On March 20, I returned from my fifth trip to Israel and my first trip as a Sar-El army volunteer. Rabbi Zecher said that during the two weeks I would do enough to make it feel like six weeks and she was correct. I've been back several weeks and I still think and dream about Israel daily.

I was at an army base, Matzrap, Tel HaShomer, near Tel Aviv. Medical supplies would come in from all over the world and we would pack them into kits for the doctors and soldiers.

We wore army uniforms and slept in barracks. We were offered three meals a day and the food was quite good. Lots of vegetables, fruit, grains, milk, cheese, eggs, chicken, fish and meat. Accommodations were very adequate. We worked seven hours a day and had planned lectures for the nighttime activities. The soldiers on the base were happy that we were there and sometimes joined us for meals.

On the weekends there was free times to visit friends and family, or take tours arranged by Sar-El. On the first weekend I went to Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Yad Vashem, Masada and the Dead Sea.  The second weekend I toured Rosh Hanikra, Acco, Haifa, Caeserea, and Tel Aviv.

My heartfelt thanks to all at Sar-El. This has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

Estelle Miller