared my passion for this imperilled state, and so I felt confident about my decision and anxious to arrive.
After clearing customs and immigration at Ben Gurion I was met by Sar-El’s Israel-based coordinator, Pamela Lazarus, who helped me with the necessary paperwork before introducing me to others who were travelling to the same base to which I had been assigned. We were told little about what to expect on our arrival and on the bus journey I felt a mixture of elation and nervousness.
It was a relief to arrive at our base and be met by our friendly Madrichot, Hila and Galit. Both of these young women – full time IDF officers completing their compulsory service - immediately made us feel both welcomed and appreciated. We were assigned sleeping accommodation in a small block set aside for volunteers and told that we would receive IDF uniforms and attend a flag-raising ceremony after breakfast the following morning. I spent that first evening getting to know my fellow volunteers - who had come from as far away as the US and Sweden – before falling into an exhaustion-induced sleep.
The following morning we woke early (mostly out of nervousness and excitement) and headed to the mess hall for our first ever army breakfast. As our base was “open” there were very few full-time soldiers stationed with us and the kitchen was therefore being refitted. This meant only cold food was available but we enjoyed nutritious sandwiches, yoghurts and refreshing juices. Although the food wasn’t the tastiest I’ve ever had, it was certainly nutritious and there was more than enough available to fill me up for the day.
We returned to our barracks and found uniforms had been left for us by the Madrichot. After dressing we gathered for our first ever flag-raising ceremony. It was an extremely emotional moment for me to see the Israeli flag being raised and I am pleased to say I was given the honour of doing the job on my last day of service. Flag raising was followed by a news briefing, after which we told to report for work. By this time it was already 40 degrees and none of us really knew what to expect in our work assignments!
At the full team meeting that followed we were advised that our work for the next two weeks was help take an inventory of the base’s warehouses. These warehouses contained kit bags from thousands of soldiers who had recently returned from the conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border. On the one had we were relieved to learn that we would at least be working in the shade, but on the hand we knew the work would be hard and laborious – but hard work was why we had come to Israel in the first place.
Over the following two weeks we worked every day in the warehouses unpacking, counting and repacking the kit bags which we knew would be carried by both brave young soldiers completing their compulsory service, and also by reservists who would be called away from their normal civilian routines to help protect the homeland. A highlight for me were the notes we were encouraged to drop into the bags which informed the soldiers that his or her bag had been packed by a volunteer and that our thoughts and prayers were with them. Some Sar-El volunteers even hand wrote their own notes and included their email addresses and other messages of encouragement.
The days were long and hot but water was provided continuously and regular breaks helped to keep us in good health. We soon learned that lunch was the best meal of the day with hot food provided in abundant quantities and different specials available daily. Every evening the Madrichot would organise different events for us. Sometimes it involved a trip into Rehovot (the nearest city) and on other nights we learned about Israeli history and culture. We even managed to learn some Hebrew too!
On the weekends soldiers (and volunteers) must make their own way to other places in the country. Some members of our group got together and arranged trips around Israel but I headed straight to the beaches in Tel Aviv which were quite a contrast to the hot and dusty army base and the crowded barracks I which I had been living. Some fellow volunteers decided to stay at the free youth hostel which the IDF operates in Tel Aviv and they were not disappointed. There are also plenty of good, cheap hotels available in all of the major cities if peace and quiet are more your thing – but these are best booked by the Madrichot who can arrange good discounts.
On our last night together the Madrichot arranged a trip for all of us to Tel Aviv’s waterfront where we had a fantastic dinner followed by a few drinks. It was a brilliant way to spend our last evening together and many of us already felt a growing sense of sadness because of our imminent departure. The following day we finished our work and packed our things before eating lunch together one last time. Before we left we were asked to assemble at the barracks of the most senior IDF officer on the base and we were deeply humbled when he thanked us all for our work and shook each of our hands. For some of the young Israeli soldiers who had worked with us since our arrival – and for most of the volunteers – it was an exceptionally emotional experience and the tears were hard to hold back. For years I have prayed for the safety of Israel and for the welfare of its soldiers and for two short weeks I was able to work towards these goals in a physical, tangible way. No words can describe that privilege.
On my last night in Israel I attended a rally in honour of the three IDF soldiers who had been abducted by extremists immediately prior to the outbreak of the hostilities in the north. I listened to the family and friends of these abducted men speak of their bravery and courage and I heard speeches by soldiers and religious leaders demanding their release and praying for peace. After all was said and done the crowd was invited to sing Hatikvah and I cannot begin to describe the emotions that ran through me as my voice joined with the voices of Israel in the singing of this beautiful anthem. For a few brief moments I was at one with Israel, sharing in its pain and hope in equal measure.
For one brief but unforgettable moment my heart beat as one with the soul of the Jewish state – the very state our ancestors had always dreamt of and which had remained their hope throughout the bitter darkness of our last two thousand years. And in that moment I knew for sure that Sar-El had brought me home.
David Bates
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