Israel Fair Magazine

TOP FIVE Top 5 Ways to Make Your Sherut Leumi Apartment Home By: Rena Bierig Shaalvim for Women 1. Actual Toranut….but actually: In the beginning of Sherut Leumi everyone has this grand ole plan that they are going to make a cleaning chart and actually stick to it! You might have made it a circle one or just a schedule but how many of us know that those last for maybe 1 week, if even. So my number 1 tip is to make one that can actually work. If girls in the apartment all have different schedules try and work with it and make everyone’s cleaning job just for before Shabbat. Don’t make the jobs too much work because then no one is doing it and it’s usually good to put two people together so they can help each other out with squeegying the floor (is that even a real word?). 2. Don’t Leave Your Stuff In The Sink: It is soo easy to eat quickly and then remember you are 10 minutes late to work and just throw your stuff in the sink and never look back. This is how kitchens start to smell so try to allow yourself time to wash your cutlery before running out. I know I know, one bowl isn’t the end of the world but once it becomes a habit there is no turning back. 3. ...But if Someone Didn’t Listen to that Tip Pick Up the Slack: If someone sadly has not read this incredibly informative list of tips and did in fact leave their dirty plates in the sink pick up the slack! It is so easy to just get annoyed at the person and walk away but at the end of the day that’s just hurting you more. Just wash their dishes it’s not a big deal and then a) they owe you a favor and b) your kitchen will be less nauseating. 4. Decorate!: Yes this sounds extremely girly I know, but it actually helps. Sherut dorms are generally white walled and brown floored with not much aesthetic beauty. One way to make your sherut home feel a bit more homey is to decorate. Whether it’s just coloring on papers and hanging them up or classic sukkah decorations, some color really comes a long way. 5. Know That It’s Temporary: One of the hardest parts of Sherut Leumi is the living situation. No one really talks about it and obviously there are soo many more challenges but living on your own for the first time with girls you don’t necessarily know, and may or may not speak English, is extremely hard. Just know that it’s temporary and you learn ALOT from it. You gain a lot of independence in your Sherut year (or years) just by the fact that you are on your own and taking care of yourself. Even when it’s hard and your bathroom is grossing you out and you may or may not have seen a mouse, know that you’re not living here forever and it’s free. JOIN OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CURE BLOOD CANCER• Help coordinate lifesaving donor drives• Run in the Jerusalem Marathon with Team Gift of Life• Participate in Gift of Life sponsored events• Help save lives and meet new friends• Part time job opportunities available throughout IsraelContact Halana RosenfieldIsrael Recruitment CoordinatorTel: [email protected] 52





SERVING IN THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCEIDF BASICSI ust m de Al h Do I h ve n rm requ rement To th s end, ou m report to the Isr elThe rm counts our “A e of Arr v l” from when ou f rst rr ved n Isr el for n M n str of Inter or nd request “Berurextended per od of t me ( t le st 120 d s), not necess r l from our Al h d te Pr t m L’Nose ” ( report of one’s entr esYour A e of Arr v l w ll determ ne f ou h ve n rm requ rement nd f so, how nd ex ts nto Isr el)lon ou w ll h ve to serve for How do I st rt the dr ft processHow do I reset m e of rr v l1 If ou were n Isr el on MASA Pro r m ou must le ve Isr el for 12 months n order Once ou’ve off c ll m de Al h, the rmto reset our e of rr v l ves ou one e r c lled “Shn t H st lut”,2 If ou were n Isr el for more th n one e r or spent t me n Isr el not on MASApro r m, ou must le ve the countr for 24 months to reset our e of rr v l or “Ye r of Accl m t on” It’s t me to et settled n Isr el nd le rn HebrewbeforeT e loo t the ch rt below to see wh t our st tus s Th s ch rt does not ppl to Ezr ch m Ol m dr ft n str ht nto the rm About 9-10 nd t n m Chozr m If ou re one of the bove ple se em l rm @nbn or l for more nform t on months fter our Al h ou should rece ve our Tz v R shon (or “F rst Not ce”) w th theA e of 18-19 20 21 22-27 28 d te of when to f rst show up t theArr v l Recru tment Off ce Th t’s how the rm process be nsS n le 32 months 24 months 24 months Volunteer Exempt/NotM le serv ce M n el ble for I w nt to dr ft s soon s poss ble Wh t 18 months volunteer should I do M rr ed 24 months 18 months 18 months Volunteer serv ce A lot of people w nt to fore o the r “Ye r ofM le w thout serv ce M n Accl m t on” nd exped te the r dr ft In order 18 months Exempt/Not to do so, ou must f ll out form c lled Ch ld el ble for “Pt ch t Reshum ” Re ch out to our Nefesh volunteer B’Nefesh Arm Adv sor who w ll help ou M rr ed Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer complete th s form nd subm t t to the rmM le w th serv ce M n serv ce M n serv ce M n serv ce M n serv ce Once the form h s been subm tted t c n t e 24 months 18 months 18 months 18 months Exempt/Not 4-6 wee s to rece ve d te for our Tz v Ch ld el ble for R shon The ent re process unt l ou dr ft c n volunteer t e between 6-8 monthsS n le Fem le 24 months 12 months Volunteer Volunteer (All Al h serv ce M n serv ce M n serv ce F rst Step Tz v R shon st tuses) 12 months 12 months Exempt/Not el ble for volunteer serv ce *th s ch rt s sub ect to ch n e If ou re Ben Meh er (Ezr ch Oleh or t n Chozer), our A e of Arr v l s determ ned b our entr es nd ex ts to Isr el, s well s the len th of st of e ch v s t53

Your Tz v R shon s the f rst step of our Our Mes b t G us s n opportun t to networ nd meet other Lone Sold ers ou’ll be dr ft n w th Food nd dr n s re on us, nd mostE dr ft process The d tself w ll be spl t mport ntl t’s where ou’ll et our Lone Sold ers Pro r m Gr nt Chec nd 80L Arm B c p cES nto few d fferent p rts person l Lone Sold er R hts nd Benef ts nterv ew, Hebrew ex m (wr tten nd As Lone Sold er ou re ent tled to cert n r hts nd benef ts spo en), med c l ssessment, F n nc l Ass st nce All Lone Sold ers re ent tled to n dd t on l b se ps cho-techn c l ex m ( computer IQ s l r on h s/her IDF p chec s well s 120 NIS monthl for purch ses t the superm r et New mm r nts re dd t on ll ent tled to few test), nd meet n w th M sh t hundred NIS monthl from the M n str of Imm r nt Absorpt on nd n few hundred NIS monthl from the M n str of Construct on nd Hous n T sh ( n rm soc l wor er) The Both of these r hts need to be renewed nnu ll M sh t T sh w ll be ble to conf rm Le ve From B se One d ever two months Lone Sold ers re ent tled to “Yom S ddur m”, or free d to run err nds our st tus s Lone Sold er In When p rents come to v s t, Lone Sold er c n et 4 d s of le ve ever 6 dd t on, bo s who re most l el months These d s do not nclude Fr d , S turd or hol d s dr ft n nto comb t w ll h ve After the f rst e ht months of serv ce, Lone Sold ers re el ble for overse s le ve once e r Th s me ns th t he/she c n fl home to h s/her f m l for meet n w th n rm ps cholo st 30 d s It s mport nt to note th t the d tes re chosen b one's comm nder nd he/she m not et the ex ct d tes th t he/she requests At the end of our Tz v R shon ou w ll Add t on ll , Lone Sold ers rece ve one p d roundtr p t c et dur n the r rece ve med c l prof le The prof le s serv ce r n e of numbers th t the IDF uses to nd c te the med c l su t b l t of sold er for v r ous In the c se of f n nc l troubles, sold ers c n request spec l wor le ve pos t ons These requests re m de throu h h s/her M sh t T sh In the event th t ou re not rece v n the benef ts th t ou re ent tled to, ou c n be n B s c overv ew of the prof les touch w th Mo ed Boded m, or the Lone Sold er Hotl ne 03-7375200 21 not f t for m l t r serv ce but ou c n volunteer Lone Sold er Hous n Opt ons 24 tempor r prof le – t the po nt n t me when ou rece ve th s prof le ou re unf t for serv ce but th s Ap rtment The rm c n prov de ou w th 1,300 NIS Rent St pend n st tus m ch n e (ex mples f ou underwent sur er dd t on to our re ul r s l r f ou h ve Lone Sold er st tus You w ll h ve or were n n cc dent ) to br n our rent l contr ct to our M sh t T sh n order to rece ve the 45 or 64 f t for non-comb t pos t ons, c n st ll hold rm ’s ss st nce As Lone Sold er, ou lso h ve number of d scounts on comb t-support pos t ons b lls such s w ter, Arnon , s nd electr c t 72, 82 or 97 f t for comb t bbutz As Lone Sold er, ou c n be dopted b bbutz There re 72 unf t for nf ntr but el ble for comb t number of bbutz m ll over Isr el, some th t re rel ous nd some th t pos t ons n the rmored corps or rt ller re secul r It c n be benef c l to see bbutz m th t h ve other Lone Sold ers l v n there, so th t ou now lre d the re tre ted f rl nd 82 f t for nf ntr but unf t for el te comb t re f m l r w th the procedures un ts Lone Sold er Center Hous n In the p st few e rs, The Lone Sold er Center 97 f t for nf ntr nd el te comb t un ts n Memor of M ch el Lev n st rted offer n few d fferent t pes of hous n solut ons to Lone Sold ers w nt n to l ve n Jerus lem nd the Tel M un m, Yom S erot, Yom H me h Av v/Mer z re s E ch loc t on s un que n ts own w All p rtments come furn shed, nclud n w sher, dr er nd fr d e There s lso m n After complet n our Tz v R shon the rm m c ll ou loun e nd tchen re v l ble for use, n e ch bu ld n to those l v n for further M un m (test n ) These M un m often there Some “houses” re f t for secul r or rel ous, wh le others re m xed cons st of nterv ews or ev lu t ons to see f ou re It depends on wh t tmosphere ou prefer to l ve n eep n m nd th t the su t ble for spec f c un ts sp ces f ll up qu c l , so t m n s ever th n Bo s who re f t for comb t roles m be c lled to Yom H b t Shel Ben H b t Shel Ben w s est bl shed n memor of M or S rot or G bbush m These re spec l d s nvolv n Ben H llm n z”l, lled n ct on n the Second Leb non W r The home s ment l nd ph s c l tests n order to ex m ne our loc ted n R ’ n n nd c n house 75 Lone Sold ers There s usu ll lon 54 re d ness to tr n nd serve n spec l forces un t G rls under the e of 21 w th h h level of Hebrew w ll be c lled for Yom H me h, M un th t tests our soc l b l t es such s te mwor , le dersh p, te ch n , etc Nefesh B’Nefesh Yom H ch n & Mes b t G us The Lone Sold ers Pro r m t Nefesh B’Nefesh holds two un que events before ever b dr ft of Lone Sold ers Yom H ch n s n rm prep-d where we sh re our collect ve e rs of nowled e w th ou so th t ou’ll rr ve to the IDF well-prep red for our serv ce Yom H ch n ncludes top cs such s how to prep re for our dr ft, Lone Sold er benef ts, f n nc l m n ement on Lone Sold er s l r , Q&A sess on, nd much more

w t n l st to et n More nfo c n be Course Ivr t All ol m ch d sh m w th Sh chrurfound on the r webs te - low-level Hebrew (determ ned b the IDF thttp //www ben h llm n or our Tz v R shon) re requ red to be n the r Once ou ne r the end of our rm serv ce, rm serv ce w th three-month ArmHost F m l Another hous n opt on s to Hebrew Course t the M chve Alon b se The re ch out to the Lone Sold ers Pro r m tol ve w th host f m l dur n , nd course ncludes one month of b s c tr n n , nd the rest s devoted to v n ol m schedule one-on-one Post-Armsomet mes even le d n up to, our rm ch d sh m the necess r Hebrew s lls toserv ce Th s ent ls mov n nto room n succeed n the Arm P rt c p t n sold ers n wor shop It’s n opportun t to meethouse w th f m l th t w ll t e c re of th s course w ll meet pl cement off cer ou nd help w th n s tu t ons th t m ne r the end of the course to determ ne un t w thtr ned profess on ls nd n pr ct c l r se over the course of our serv ce In pl cementthese houses, ou w ll h ve me ls prov ded help nd ccess to the tools ou need forb the f m l when ou et home from Course Moledet Th s course w s est bl shedb se nd pl ce to do l undr for ol m ch d sh m w th prof c ent Hebrew those mport nt next steps fter our Dur n the course sold ers emb r on toursBe t H Ch l Be t H Ch l s throu hout Isr el, v s t n museums, Sh chrur n Isr el overnment hostel th t c n be found n the tres, nd overnment bu ld n s Them or c t es throu hout Isr el Lone Sold ers explore the r Jew sh her t e, en e n - B FIDF & Nefesh B’Nefesh Lonec n st there tempor r l eep n m nd Isr el culture, nd stud the structure of the Sold ers Pro r m nd Lone Sold erth t ou re not offered more th n bun Isr el overnment In dd t on, the cqu re Center n Memor of M ch el Lev n St ffbed n sh red room w thout closet or tools nd s lls for d pt n to the m l t rpr v te b throoms, so ou w ll be l v n out s stem nd ult m tel complete b s c D n el B r-Lev vof our b c p c tr n n (level 02) The course s between 6-8 wee s lon , nd p rt c p t n sold ers w llIt’s Dr ft T me Course Ivr t & Course meet pl cement off cer ne r the end ofMoledet t M chve Alon the course to determ ne un t pl cementMost ol m ch d sh m nd Lone Sold ers If ou re not pl ced n e ther course tdr ft nto one of two courses t M chve M chve Alon, ou w ll dr ft str ht ntoAlon b s c tr n n for the ob nd un t ou h ve been ss ned to55 End of Ye r BBQ 2016

The Perks of Serving Through MachalBy: Yoav ShumacherYeshivat HakotelMy name is Yoav Shumacher, and I was an infantry soldier in Givati brigade through Machal, after a year and a half in Yeshivat Hakotel.Drafting is a big decision and fully understanding what you are getting into is crucial to a successful army career. Here I will try to highlightthe pros and cons of Machal through my experiences.The best thing about Machal is that you can draft with little to no commitment in terms of staying in Israel beyond your service, yet havethe window to extend the service and make Aliyah. That worked well for me because I didn't know what I wanted out of my service. Once Idrafted to Machal I was treated like any other soldier apart from the required benefits of a lone soldier, such as yomei siddurim (day off eachmonth), meyuchedet (free flight back to country of origin for 30 days), salary (significantly more than a soldier whose family lives here) andparent days (if a parent comes to Israel up to 8 days can be given to spend with them).Although a year and a half might seem like a long time to serve, a downside of the Machal program is that over half of my time in the armywas spent training.The army pushed me to my physical and mental limits as expected. Most people picture the army to be mainly a physical challenge, but forme, it was mostly mental because of the difference in culture and language. It got better over time as my Hebrew improved and I spent moretime around Israelis, but it's anongoing struggle for any oleh. Thearmy is the backbone of Israeli cultureand experiencing it has definitelyhelped me connect to people evenafter the army in university.I very much enjoyed my Machalexperience, and I hope you will too.D dn’t M e Al h but St ll W nt to Jo n the Arm Jo n M ch lM ch l s n IDF volunteer pro r m w th the o l of llow n oun men nd women to contr bute to Isr el b serv n n the IDF, w thout o nthrou h the off c l Al h process M h l sold ers h ve the s me r hts nd c n expect the s me tre tment s n other sold er M h l sold erswho dr ft nto comb t un ts w ll enter the rm n e ther M rch, Apr l, Jul , Au ust, November, nd December The w ll complete one-monthprep r tor course followed b 18-months of ct ve serv ceEl b l t for M ch l Men Must be between the es of 18-23 Women Must be between the es of 18-20 Doctors Unt l the e of 31 A M ch l sold er must be Jew sh ccord n to the Isr el L w of Return In order to qu l f for M ch l, one m h ve been n Isr el 12 months on non-reco n zed pro r m nd 18 months on reco n zed pro r m such s M s Reco n zed pro r ms nclude MASA h h school, Yesh v , Sherut Leum , Arm Mech n or other MASA pro r ms Bne Meh r m re perm tted to be n Isr el for 4 months on non-reco n zed pro r m nd 12 months on reco n zed pro r m (M ch l Hesder, he c n be n esh v for up to 18 months)If ou w nt to serve throu h M ch l, m e sure to be n the s n-up process t le st four months pr or to the d te ou w sh to dr ft You mustbe n Isr el to complete the M ch l ppl c t on process Be n touch w th Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Sold ers Adv sor (lspen@nbn or l) f ou h vequest ons bout the process 56

INTERVIEW It w s ch llen n for me to re ll t e dv nt e of m t me n esh v bec use of ll THE MAKING the d str ct ons W th stron roup of u s OF A MA\"K push n e ch other to m e the most of t, t re ll helped prep re me rel ousl nd bu ldSHMUEL SOMER, Memph s n t ve, rew up n ver Z on st c f m l n wh ch Al h nd up for the rmthe rm were lw s be n d scussed Shmuel bel eved n these de ls but w s not toonterested n pursu n them for h mself However, throu h ctu ll l v n n Isr el, meet n Rumor on the street s th t ou lso wentIsr el s nd spend n Sh bb t ll over the countr , Shmuel re l zed how do ble t s to l ve to Course M m (Comm nders Course) ndn Isr el nd ct v te the de ls he rew up w th See n Jews l ve the r dre m of bu ld n bec me mef ed C n ou tell us wh outhe Jew sh homel nd, Shmuel re l zed th t the not ons of enl st n n the rm nd Al h chose to do th t re n f ct poss ble nd someth n he w shed to do h mself As Shmuel s d, “I bel eve Godw nts us n Isr el, but I onl re l zed how fe s ble th s s once I c me to Isr el for the e r The rumors re true I d d ndeed o to Course nd exper enced l v n here for m self” M m nd bec me mef ed, thereb dd n n dd t on l 8 months to m serv ce I choseShmuel felt th t dr ft n nto the rm w th M ch l Hesder w s the f rst necess r step to to do th s bec use I w nted to o bove ndst rt h s new p th n Isr el So, he dr fted nto the f r un t w th H otel n M rch 2015 H s be ond the c ll of dut nd not ust o throu hserv ce, l e n M ch l sold er, w s n t ll onl e r nd four months, however, Shmuel the mot ons It w s mport nt for me to notsoon re l zed th t he h d more th t he w nted to ve ust be ood sold er m self, but lso to te ch future sold ers too The nfluence ou c n h veWe h d the ple sure of spe n to Shmuel l st month bout h s Al h, h s exper ence n b be n mef ed s someth n th t re llthe rm s both ch l nd mef ed (comm nder), nd dv ce he h s to offer future mot v ted me, too I felt l e I h d the b l t tool m nd ch l m m e hu e d fference for m sold ers both n how the performed s sold ers nd n the rO , so t’s M rch 2015, wh t’s o n on person l l ves It w s ver mport nt to be pos t ve role model s sold er, but even moreWell I w s lre d n Isr el for e r nd h lf t Yesh v t H otel nd w s dr ft n nto mport ntl to be pos t ve nfluence sthe f r un t w th M ch l Hesder personWh t w s the process l e to dr ft nto the rm espec ll wh le ou were lso n Spe n of be n rel ous, wh t w s our esh v exper ence l e be n rel ous sold erPerson ll spe n , s nce I dr fted w th H otel, the esh v too c re of lot of the There were p rts of the rm th t were e s erbure ucr c nd re ll helped me lon the w The told me where to o to next nd for me rel ousl nd p rts th t I re ll neededwho to spe to n order for the process to be s e s s poss ble However, on the other to m e t pr or t S nce I dr fted w thh nd, t s tou h to enl st n the rm wh le n esh v , s nce ou do end up m ss n sh ur m H otel, the f rst 8 months, wh ch cons sted ofdue to ppo ntments nd meet n s Wh t I le rned w s th t ou need to pr or t ze nd b s c nd dv nced tr n n , w s ver now wh ch pre- rm meet n s re mport nt nd wh ch ones ou c n s p n order to rel ousl upl ft n We lw s h d m n nm x m ze our t me n esh v before dr ft n nd were ble to mot v te e ch other when the o n ot rou h, wh ch re ll bu lt me upBe n th t ou went str ht from esh v to the rm , d d ou use our t me t After those 8 months, I w s then w th bothH otel to rel ousl prep re for our dr ft rel ous nd secul r u s for 4 months, wh ch I found ver e e-open n We st ll h d d l m n n m, but I w s one of the few rel ous sold er n m m chl (pl toon), wh ch forced me to le ve m comfort zone Dur n Course M m I w s the onl rel ous sold er n m t (squ d) M n t mes I would even h ve to w e up e rl n order to le ve m self t me to d ven n the morn n Luc l , I w s pl ced to be mef ed for b ne sh m (Hesder sold ers), so n t bec me e s er to d ven n m n n, etc , but lso put on th s dded respons b l t of be n rel ous role model for them bec use the new I w s n the s me bo t Th s, of course, bu lt me up even more, rel ousl57

Th t’s m z n Now th t ou re done Job Spotlight!w th our serv ce, s there someth n ouw sh ou new before st rt n the rm or B R f J cobsonsometh n th t ou tell future sold ers Yesh v t Tor t ShrBe conf dent Conf dence s e both n the I le rned n Yesh v t Tor t Shr before enl st n n the IDF, where I currentl rm nd n Isr el If ou don’t now wor s M sh Sh l shut (Hum n Resources sold er) n Netz ch Yehud (someth n , pretend ou do nd ou w ll N ch l Ch re d ) I w s pl ced there fter b s c tr n n w thout n pr oreventu ll le rn eep n m nd, no one nows requestswh t’s o n on t the be nn n , but f ou reconf dent nd mot v ted ou w ll eventu ll In order to underst nd m ob full , ou need to underst nd b t bout the rmf ure t out M Hebrew w s not re t when I Netz ch Yehud s sub-un t of f r (Inf ntr ), but I'll use Tz nch n mdr fted, however, I soon re l zed I need to be (P r troopers) s n ex mple, s nce Amer c ns love Tz nch n m Tz nch n m sconf dent nd spe up nd/or pretend I now m de up of few dud m (b tt l ons) In e ch dud there re four plu otwh t to do An th n n Isr el c n be done w th (comp n es) th t re comb t nd one plu h th t s comb t support The comb t lot of conf dence nd b t of ress on Just support plu h’s ob s to m e sure th t ll the plu ot n the dud h ve o w th t nd ou w ll see ourself succeed ever th n the need n order to cont nue f ht n , whether t’s m n sure the re fed, h ve wor n uns, or h ve the r med c l needs t en c re of TheO , enou h of the rm t l Let’s t l Sh l shut’s off ce s n the comb t support plu h, nd ts ob s to m e sure th tIsr el I’ll s the m ll on doll r quest on- ever sold er s ccounted for n the dud Some ex mples of wh t th t ent lswh t do ou love most bout be n here would be do n the ttend nce report e ch d , process n sold ers when the enter our dud, nd chec n them out when the le veM ll on doll r quest on, ndeed Well, I love th tm extended f m l s here All m cous ns h ve Wh t I love most bout m ob s the f ct th t I et to wor for the rm th tm de Al h t some po nt n the p st 2-20 protects Am Y sr el Th t me ns th t lmost ever th n I do throu hout the d e rs, so th t’s m z n I love the commun t s nherentl m tzv h no m tter how un mport nt the t s seems I spec f c llhere Be n p rt of commun t of ol m s l e m ob bec use t ent ls lot of wor S nce the IDF h s so m n peoplesometh n I don’t t e for r nted It’s re ll wor n for t, t's ver poss ble for someone to f ll between the cr c s Th t s notncred ble how ever one underst nds e ch the c se n the Sh l shut n Netz ch Yehudother nd s re d to ve dv ce nd help outfellow ole/ h It’s th s sense th t we ll c me Althou h there re m n spects to m ob th t I love, there h ve lso been somehere to bu ld Isr el nd m e th s countr even m or ch llen es The h rdest hurdle I've f ced so f r s not be n w th m f m lbetter th t I f nd ver spec l nd fr ends th t I rew up w th The second b est ch llen e I f ce s the Hebrew Althou h m Hebrew s o , there re t mes when I w ll not be ven t s s nceAnd one f n l quest on- wh t re ou up to m comm nders feel more conf dent w th m cowor ers who h ve much betterthese d s HebrewI m now l v n n G v t Shmuel nd ust There re m n d fferent obs n the rm , nd I m ver h pp I w s pl ced n thest rted stud n B otech t B r Il n Un vers t Sh l shutSo f we now of n future ol m who renterested or h ve quest ons bout the rm , Hesder, Course M m, G v t Shmuel nd/or B r Il n c n we send them ourwPle se do-B Lott e estenb um 58

Innovating in the IDF B Il n Re enb um Yesh v t Eretz H tzv , Al h D te 2014 The Isr el A r Force Innov t on (IAF) Dep rtment s the f rst of ts nd n n m l t r n the world Its o l s to cre te culture of nnov t on w th n the m l t r b prov d n sold ers nd off cers the tools nd mech n sms to more e s l solve problems The un t br d es the p between the m l t r nd st rtup worlds, b expos n the A r Force to the most up-to-d te nnov t on methodolo es th t the pr v te sector s us n nd cre t n p rtnersh ps between the IAF nd c v l n world I m the He d of th s Dep rtment I he rd bout th s ob throu h networ n nd re ch n out to n one I could f nd v L n edIn nd person l connect ons who h d sem - nterest n ob n the IDF Eventu ll , I w s ntroduced to m f rst comm nder nd went to meet h m t st rtup conference n Jerus lem where he offered me ob n the un t F nd n ood ob n the IDF ( nd Isr el n ener l) s ll bout networ n You need to spe to n one nd ever one, even f the r roles do not sound so nterest n , bec use ou never now who w ll eventu ll ntroduce ou to the r ht person Always Be Prepared B S m Cohen Mech n t El , Al h D te 2010I served for four e rs n the Home Front Comm nd The common denom n tor between the three obs Id d w s prep r n the c v l n sector for emer enc s tu t ons I st rted m serv ce s n Emer encPrep redness Instructor, o n to element r schools, off ces nd f ctor es to help te ch how to prep refor, nd ct correctl dur n , d fferent t pes of emer enc es (such s roc et tt c s nd e rthqu es)L ter on, I lso comm nded te m of Se rch nd Rescue (SAR) Instructors nd wor ed on pl nn n nd tr n n for reserve SAR un ts nd re on l counc lsThe relev nt quest on n m m nd s not HOW I ot m ob, but, r ther, wh t d d I do w th the ob I otM n of us, nd espec ll those of us who re not n comb t, w ll not be ss ned the ob we w nt Before o n n the rm , I w s s ed to r n d fferent obs When I o ned the rm , I w s sent to tot ll d fferent ob In m op n on, the w to ensure success s to m e the best of wh tever s tu t on ou f nd ourself n Wor h rd H ve fun Le rn new th n s M e fr ends F nd nd cre te opportun t es for success Doing My Part B J cob Epste n Yesh v t Or t , Al h D te 2014 I served s l ne techn c n on F-15 f hter ets n the A r Force In m ob I w s respons ble for perform n d l nspect ons on the pl nes, both before nd fter rout ne nd oper t on l fl hts In dd t on, I performed rout ne m nten nce, nclud n fuel n , ch n n the o l, other rout ne p rt ch n es s well s lo d n v r et of bombs nd m ss les Ever ob h s ts ch llen es nd m ne w s no except on I w s one of few rel ous sold ers n m un t nd re ul rl h d to f ht for m rel ous r hts In dd t on, food s brou ht from the tchens to the h n rs, nd we were expected to rehe t nd serve the food Th s led to mult tude of shrut problems th t were not s mple to de l w th But putt n th t s de, I bel eve m serv ce w s pos t ve exper ence f lled w th me n n I m th n ful for the m n n hts nd d s of oper t on l nd rout ne ct v t th t me nt do n m p rt n the defense of Isr el59

\"The Big Zionist\"B No h Abr mow tzYesh v t H otel, Al h D te 2015I w nt to sh re w th ou m exper ences thus f r w th be n “ obn ”, non-comb t sold er n the IDF Before n th n , I must s th s Theres lor , pr de, nd respons b l t n be n obn One could r ue th t l fe s obn doesn't requ re s much br ver s comb t sold er, nd the would be r ht B def n t on, most non-comb t obs re not nherentl d n erous In f ct, most of them re s fe nd secure, m nn off ces nd w from the b ttlefront But f ou m de Al h nd dec ded to serve n the rm , t too br ver to m e th t dec s onre rdless of where ou end up serv n , nd n one should be mpressed I remember how fter we w tched f lm bout M ch el Lev n H ”ddur n tr n n , m fellow sold ers c me up to me to tell me how mpressed the were w th m dec s ons s lone sold er, desp te the f ctth t M ch el Lev n w s p r trooper, nd m rm c reer would l el be b sed beh nd des One nvolves the r s of l fe, but both nvolvencred ble l fest le ch n es nd nte r t on nto new s stem, wh ch re h rd, to s the le st You don't see s much ct on, nd ou won'th ve dventures l e our fr ends w ll But ou re st ll serv n Am Y sr el nd Eretz Y sr el, nd ou should lw s rem nd ourself of th tAs obn , there re ood obs, there re “eh” obs, nd then there re the nd of obs our mother w rned ou th t ou'd best do well nschool or ou'd become one of them The mport nt th n s to mmed tel st rt loo n t the opt ons Don't cut corners, don't t e n th n s ven Be push , be ns stent, t l w th fr ends who h ve fr ends who d ted someone who new u somewhere Protex ot(connect ons) of n nd re ncred bl mport nt, even the we rdest ones M e sure to se rch the web for more nform t on nd then checw th people who were ctu ll n the ob Cert n pos t ons sound re t n theor , nd then end n three e rs (or however lon ou reserv n ) of frustr t on, boredom, ett n new str pe ever ten or eleven months, nd then le v n nd o n to Ind But f ou c n et nw th the r ht people, nd f nd ourself n the r ht ob, then ou've ot t m de n theorRemember th t wh t ou re do n s ncred ble People w ll respect ou to no end for t R ht before m Te es H shb ' (swe r n - nceremon ) m mef ed (comm nder) s t me down for person l ev lu t on, w th hu e sm le on h s f ce, desp te the rm 's requ rementfor d st nce between comm nder nd sold er He told me m scores ( es, ou re r ded on cert n th n s n the rm ), nd then s dsometh n I don't th n I'll for et for lon t me “When I meet people l e ou, I re ct the w ou s d ever Isr el ou meet re cts wh t n d ot You left beh nd ever th n ou h d, our fr ends nd f m l , ever th n , b c n Amer c or wherever ou c me from But then I etto now ou, nd I re l ze th t ever th n s b c there except for our he rt, wh ch s here, nd th t s more mport nt th n n th n elseAll the comm nders here c ll ou ‘the b Z on st’, nd we ll respect ou to no end nd re mpressed w th ou” I l ter ll lmost cr ed, butwh t he s d w s mport nt for n oleh or ol h who h s o ned the rm Ye h, t's h rd You'll do more pushups th n ou w nt, run moreth n ou c n, nd h ve to p c up nd v du l le ves out of roc rden wh ch serves no purpose t ll, except to f ll our t meDon't for et wh t t too to et here nd the mot v t on ou h d when ou be n Th t w ll become the m n force to move ou n th s h rdt me I'm proud of the f ct th t there were n hts when I lmost cr ed nd felt l e I m de m st e But the f ct th t I put up w th t ensuredth t the next t me I cr ed n the rm w s when I w s h nded m cert f c te for be n outst nd n sold er n m m chl (pl toon) It p soff, nd f ou're not proud of ourself et, there re dozens of others who reYou re trul l v n the dre m Don't for et th t Hopefull our pl cement, tr n n , nd serv ce w ll be e s nd en o ble, nd remember,br ve sold er- me sure person not b the stren th of the r rms, but b the stren th of the r resolve 60

Learn, Pray, Serve Br t) throu hout m whole serv ce The mport nce of h v n these fr ends w th me w s v t l We ll c me from the s me pl ce We B ob Greenf eld understood e ch other We helped e ch other out I l ter ll c n't Yesh v t H otel, Al h D te 2015 m ne h v n to o throu h the rm w thout th s roup of So ou're nterested n Hesder Allow me to ntroduce m self nd fr ends b m s de We were onl u r nteed to be to ether help ou out bec use we ll dr fted w th the s me Yesh v Serv n w th m M n me s ob Greenf eld nd I love Tor h, Eretz Y sr el, nd En l sh-spe n fr ends lone w s enou h of re son to dr ft Footb ll (Amer c n, of course) I rew up n Ch c o nd h ve lw s w th Hesder been n the Orthodox school n s stem For me, connect on to Another hu e dv nt e to dr ft n w th Hesder for me w s the Isr el nd help n other people s extremel mport nt, but so s m f ct th t m whole d v s on w s m de up of rel ous sold ers from rel ous l fe When the dre m of dr ft n nto the rm w s other, s m l r, Hesder esh v s The stru les I w s told th t I'd f ce st rt n to become re l t I w nted to ensure th t m rel ous n the rm were re tl rel eved bec use of the stron roup of l fest le w sn't o n to be comprom sed Therefore, I dec ded to Hesder u s b m s de We h d m n n m nd le rned ever d pursue m dre m w th n the structure of Hesder I've lre d We helped e ch other out nd re ll h d e ch other's b c s - we served m e r nd h lf of comb t n the G v t Br de nd m even bro e d st nce w th olom We ll understood the mport nce now cont nu n Hesder for the next two e rs le rn n n Yesh v t of wh t we were do n , wh ch s someth n th t the ver e un t H otel I've been ver h pp w th m dec s on so f r nd I’m o n c nnot ent rel comprehend th t we were fulf ll n the w ll of to sh re l ttle of m thou ht process n order to ve ou n de H shem b protect n H s people nd l nd of wh t Hesder s nd wh t t h s to offer If ou feel l e Hesder s r ht for ou, then I h ve few t ps on how So, wh t s Hesder It’s 5- e r pro r m th t en bles rel ous to re ll m x m ze our t me nd m e the most out of our sold ers to comb ne le rn n n Yesh v w th serv n n the rm serv ce Most pl ces (H otel ncluded) spl t the t me s follows 1 Underst nd the mport nce of wh t ou're do n - As rel ous 1 One nd h lf e rs n esh v (sh n leph nd bet), unt l n Jews we v ew t s our obl t on nd pr v le e to be ble to defend M rch of sh n bet, ou our homel nd nd protect our people To our benef t, most 2 Dr ft to ct ve serv ce for e r nd 5 months The un t ou end Hesder sold ers sh re the s me v lues When t mes et tou h for up n s nd of r ndom but the ll do b s c ll the s me th n ou or our fr ends, t's mport nt to const ntl rem nd ourselves Tr n n t es 7-8 months nd then ou o to v ( ct ve dut ) of the mport nce of wh t ou re do n It c n re ll help push After 8 months of u rd sh fts, border p trols, p llboxes nd f eld ou throu h the d r t mes exerc ses, ou return to 2 T e t upon ourself to le rn someth n e ch d - Don't let one 3 Two f n l e rs n esh v , shte n w nd prep r n ourself d o w thout le rn n Tor h Underst nd th t even n the for wh t l fe holds fter our t me n Hesder s up Depend n on h rdest of d s ou c n lw s open sefer (poc et sef r m re when ou m e ‘off c l’ Al h, th s c n somet mes be ust one the best ) nd connect to H shem throu h our le rn n Even er better, t e dv nt e of the fr ends w th ou nd le rn w th Loo n b c t m t me n the rm , the mport nce of Hesder them (M e sure t’s someth n ou w ll w nt to le rn - fter d becomes ever cle rer Dr ft n w th Hesder me nt I ot to be w th of cr wl n n the mud, ou m ht be reluct nt to pour over d f some of m closest fr ends ( ctu ll ll from Ch c o, except one of em r , where s h l ch s wr tten n e s er l n u e nd spl t up nto conven ent se’ f m ) 3 Pr er nd med t t on - There's ood ch nce th t before ou dr fted ou le rned for mult ple hours ever d Le rn n s re t w to connect to H shem nd t's mport nt to f ll th t p of lost le rn n w th extr ntent nd concentr t on dur n pr er Accord n to rm l w, ou'll lw s be ven three t mes d , nd n Hesder un t th t w ll mostl be w th m n n, to pr to H shem Don't let these ch nces sl p w In dd t on, ou'll spend countless hours s tt n lone do n u rd dut , most l el n the m ddle of nowhere Don't let th s prec ous s lence o to w ste Use these moments lone to reflect, med t te, nd pr Good luc n wh tever p th ou end up choos n M H shem lw s be w th ou, nd m ou lw s llow H m to be w th ou61

How I Avoided the Culture ShockB Z ch Zl t nMech n t OtzemAs shm n st (Hebrew sl n for sen or n h h school), I new th t m n Al h r ht fter h h school me nt o n nto the rmstr ht w Therefore, t w s mport nt for me to o to esh v /Mech n th t would prep re me for the rm , l fe nd Isr el norder to ve me the tools to succeed nd thr ve After much se rch n , I found Mech n (Mech n Otzem/Atzmon h) th t felt l ehome I le rned there unt l I dr fted nto comm ndo un t M t me n Mech n dr st c ll mproved m Hebrew to h h enou h levelto funct on n the rm nd re ll prevent much of the culture shoc th t most ch l m boded m (lone sold ers) h ve The Mech n lso bro dened m fr end roup to others who were o n to serve n s m l r comb t roles nd o throu h m n of the s meexper ences But ll of th t s on top of ll the ment l nd m n other t pes of prep r t on th t Mech n ves to ts students To n one who s th n n bout dr ft n nto the IDF, I would h hl recommend loo n t n rm Mech n s w to ve ourselfhe d st rt t ccl m t n nd nte r t n nto the Isr el soc et nd m ndset\"You Are Too Much Nice\"B D n el B r-Lev vT feres Yerush l m, Al h D te 2015I remember ett n m c ll to dr ft n the m l nd the emot ons th t c me w th t On the one h nd, I'd been w t n m whole l fe forth s letter, nd on the other h nd, t w s whole new world (the whole th n w s r ther Ho w rts-esque) But l fe s ll bout t nnew steps, I told m self s I w l ed nto the L sh t G us (IDF Induct on Center) It w s m d-November, 2015, three months nto mAl h ourne As ou m ht uess, m Hebrew w s w less th n subp r, wh ch ust dded to the n tur l nx et of ever th n Thef rst th n th t h t me w s the w ve of Hebrew com n t me from ever d rect on After th t were the l nes nd the st res t the t ll,flushed u who obv ousl d dn't now wh t on e rth to do Th n full , wonderful sold er n med S r t too me over to the s de ndexpl ned the process to me n ver bro en En l sh Her p rt n words were \" ou re too much n ce, sm le but push them for our w nt”Prob bl the best dv ce I've otten n Isr el to th s d W th S r t's w sdom n h nd, I m de the lon ourne throu h the d fferentoff ces from ph s c l ex ms to ntell ence tests, nd m de t out e ht hours l ter, exh usted but h ppTo n one re d n th s who pl ns on dr ft n , con r tul t ons You're do n n m z n th n , wherever ou end up Here s short l stof t ps for our dr ft nterv ew (tz v r shon) 1 Le ve s e rl s poss ble nd tr ple chec our p perwor nd ID ou w nt to h ve s much t me to de l w th bure ucr c s poss ble 2 Don't be fr d to ppro ch people Tell them wh t ou w nt,Making My Ancestors be f rm nd pol teProud 3 Br n sn c s, bec use ou'll be there for wh le 4 Remember to sm le It lw s helpsB Ch m n reMech n t El shI’ve w nted to m e Al h for s lon s I c n remember Grow n up n Te nec , New Jerse , I lw s h d the feel n th t Isr el s where I trul belon ed After r du t n h h school, Istud ed for e r t Yesh v t Or t , s x months t Mech n t El sh , nd then enl sted nTz nch n m (P r troopers) n M rch 2016 I w s the ‘ne ev st’, or l ht m ch ne unner, n mun t An one who’s served n comb t un t n the rm nows th t th s role s no p cn c Intensetr n n , mposs bl lon u rd sh fts, nd, t t mes, subp r l v n cond t ons ll dd up to wh t t f rst seems l e prett ble exper ence But, s someone who’s done t, I c n tell ou th tthe oppos te holds true I never once re retted m dec s on to enl stAs the re t- r ndson of Holoc ust surv vors, I felt deep sense of pr de now n th t 62ever th n I d d w s ct vel protect n the Jew sh people I w s p rt of re ter whole n rm th t represents Jew sh stren th nd res st nce The de th t m re t r ndp rents,when the were m e, couldn’t even m ne th t there would be Jew sh st te, let loneJew sh rm , wh ch the r r ndson would be p rt of, s not someth n th t I t e for r ntedOver the course of m serv ce, m love of the l nd nd respect for the Jew sh people w sstren thened re tl I u rded n pl ces I would never h ve v s ted otherw se nd met peoplefrom ll w l s of l fe I ended m serv ce proud of wh t I h d ccompl shed nd w th re ter pprec t on for nd underst nd n of Isr el nd m Jew sh dent t th n I h d ever m ned

My Answer is Yes My Service and Nobody Else’s B Josh Lehm n B Y r Greenber Yesh v t H otel, Al h D te 2016 Yesh vot Or t & Otn el, Al h D te 2016 There re re ll two quest ons th t I h d when dec d n to Ever one s un que Just l e the seven b ll on f n erpr nts there re on the do the rm pl net Nobod h s the s me exper ence Wh t I me n b th s s th t most 1 D d I m e the r ht dec s on of ou who re re d n th s re prob bl o n throu h prett tou h 2 C n I re ll do th s dec s on process In m t me before dr ft n , I cont cted ever person I could f nd to f ure out wh t w s the best p th for me The most l ber t n Over t me I re l zed th t the w to bu ld the conf dence p rt of m dec s on w s when I re l zed nobod h s the s me tr ector s w th n m self to nswer ‘Yes’ to these quest ons w s b me M p th, ust l e m f n erpr nt, s d fferent from ever other ensur n th t I v ewed the rm s n exper ence th t w s prospect ve ch l n th s l nd When I tr ed scr p n people’s l ves off of bu ld n me s person If I could feel ood bout m self, them nd tr n to repl c te them on m own, I w s onl d m n m self who I w s becom n , nd wh t I w s ccompl sh n , then You must c nowled e who ou re, nd wh ou re here to serve our I would h ve no doubts bout m dec s on to enl st or m countr Whether th t s n esh v , m dr sh , Sherut Leum , Mech n , rm , b l t to h ve successful serv ce un vers t or bu n schw rm , ou re contr but n to the betterment of th s be ut ful l nd we c ll home Just be ourself, nd t e our own p th I Wh le there re m n d ff cult dec s ons th t come nto cre ted someth n I d dn’t th n w s even poss b l t , but there re cert n pl when dec d n whether or not to st n Isr el, for benef ts to l v n mon the cr z est people nd most lov n n t on on the me, do n the rm throu h the M ch l Hesder s stem pl net the ’re here to help ou, nd et ou on our p th So s people w s not one of them Contempl t n whether or not to do Interro te them But don’t et ourself nto s tu t on where ou s mpl the rm w s complex process th t led to m n do someth n bec use ou s w somebod else succeed n t Be ourself, pro- nd-con l sts One of the f ctors th t unw ver n l nd ou w ll succeed Oh, nd lw s sm le People n th s countr love c me to the top of m m nd w s how w s I o n to ood sm le O , no more dv ce succeed n the rm rel ousl You see, I w s n esh v t the t me nd the dec s on to o n the rm w sn’t com n from perspect ve of esc p n oppress on n chutz l ’ retz, nor d d t come from m n b l t to dec de wh t to do w th m l fe r ther, m dec s on to o n the rm w s dec s on of de ls The Tor h de ls th t I wor ed so h rd n esh v to bu ld up were wh t led me to the conclus on th t volunteer n for the IDF w s the rel ousl mor l th n to do Th s be n the c se, I new th t the d ff cult n ture of the rm comb ned w th the surround n pressures could, n cert n w s, underm ne or reverse the pr nc ples th t led me to the rm n the f rst pl ce W th ll th s n m nd I needed to f nd w to pos t vel mp ct Isr el w thout los n m self As I s d e rl er, M ch l Hesder w s no-br ner for me The opportun t to o to the rm w th not ust rel ousl mot v ted people, but the ver s me rel ousl mot v ted people who were n esh v w th me ust d s before, w s n opportun t th t I would not let p ss Not onl d d I not decl ne n m connect on to the esh v world, but the respons b l t of represent n to secul r world wh t Tor h Jew s n f ct helped me row n these spects M closest fr ends were w th me from the f rst d to the l st, nd wh le we d dn’t now Hebrew or feel tot ll comfort ble n Isr el culture, we went throu h nd overc me these ch llen es to ether If n one s s me wh I d d the rm , I tell them th t I thou ht t w s the r ht th n to do If s ed wh I chose M ch l Hesder, I ve the s me nswer bec use m fellow sold ers come from the s me pl ce pl ce of, not ust de ls, but Tor h de ls th t I w s determ ned to uphold63

College Grad to IDF SoldierB H llel D v sYesh v t H r Etz on, Al h D te 2013I dec ded to complete m de ree t B r Il n Un vers t pr or to dr ft n nto the rm s n Ac dem c Off cer for the IDF’s Center forBeh v or l Sc ences n order to both h ve potent ll m ture rm exper ence nd fulf ll m p rents’ w shes of cont nu n m c dem cc reer There were number of dv nt es nd d s dv nt es to th s dec s onAdv nt es D s dv nt es1. Cont nued m h her educ t on wh le m m th, re d n nd wr t n s lls 1. Most of m m le fr ends n colle e were post- rm , so Iwere st ll rel t vel fresh m ssed out on th t soc l bond2. W s ble to cont nue some of the Tor h stud es I st rted n esh v the 2. W s bound b the rm comm tment nd tr vel e r before restr ct ons t l ter e3. Pl nted m roots n Isr el, n commun t , n more st ble f sh on th n 3. H d to s n on for potent ll much lon er serv cef I h d been n the rm bec use of the Atud tr c4. Went nto the rm more m ture, prep red for wh tever the would 4. M n people’s Hebrew mproves dr m t c ll dur n thethrow t me rm , wh ch helps them n school, wh le I h d to stud n5. Jo ned the Atud tr c n the rm (under r du te de ree pr or to IDF En l shserv ce), so I st rted w th h her r n n , h her s l r , nd w s t en moreser ousl TOP TFOIVPEFIVE6. W s ble to st rt wor n nd ett n nvolved n m commun t wh le ncolle e, nd w s ble to cont nue ll of th t once I dr fted 5 Tips for Surviving7. Throu h the Atud tr c , I w s ble to complete m m ster’s de ree over Basic Trainingthe course of m serv ceB Sh mm We nb chIt's d one of C mp Tz h l nd ou're e red up n our cr sp reen un form re d to fend off ll of Isr el's bloodth rst enem es w th noth n butthe rm m nd ted toothbrush ou've been h nded Well, hold on there, budd It's true, ou've n v ted our f r sh re of bure ucr t c loopholes nd h ve rr ved rel t vel unsc thed t B um ( bsorpt on nd screen n b se) But ou've ot lon w before ou become the super-s br ,terror st-f ht n m ch ne ou've lw s dre med ou'd become To et to th t loft o l ou'll h ve to o from our h h pedest l of suburb nteen er to the b tt bottom of the m l t r food ch n And there's onl one w th t's h ppen n -- b s c tr n nFe r not thou h, “tz r nechm d ” W th these 5 t ps our b s c tr n n exper ence w ll be e s pe s nd of1 Bu loc s - Your tz ud (equ pment) s our l fe n the rm There's no momm or n nn to cle n up fter ou If ou le ve our stuff l n round ou c n bet our reen bottom t's o n to et t en But unfortun tel even f ou do h ve ll our “tz ud” n ce nd ne t n our b s, there rethose n the rm who’ll be br zen enou h to t e t The solut on Loc s I su est bu n 3 number or letter comb n t on loc s th t ou c n qu c lopen nd close when needed Th s w ll not onl deter th ever but w ll put our m nd t e se when ou’re out n the f eld2 T e t e s - Most of the comm nds nd collect ve pun shment n the rm re to ps che ou out nd m e ou feel l e ch ld You'll be do npo ntless, repet t ve, neff c ent t s s from d wn t ll dus some d s Just remember, t's ll me The r ob s to m e ou feel l e ch ld, nd ourob s to let them It's our f fth t me runn n up the s me h ll F ne b ou, ou c n do ten You're m ster cool nd th s s our pl round3 St nd up for ourself - Just bec use ou're the volunteer sold er f lled w th deolo nd dr ve, does not me n th t ou h ve to t e ever th nw thout f ht If ou feel l e ou've been ven n un ust pun shment, don't ust ccept t l e w ll n sheep Go t l to our comm nderrespectfull , somet mes t c n m e b mp ct On the s me note, DO NOT volunteer to st on b se Ever You'll et n ce p t on the b c nd, mostof the t me, th t's t You c me to the rm of our own vol t on You've lre d volunteered plent , budd4 Extr equ pment - The ur e to e r ourself up w th ll nds of unnecess r d ets s unbel ev bl tempt n I me n loo t th tl ser-fl shl ht-shoc er-sp r -bu repell nt th n Adm ttedl , there re some helpful tems th t w ll m e tr n n e s er for ou, but don't etc rr ed w M e sure ou h ve G-shoc w tch nd sol d poc et n fe Bu some reen therm l lon sleeved sh rts, s well Bes des th t, ouwon't need much for tr n n It m ht loo fl sh , but usu ll t's less helpful th n ou th n W t to see wh t ou need s tr n n oes lon , thenbu t5 Off b se - Ever so often ou et to bre the n the fresh r of freedom th t s nown s soc et When th s h ppens, en o ourself H n out w thfr ends nd e t wh tever ou were cr v n wh le ou were e t n tun ll wee If ou don't let loose nd recuper te, the next wee w ll be ll themore str n n Tre t ourself You've never deserved t moreRemember, we re here for ou If ou're ever h v n rou h t me, le n on our support roup All us lone sold ers re one f m l We were helped nthe rm , nd we w nt to do the s me for ou You're defend n our countr , nd we're here to help ou do th t s best ou c n 64

always knew that he INTERVIEWwould eventually end up in Israel. He grew uplistening to stories about his grandmother’s EDUCATION FORtime in the Haganah and about the early days OUR NATIONof the newfound State of Israel. Afterattending Margolin Hebrew Academy in drafting into a non-combat role? clarity on aspects of Judaism and hasMemphis, Efroni began studying at Yeshivat First, aim for something that is meaningful to deepened my knowledge of why we do whatHakotel, and a year and a half later, in March you and that you have a proper skill set for. If we do. Ultimately, I decided to get smicha for2014, he drafted into Nativ, a non-combat it is something that is important to you, it my own personal religious connection butunit which guides soldiers through the Jewish only enhances your overall army experience. also to help others to facilitate theirs.conversion process. A few months into his Second, don’t forget that what you are doing What was your driving force for beingservice, Efroni decided to do Course Ktzinim is critical. It is easy to feel less important in a here in Israel, and has smicha(Officer’s Course) and eventually was placed non-combat unit since we tend to assist the strengthened that?as an officer at the army’s educational combat soldiers with their work. However, For me it’s always been clear that I am meantheadquarters. After his year and a half in the remember that if your role wasn’t needed, it to live here, both on a personal level and on aarmy, Efroni decided to remain in the field of would not exist. Ultimately, search for religious level. I have grandparents, cousins,education and pursue smicha, a decision that meaning in all you do and constantly seek out siblings and close friends in Israel and there ishas enriched not only his wealth of opportunities. this sense of pride that has become integralknowledge but also his desire to share Torah Great answer! So we hear you decided to to my identity. Truth is, before moving towith all those around him. go down the smicha track… Mind giving Israel, I would ask myself, “If today was myOK give us the deets- When did you draft us the 411 on that? last day, would I be proud of how I spent it?”and into what unit? Well smicha is definitely a lot more difficult Very rarely was I able to answer yes. However,I drafted in March 2014 with Yeshivat Hakotel. than I expected! I had been in yeshiva for a when I made Aliyah that changed. There is aI started off in Nativ, a unit focusing on few years before going down this path, but meaning to living here, which I am alsoJewish conversion and then became an officer smicha is more intense than what I imagined. always reminded of when I study for smicha.at the army’s educational department. However, the process has given me so much You simply can’t ignore the fact that Israel isSo what led you to join the army? a focal point in the Torah. We were told to goI always knew I was eventually going to jointhe IDF. My grandmother was in the Haganah,and I grew up listening to her stories. Justfrom hearing her stories, I knew I wanted tobe a part of something bigger than myselfand do my part to contribute to Israel. Iactually have a photo of my grandmother inher uniform and holding a gun in my room asinspiration.Since you drafted straight from yeshiva,did you utilize your time in yeshiva toprepare for the army?A lot of guys who draft into combat usuallystudy practical halachot during the weeksleading up to their draft date. However, sinceI was drafting into a non-combat unit, I reallyused the time to strengthen my sense of self.The army is a melting pot, which is great insome ways, but it is also very easy to loseyourself and your sense of identity. It wasimportant for me to maintain my strongsense of self during the army, so I reallyworked on myself internally during thosefinal weeks in yeshiva.What was the army like at first?A balagan. Just a bit of a balagan! Unlikemost of the Hakotel guys, I wasn’t with otherAmericans, so I did feel disconnected, butonce you are in a framework and routine, likeanything, it gets easier.What would you say to someone who is65

to this land. We were told to fight for this confident. Whether you are naturally confident, or IDF DICTIONARYland. We were told to return to this land. It’s need to pretend a little, people will listen to you ifvery hard to go through the Torah without you sound like you know what you are talking B M ch el Lev n Lone Sold erreading about this small piece of land. about. Most important, though, is to build a very Center ndAdditionally, this idea is also seen throughout solid support structure of family, friends, andhalacha - most mitzvot are only relevant in connections. When I came here I had to start from Nefesh B’Nefesh & FIDF LoneIsrael. There’s a value in embracing every day zero and rebuild my support system, but it is Sold ers Pro r m St ffto it’s fullest, and since living in Israel I can crucial to have people to go to when the goingconfidently say that I believe I am taking gets tough. Finally, don’t forget why you came UNITadvantage of that. here! Even after a rough day, reflect on yourAmazing! Well there are two sides to personal motivations and inspirations for making Kitah (‫ – ) כיתה‬class/squadevery coin, so what would you say are Aliyah. Tzevet ( ‫ – )צוות‬squad/teamsome of your challenges in Israel? Last question: You were in yeshiva, the army, Machlakah (‫ – )מחלקה‬platoonI can’t complain about having a lack of and now getting smicha, so I am sure you Plugah (‫ – ) פלוגה‬companyfriends and family here, but, ultimately, my have a good inspirational story up your Gdud (‫ – ) גדוד‬battalionparents, some of my extended family and sleeve. Do tell! Chativah (‫ – )חטיבה‬brigadeseveral friends are in America, which is So I arrived at Nativ during the beginning of Tzuk Sayeret (‫ – )סיירת‬specialchallenging. I also find that even though my Eitan in July 2014. The course of the soldiersHebrew has improved over my five and a half converting was almost over, but they needed to RANKyears in Israel, it’s something that will always go to the Beit Din a few months before theirbe an issue. When I was in the army, I had to official conversion and then again for the actual Chayal (‫ – )חייל‬soldierlearn army Hebrew. In university I will need conversion. On the day that one of the soldiers Chayal Boded (‫– )חייל בודד‬to learn academic Hebrew and when I get a was meant to go to the Beit Din for his initial lone soldierjob I will need to learn professional Hebrew. It meeting, his commander called him and told him Toray ( ‫ – )טוראי‬traineecan be frustrating to be doing the same thing that he was being sent to Gaza the next day. Mefaked (‫ – )מפקד‬commanderwith the same level of difficulty as Israelis, When he went to the Beit Din later that day, he Mak = Mefaked Kitah ( ‫= מ״כ‬but having the extra challenge of the told them that he was going to Gaza the next day –‫) מפקד כיתה‬-squadlanguage to overcome. and did not know if he would return. He told commander them that, if he was killed, he wanted to die as a Sammal ( ‫ – )סמל‬sergeantHow can future olim tackle these Jew. Instead of waiting a few more months before Mem Mem (‫מפקד= מ״מ‬challenges? converting the soldier, the Beit Din sent him to ‫ – ) מחלקה‬platoon commander the mikvah and converted him. The next day he Samech Mem Pay (‫סגן=סמ״פ‬I think it is very went down to Gaza as a Jew. I must have told ‫ – )מפקד פלוגהמ‬assistantimportant to be that story hundreds of times, but every time I tell company commander it I am reminded how blessed I am to be here. Mem Pay (‫)מפקד פלוגה = מ״פ‬ - By: Lottie Kestenbaum – company commander “You simply can’t ignore the fact that Israel is a focal point in the Torah. We were told to go to this land. We were told to fight for this land. We were told to return to this land.\" 66

MEET OUR CHAYALOT! These inspiring women describe their jobs, accomplishments and challenges as religious women serving in the Israel Defense Forces. COMBAT GALARTILLERY B M del ne RosenINSTRUCTOR AND M dreshet Am tLOVING IT I m currentl serv n s comb t sold er n the IDF’s Se rch nd Rescue Un t I rew up n Te nec , NJ,B M ch l SundM d l Oz, Al h D te 2015 ttended the Fr sch School, nd went on to le rn t M dreshet Am t fter h h schoolI currentl serve s n rt ller nstructor n b se c lled Sh vt n theNe ev I rew up n St Lou s, M ssour , nd fter m e r of le rn n t I dr fted to the rm throu h M ch l nd ust f n shedM d l Oz, I dec ded to m e Al h nd dr ft to the IDF Two e rs o, m 8-month tr n n per od As comb t sold er, Idr ft n s rel ous rl w s much less common, so the ourne to m u rd borders nd do m best to eep Isr el’s c t zens s fe Not onl does m un t do u rd dut , but we us (dr ft) w s bump one S nce m f m l w s m n Al h, I d dn't spec l ze n se rch n nd rescu n people fromqu l f for M ch l or G r n Tz b r, so I fou ht m w n w th the Isr el s n tur l d s sters nd rubbleEndur n ll th t, I ended up dr ft n to course t M chve Alon, to Be n comb t sold er s h rd but t’s worth ever7-wee pro r m c lled “Moledet” If I h d to expl n t, I would s t w s second to now th t when people see me on the streetb s c ll cross between t ronut (b s c tr n n ) nd M ch H ch B ’ retz I hold n m un, the c n feel l ttle b t s fer Be nmet ol m from ll over nd, desp te t feel n sl htl useless, t w s wom n, nd espec ll rel ous wom n n the IDF,pos t ve exper ence From Moledet I fou ht to become n rt ller h s t u ht me th t bre n stereot pes s mport ntnstructor, ob I’d been e e n for wh le nd t’s v t l to step outs de of our comfort zone forI love m ob It’s the perfect comb n t on of wor n n the shet ch (f eld) someth n ou bel eve n nd te ch n n cl ssroom Ever wee s new course, so I et to meet ll ADVICE FROM THE nds of sold ers from d fferent cultures, b c rounds, nd c t es n Isr el \"SHETACH\"The ent re rt ller corps rel es on 15 rls to te ch ever dr ver how to dr vethe r respect ve veh cle It's prett rew rd nBe n rel ous n th t t pe of env ronment s def n tel ch llen n , but B H nn h Deforewh t I’ve le rned throu h m exper ences s th t f ou respect ourself, M dreshet Yeudothers w ll respect ou You set the st nd rds nd rules nd onl oudec de f others follow them I w s nd lw s w ll be nown s “the I served s comb t sold er n P ud H oref, wh ch srel ous one” nd people w ll lw s m e fun of me for th t, but I m the Home Front Comm nd We spec l ze n se rch &proud of t, nd I've le rned to l u h w th them Wh le be n rel ous rescue nd chem c l w rf re We spend most of oursold er sn't lw s e s , t's rew rd n It's dem nd n nd comes w th t me n nd round the West B n do n ll nds ofre t ch llen es, but I c me out stron er for t I honestl feel l e I m m ss onscontr but n to m countr wh le lso rem n n true to who I m I dr fted str ht from sem n r , wh ch w s b ump, however t w s re ll n ce to be ble to come b c to sem n r for Sh bb tot nd le rn w th mfr ends M serv ce w s ns ne, but h v n ood support roup l e th t when I w s off b se w s l fes ver Or n ll , I w nted to beM sh t T sh (Soc l Wor er), but m Hebrew w sn’t ood enou h nd the pl cement off cer I met w th su ested I o n comb t I h d noexpect t ons nd tot ll d dn’t re l ze wh t I w s ett n m self nto It w s ncred bl ch llen n t t mes, both ph s c ll nd ment llThere would be per ods of t me when I d dn’t sleep for d s, but I st ll loved ever m nute It’s re ll mport nt to h ve ood tt tude ndnot to compl n even when th n s re tou h I’m fortun te to h ve served w th fr ends whom I cons der f m l , who ept e ch otherl u h n , from tr n n to ct ve dut The un t w s 70/30 m le to fem le r t o nd there weren’t ver m n rel ous sold ers w th me People would lw s tell me th t the rm sn’t re t pl ce for rel ous rls Unfortun tel , there were moments where I found th t to be true, but ou le rn to wor throu h the ups nd downs I w s determ ned to m e the env ronment I w s n comp t ble w th m rel os t , nd the sold ers n m un t were respectful of th t Th s ob s re t for someone who s re d to wor h rd, but lso won’t be d s ppo nted b d s w thout lot of ct on67 It’s ll bout bre n our own records If ou c n do th t w th sm le on our f ce t w ll be me n n ful exper ence

Looking Back at My IDF ServiceB R chel GoldM d l OzH ever oneIt s l ttle we rd to be wr t n n rt cle b sed on m rm exper ence for Here Next Ye r, bec use t seems l e ust esterd I w s n extremel confused sem n r rl t the Here Next Ye r Isr el F r I h d no de wh t I w nted to do n the rm , how to even etnto the rm nd whether or not I w s sure th t o n n the rm w s someth n I w nted to do However, w th the help nd u d nce of Here Next Ye r nd the r volunteers, I w s ble to m e rew rd n dec s on th t would ve me the two re test e rsof m l feIn October 2015 I enl sted nto the rm w th s xt other rls To ether we enl sted tobecome we pons nstructors (m dr chot ch r) The course to become we pons nstructorw s two-month lon ntens ve course We le rned bout ever we pon nd rmoredveh cle th t s used w th n the rm ’s nf ntr sector We were t u ht how to be oodnstructors, how to de l w th ll d fferent t pes of sold ers (d srupt ve sold ers, cl ssclowns, sold ers who re not nterested n le rn n the m ter l ) nd how to properl ve over m ter l to cl ss/ roup of sold ers The course w s both ment ll ndph s c ll ch llen n At the end of the course e ch rl s ss ned the we pon she w llspend the rest of her rm serv ce te ch n I w s ss ned sn per r fles nd h d bsolutel no de wh t to expect After e ch rl s ss ned we pon she be ns nother course to le rn how to te ch her spec f c we pon The course to becomecert f ed sn per nd sn per nstructor s three-months lon Dur n those three-months wele rned ever th n bout sn pers, sn p n nd sn per r fles After lmost h lf e r I w s off c ll nd f n ll ( ) sn per nstructor Ithen be n te ch n , tr n n nd cert f n sold ers After couple of months on the ob I re l zed th t I w s h v n the most ncred blet me I loved lmost ever th n bout m ob I found the wor to be ncred bl fulf ll n , me n n ful, fun nd ch llen n I spent therest of m rm serv ce tr n n sn pers nd bsolutel loved t unt l the l st dThe most ch llen n p rt of m rm serv ce for me w s be n the onl rel ous rl on m b se M b se s nown for not be n the“most rel ous” b se n the rm nd I found th t to be l ttle d ff cult t the be nn n Not onl w s I the onl rel ous rl, but I w sone of the onl rel ous people on b se It too l ttle t me for me to slowl feel more comfort ble s the onl rel ous rl nd, whenI st rted to embr ce th t, I re l zed th t t bec me less d ff cult for me on b se It def n tel w s ch llen e but, s I be n to feel more t e se, I re l zed how cool t w s th t I w s ble to connect w th so m n people re rdless of whether the were rel ous or notH v n f n shed the rm nd now loo n b c , I c n conf dentl s th t those two e rs t u ht me m n th n s, but I would h ve tos th t m f vor te p rt w s ett n to meet so m n people I met hundreds nd hundreds of sold ers nd m de some of m closestfr ends th t I would h ve never met otherw se M fr ends from the rm re re ll the onl people who trul underst nd wh t th texper ence w s l e-how ntense, un que, cr z nd exh l r t n t w s Thou h the rm w s ch llen n t t mes, throu hout mserv ce, I le rned how to embr ce the ch llen es th t helped me h ve such pos t ve exper ence I hope th t ever one who scons der n st n n Isr el, o n n the rm or do n Sherut Leum c n m e the r ht cho ce for h mself or herself nd h ve nncred ble nd me n n ful exper ence tooThe IDF Life After spend n e r n sem n r , I dec ded to m e Al h, o n G r n Tz b r, nd dr ft to the IDF In the three months preced n m dr ft, I d d the tz v r shon (the f rst meet n w th the rm ) nd om loch motB N om Stoch ns ( d for rls w nt n to dr ft to comb t) L ter on, I w s nformed I would be dr ft n to m f rst cho ce,M dreshet Am t, Ch lutz Ve’H tz l h (se rch nd rescue)Al h D te 2016 Ch lutz Ve’H tz hl h s coed comb t un t th t spec l zes n nf ntr , chem c l w rf re, nd se rch nd rescue Pr or to rece v n m beret, I went throu h seven months of extens ve tr n n , n wh ch I w s t u ht ll of the necess r s lls nd techn ques pert n n to m ob I m currentl st t oned n Gush Etz on There re v r ous mes mot (m ss ons) ven to us e ch d These nclude d fferent shm rot ( u rd dut es), p trols, nd rrests If there s s tu t on where people h ve become tr pped n coll psed bu ld n s or under rubble, we w ll be c lled n Members of m un t h ve been sent to help w th v r ous d s sters, most recentl n Mex co fter the e rthqu e th t occurred there th s p st September I would s the most unexpected p rt of the IDF for me w s the d ustment to rm l fe nd the Isr el ment l t No m tter wh t people h d told me before, I never trul re l zed the extent of the culture shoc th t I would exper ence upon dr ft n It too wh le to d pt nd et used to, but now I wouldn't ch n e th n 68

It’s Not All About the “Wassach”B T l En elh rt “So, for all you out there looking for a unit that’sM d l Oz, Al h D te 2015 right for you, I’m going to tell you something IThe exc tement nd dren l ne from b s c tr n n c me to wish someone would have told me: screech n h lt s I rr ved on m new b se, welcomed b The notion that combat is the only way to havem new off cer w th hu I w s cqu nted w th m des a “real service” is false.” nd the other sold ers n m off ce, nd I w s told to ustt e t e s nd ch ll wor ed closel w th m l t r mb ss dors from A r Forces worldw de InAt th s po nt n t me, n m he d, l rms were sound n s th s pos t on I w s ven exposure to ll the nner wor n s of the A rred l hts fl shed nd vo ces bl red s n “No d sc pl ne Force, trul contr but n d rectl to the success of our A r Force ndNo s lut n to off cers A computer nd des ” coll bor t on w th our ll esThe p nful re l z t on be n to s n n “AM I A JOBNI ” St ll no f ce p ntI th n b c to ll the p ctures I s w on F ceboo Women, St ll no mudf ce p nted, mud covered, hold n un l r er th n m le St ll no unI loo ed n the m rror A confused Amer c n n h At th s po nt, none of th t bothered me n more Ye h, I’d love to h veun form, we r n s nd ls nd s rt, loo ed b c t me tou h mudd p cture of me hold n un (who wouldn't ) but theCrush n d s ppo ntment w shed over me s I qu c l be n person l contr but ons I’ve m de n shre Chutz (Fore n Rel t ons) Ito doubt ll the dec s ons I’d m de n m l fe up unt l th s wouldn't h ve been ble to ch eve n where else The exper ence I’vepo ntThe be nn n w s h rd Words stuc to m thro t when ned I wouldn't h ve ned n comb t And the profess on lpeople s ed me how the rm w s o n I would sm le nd connect ons nd rel t onsh ps I h ve w th fore n d n t r es renod t Sh bb t me ls, pretend n to underst nd the someth n I could onl h ve otten herecomb t sl n th t w s be n thrown round b m fr ends So, for ll ou out there loo n for un t th t’s r ht for ou, I’m o n toI forced m self to eep t secret, the f ct th t I w sn't tell ou someth n I w sh someone would h ve told me“re l sold er” Th t I w sn't n the “re l rm ” The not on th t comb t s the onl w to h ve “re l serv ce” s f lseThe cr z th n s, when t c me down to t, I h d prett The not on th t be n obn s n emb rr ssment s f lse wesome ob I coord n ted the el te v s ts of other m l t r The concept of wh t t me ns to be n the “re l rm ” ust s mpl doesn't ener ls on m b se I met the A r Force comm nders of ex st (If ou w nt “re l rm ” o n the M r nes Tz h l s lor f edInd , Br z l, nd Germ n I h d exposure to conf dent l summer c mp )nform t on nd too p rt n v s ts th t m de t nto the Serv n n the rm s not ll e s It’s not ll fun nd mes, nd t’snewsp pers cert nl not someth n to t e l htl It’s mport nt to choose un tBut, I onl held un when I w s on u rd dut b sed on where our stren ths l , nd wh t s most f tt n for ouBut, I d dn’t p nt m f ce or et mudd (trust me, n th t I loo b c on m serv ce, nd I feel pr de h un form I vo ded ll th n s mud) I feel l e I m de m m r on the A r ForceBut, I d dn't sleep n tent, t e cold shower, or e t tun M contr but ons w ll lw s rem n there, lon w th the connect onsout of c n R ther, m b se h d sw mm n pool, mov e nd exper ences I’ve ned The onl re ret I h ve s not re l z n th tthe tre nd tenn s courts I w s l v n r ther l morous sooner rm l fe, not the cool h rdcore mud-f lled one m fr ends So, s I shoo h nds w th the four-st r US A r Force comm nder onl fewwere exper enc n short months o, I f n ll found the stren th to nswer m quest onAfter e r t Tel Nof A rb se, I sw tched to Fore n Aff rs “AM I A JOBNI ” nd Protocol loc ted n the r D v n even deeper nto “Yes, I m obn And I m proud to be one”the world of obn m, I now h d ob n wh ch I went homeever even nW th the demot on of w ss ch ( term used for loo nh rdcore nd cool), the v lue of m wor w s promotedIn Fore n Aff rs I w s ven the respons b l t ofcoord n t n v s ts nd ntern t on l tr n n exerc ses, nd69

T l En elh rtPilot Program: Air Force Innovation TeamB Il n Re enb umYesh v t Eretz H tzv , Al h D te 2014M un t s runn n p lot pro r m n con unct on w th Me t v nd the Isr el A r Force HR br nch to help mprove the m tch n nd pl cementprocess for ol m who h ve un vers t de rees Up unt l th s po nt n oleh w th de ree h d two m n opt ons1 S n up for Ac dem z ( lso c lled Atud t Ol m) nd serve for three to f ve e rs s n c dem c off cer n ob th t ut l zes our de ree2 Networ nd s round nd hope th t ou et luc nd f nd ob th t requ res spec f c b c round or de reeThe ssue w th the f rst opt on s th t t s l m ted mostl to en neer n nd ps cholo m ors, t requ res one to s n up for extr t me, ndthere re not so m n obs v l ble The second opt on s b mble, nd one could volunteer for the rm hop n for ood ob nd etb d obOur p lot pro r m focuses on ll the de rees th t re not relev nt for Atud t Ol m, nd helps connect comm nders who w nt someone w thcert n b c round to n oleh w th the m tch n de ree It b s c ll m es the whole m tch n process less r ndom In order to p rt c p te, s nup us n our Goo le form when ou re ppro ch n our dr ft d te or re lre d n M chve Alon ( rm Ulp n)You c n lso em l us t f nnov t on@ m l com f ou h ve n quest ons IDF DICTIONARYB M ch el Lev n Lone Sold er Center nd FIDF & Nefesh B’Nefesh Lone Sold ers Pro r m St ffTRAINING ENLISTMENT B ch (‫ )בא״ח‬- tr n n b se G us (‫ – )גיוס‬enl stment T ronut (‫ – )טירונות‬b s c tr n n Tz v R shon ( ‫ – )צו ראשון‬f rst not ce nd screen n Imun M t dem (‫ – ) אימון מתקדם‬dv nced tr n n process, f rst step n the dr ft n process M s (‫ – )מסע‬h e, forced m rch B um ( ‫ – ) בקו״ם‬bsorpt on nd screen n b se, where sold er s processed on h s/her f rst d Shet ch (‫ – )שטח‬f eld G bbush (‫ – )גיבוש‬tr outs Sh ' t T sh ( ‫ – ) שעת ת״ש‬hour of free t me Yom S rot (‫ – )יום סיירות‬tr outs for el te un ts P l ( ‫ – )פק״ל‬sold er's spec lt ss nment Cho er (‫ – )חוגר‬m l t r IDBoch n M slul ( ‫ – )בוחן מסלול‬lometer run nd obst cle course B ror ( ‫ – ) ברור‬ph s c l test of pushups, s t-ups nd 2 run 70

INTERVIEWThe Nation Builds The Army,The Army Builds The NationLIBA HORNSTEIN tells us bout G r n Tz b r, the mport nce of educ t on n the IDF nd wh t she ned from her serv ce Tell us bout our ob nd our un t n the rm obv ousl restr ct ons th t I wouldn't h ve h d f I l ved lone, but I w s M sh t Ch nuch n Che l H ’Ch nuch Ve'H no r, so I w s person ll the d dn't bother me, nd I th n the benef ts were n ch r e of the educ t on of ll the sold ers n the un t th t I w s worth follow n few rules The exper ence ou h ve n G r n pl ced n I pl nned out the content before the sold ers c me, Tz b r s ver dependent on lot of f ctors The bbutz ou l ve on nd the d n m cs w th n our G r n nd w th other r n m on ve the r comm nders cl sses nd ct v t es to ve over dur n the bbutz h ve hu e mp ct In rel ous G r n m, not ever one the r four months of dv nced tr n n , brou ht spe ers, nd s necess r l t the s me level of observ nce, wh ch could lso too the sold ers on tr ps M Un t s respons ble for pre- rm h ve n mp ct for some people pro r ms for teens, Ulp n for ol m ch d sh m, courses to f n sh full h h school d plom , convers on course for those who ren't Wh t w s our f vor te p rt of our rm serv ce Jew sh b h l ch , nd m n other pro r ms It s lso In the rm , I met so m n d fferent nds of people th t I never respons ble for the d -to-d educ t on of ll sold ers n top cs dre med I would meet, let lone become fr ends w th I h ve bout h stor , v lues nd Z on sm, nd more fr ends who re Chr st n, Druze, Athe st, Non- Observ nt Jews, Wh t w s s l e be n rel ous n the rm Tr d t on l Jews, Modern Orthodox Jews, Ultr -Orthodox Jews, Out of 70 rls n m course, four were rel ous We lso h d two formerl Orthodox nd Ultr -Orthodox Jews, Eth op ns, pol t c ll rel ous comm nders, wh ch w s ver helpful, but the other left w n , r ht w n , nd center, ol m from ll over the world, comm nders often d dn't underst nd There were t mes when Isr el s from ll over the countr , people who h te the rm , people the d dn't ve us ever th n we needed, but once we expl ned who love the rm , people of ll d fferent es, nd people who wh t we needed nd wh , we lmost lw s ot t It w s ver couldn't c re less bout n of th t nd ust w nt to now when mport nt th t we new our r hts, bec use the comm nders the r next me l s And th t's not even nclud n ll of the people d dn't necess r l now them The other rls were ver outs de of the rm whom I've met throu h m ob s M sh t respectful, but m n of them were lso unf m l r w th most of Ch nuch I don't th n there s n other w I could h ve met so h l ch But n, once we expl ned, the were re ll ood m n d fferent nds of people I've le rned to be more bout t B the end we even h d two more rls o n us n open-m nded, nd th t I c n f nd someth n n common w th d ven n ever morn n Sh bb t w s the most d ff cult, bec use ever one, no m tter the r b c rounds or op n ons I've m de even f I ept Sh bb t to tee, the tmosphere c n re ll ffect fr ends th t I'll eep for the rest of m l fe \"The n t on bu lds the the exper ence I found th t f I brou ht Sh bb t clothes to we r rm nd the rm bu lds the n t on” n m room dur n free t me, th t helped me h ve more An ood stor es st nd out from our rm exper ence “sh bbosd ” Sh bb t It t es lot of w llpower to be rel ous n In m course, there w s rl who w s lmost completel de f She the rm , nd t's def n tel not e s The other d ff cult s could spe nd she re d people's l ps when the spo e, but t shm r t ne h People h ve re ll d ff cult t me underst nd n home she mostl commun c ted n S n L n u e Dur n the l st t, nd even even more d ff cult t me remember n t The best wee of the course, we were pr ct c n for our end n ceremon , n p rt bout be n rel ous n the rm s th t I ot to show the wh ch ever one s n s H t v , nd one rl s ed her to te ch her other sold ers the be ut ful s de of Jud sm I could expl n the words of H t v n S n L n u e Th s qu c l c u ht on, nd h l chot nd m nh m th t the never he rd of, nswer the r she w s soon te ch n the whole course We dec ded to request quest ons bout th n s the 've seen, nd tell them the stor es of perm ss on to do the mot ons dur n the ctu l ceremon The the Ch m nd T n ch comm nders reed, s lon s we could et t tot ll n s nc We Wh t w s t l e to do G r n Tz b r m n ed t, nd dur n the ceremon s ever one s n H t v , I d d G r n Tz b r t vutz t Y vne G r n Tz b r helped w th we s n w th our vo ces nd our h nds I'm f lled w th pr de nd b s c ll ever th n I h d pl ce to l ve, food to e t, emot on l nd emot on ever t me I he r H t v these d s, but th t support from m G r n, r ezet ( dv sor), nd dopted f m l on moment w s on nother level It rem nded me th t one of the ncred ble th n s bout our rm s th t even n the m dst of ll the bbutz It w s re ll n ce now n th t when I left the rm I w s structure nd d sc pl ne, we lso m e t me for the nd v du l We com n home to someth n The lso helped w th the pre- rm prov de ccommod t ons so th t ever sold er ets wh t the need th n s, l e tz v r shon, om h me h, nd ust ener l dv ce nd nd feels ncluded, wh tever the r person l ch llen e m be We nform t on, s well s w th Al h ssues, b n ssues, nd ll the re n rm w th purpose nd he rt, nd we c re bout our other bure ucr c The lso h ve cont cts w th n the rm , so f I sold ers, bec use we ren't ust n rm , but lso n t on Th t s needed help w th someth n fter I dr fted the somet mes someth n so spec l bout the IDF, nd one of the re sons th t I helped w th th t I l ved on n m z n bbutz nd m G r n w s m so honored to h ve h d the pr v le e to we r our un form re ll close, so I ot ver luc As w th n pro r m, there were71

TOP FIVE The Sky's The LimitTop 5 Things to Know B M Bord nAbout the Drafting Process: M dreshet Tor h V’Avod h, Al h D te 2016 I’ve lw s nown I w nted to dr ft to comb t un t,1 Conf dence s ever th n - People don’t lw s l sten to WHAT ou s , desp te const ntl be n told t w sn’t ood pl ce forbut HOW ou s t As Amer c ns we often t e pol te ppro ch, rel ous rl Dur n m e r t TVA, I st rted th n n bout polo z n frequentl nd ccept n the f rst nswer we're ven NOT wh t th t would loo l e pr ct c ll For me, th t me ntANYMORE LADIES Roll up them sleeves nd et re d to f ht connect n w th G r n Tz b r nd le rn n more bout theNo conf dence Th t’s f ne F e t t ll ou m e t Just pretend ou h ve rm process At the s me t me, I wor ed h rd on m nconf dence Nobod w ll be ble to tell the d fference connect ons w th people currentl serv n n un ts nd do n2 Embr ce the f ct th t ou re AMERICANNN - Don't rush to become obs th t I thou ht I w s nterested n Throu h th t process, I w s ble to n rrow down where I w nted to serve, nd w s complete Isr el so ou'll be t en ser ousl The f ct th t ou're br ve luc to et m top cho ce nd cour eous Amer c n volunteer who s v n up two e rs of her l fe After I m de Al h n Au ust 2016, I spent t me on bbutzto serve n the IDF spe s volumes w th m G r n where we h d Ulp n, nd I m de t pr or tWe rew up n re t countr , nd there s no sh me n th t to et n the best ph s c l sh pe I could In November, ISo wh t f m ccent s funn dr fted to Totch n m ( rt ller ) nd then p ssed the G bushSo wh t f I spo e to ou n the wron ender pronoun (tr out) for Rochev Sh m m (drone un t) The next e htSo wh t th t I'm lw s the e rl est to ever th n months were bout le rn n to fl the drone nd how toGUESS WHAT I AM AMERICAN oper te n the f eld Now th t we’re n ct ve serv ce, we3 \"No\" s lw s the f rst nswer ou'll et - It’s l e test To see f ou wor n sm ll te ms nd et ll d fferent nds of m ss onsREALLY w nt wh tever ou're s n for I'll ve ou h nt to fl to ther ntell enceYou do I’ve otten lot of dv ce dur n m serv ce, but someC ll n th n s h ve re ll stuc w th me Most mport ntl , bec use4 You w ll never be 100% prep red for wh tever h ts ou - So be there re ver few rel ous people n m un t, nd espec llprep red not to be prep red not rls, t m es th s ver ch llen n pos t on even more5 At the end of the d , remember th t the rm s run b bunch of d ff cult Remember th t ou’re d fferent, nd th t even f t19- e r-olds - Remember th t ou re lso 19- e r-old Don't t e m es th n s b t h rder somet mes, t’s ood th n Also, n th n too ser ousl Noth n 's person l And f people re me n nd ou be n p rt of sm ll roup me ns ou pl cruc l role n eep ett n messed over, st rt blo bout t It’s re l crowd ple ser how the roup wor s s te m, but don’t ve up on the-B T l En elh rt th n s th t re re ll mport nt to ou Ult m tel , be n n the rm h s been more d ff cult th n I could h ve poss bl m ned, but lso br n s me to ether w th people from ver d fferent b c rounds n me n n ful wH ever one M n me s Deen Combat Boots and a SkirtFelsenth l, nd I w s we pon’snstructor n the IDF I t u ht comb tsold ers of ll r n s from m n B Deen Felsenth ld fferent nf ntr un ts how to use M d l Oz, Al h D te 2016ren de nd roc et l unchers I h d n extremel me n n ful nd exc t n serv ce, but the processle d n up to m dr ft w sn’t e sWhen I w s loo n nto dr ft n , most of m te chers nd role models dv sed me nst dr ft nnto the ob th t I w nted At the t me, most rel ous rls d dn’t dr ft, nd the ones who d d,dr fted throu h G r n to ver spec f c obs Desp te the l c of support, m he rt w s set onbecom n we pons nstructor, so I d d ever th n n m power to become one It w s ch llen nto be the onl rel ous rl on m b se, but I en o ed t nonetheless People new me on b se s the rl w th comb t boots nd s rt I ned lot of respect from m sold ers nd fr ends for serv nour countr wh le st c n to m rel ous bel efs I loved be n ble to do m ob n the cl ssroom nd n the f eld - t w s the perfect m xture of comb t nd noncomb t I too m ob ver ser ousl- the nform t on I w s v n over to m sold ers w s cr t c l to ensur n the r s fet One of mf vor te memor es dur n m serv ce w s when I t u ht the Amer c n N v Se ls The d d ll of theexerc ses m norm l nf ntr sold ers d d on l nd AND on w ter (so cool ) M serv ce ve me thetools nd conf dence to trul m e Isr el m home 72

INTERVIEWFULFILLING ALIFELONG DREAMMAYA BORZAK tells us about Hadas Chul, a program for religious women who draft into the IDF, and howmaking Aliyah and serving in the IDF is the fulfillment of a life-long dream.Tell me l ttle b t bout ourself Wh t s H d s Chul, nd wh t s ts We h d wor shops on shrut n theI’m from Boc R ton, Flor d , nd I went purpose rm nd some other pr ct c l rmto We nb um Yesh v H h School I m M dreshet L ndenb um h s m n h l ch sh ur m, but honestl noth nnow n v t on nstructor n n el te pro r ms n the r nst tut on, nclud n c n trul prep re ou for rm l fecomm ndo un t n the rm , nd I've H d s Chul, wh ch helps rls who w nt How h s our exper ence been so f rbeen l v n n Isr el s nce Au ust 2016 to o nto the rm h ve n e s er t me s rel ous wom n n the IDFWhen d d ou dec de to o n the rel ousl We re m dst revolut on Over ll I h ve h d ver lovel rm now of rel ous rls o n nto the exper ence, but t c n lso be frustr t nIn 5th r de m te cher h d us ll wr te rm The numbers re ns ne – the For ex mple, I we r p nts but m lsoletters to ourselves th t she would then number of rel ous rls dr ft n h s shomeret ne h, wh ch c n besend b c to us fter we r du ted from one up b 80% n the p st two e rs confus n to Isr el s Also, lot of t mesh h school The te cher told us to wr te P rt of the re son I c me here nd went n the rm , people see th n s from bout our f vor te color, wh t we to the rm w s to be p rt of th s u 's po nt of v ew Th t's ust how t sw nted to be when we rew up, nd so revolut on H d s Chul, run b R v Oh d, s nce there re more u s n the rmforth When I opened up m letter ll s me nt to help those rel ous rls There s lso the frustr t on th t peoplethose e rs l ter t s d th t m dre m P rt of th t s be n u r nteed to o on don't re ll et me, the don'tw s to “ o to sem n r , dr ft to the underst nd Amer c n Jud sm It’s re t rm , nd m e Al h” So I def n tel b se w th other L ndenb um rls I m th t on m b se t’s prett rel ous, butdr n the ool-A d ver e rl on L ter on m b se w th e ht other L nden- th t's not the normon, I went on summer pro r m n b um rls, wh ch s re ll cr z Also, Wh s t mport nt for women toIsr el, the summer before 12th r de I ever two wee s, R v Oh d or nother serve n the IDFw s lre d n touch w th Nefesh te cher comes to b se w th ce cre m, We h ve cr z opportun t to o b cB'Nefesh the d fter ett n home ves sh ur, nd chec s up on us73 D d the pro r m prep re ou t ll for rm l fe

to our l nd nd h ve our own rm , wh ch h s never “I have thought abouth ppened before I c n't m ne not be n p rt ofth t I th n f ou v lue our Jud sm, ou should be doing this for my wholep rt of th s phenomenon th t s h ppen n As entire life, and now I’mrel ous Jew sh women t’s mport nt to show our finally here. It’s prettypresence nd show wh t rel ous people c n do n the rm For lon t me the onl opt on for rel ous crazy, I wake up everywomen w s Sherut Leum Just s the world h s morning living my dream.”exp nded the opportun t es v l ble for women, the rm c n s well Just s Orthodox people rep rt c p t n n the modern world, the c n nd should lso be p rt c p t n n the rm I do not bel eve th tpeople should l ve n the r bubble forever, nd o n tothe rm re ll pops th t bubble In the rm ourf th s ch llen ed, nd for lot of people th t c ne ther we en t or stren then t It’s lot of row nWhere h ve ou been l v n dur n our serv ceI l ve w th other rel ous fem le lone sold ers n house n Jerus lem or n zed b the Lone Sold er Center In Memor of M ch el Lev n,wh ch h s been ncred ble The ve us ever th n we need, nd I could not h ve s ed for better de lWh t do ou love most bout the p th ou re t n n Isr elTh t t s me n n ful to me I’m h v n p rt ll the t me Th s countr s m de for oun people It’s so fun, nd there re such oodv bes I've lw s loved th s pl ce, nd now l v n here ou c n re ll pprec te t It’s wh c I h ve thou ht bout do n th s for mwhole ent re l fe, nd now I’m f n ll here It’s prett cr z , I w e up ever morn n l v n m dre mWh t re our b est ch llen es r ht nowBe n lone sold er c n be ch llen n On b se ou c n feel ver lone nd people don't lw s underst nd ou when t comes tol n u e, espec ll where ou're com n from nd wh t ou're o n throu h You c n be ver m sunderstood lot of the t me, wh chs frustr t nAn dv ce for those st rt n the r l ves n Isr elAs quest ons nd don't be emb rr ssed Alw s s wh t someth n me ns, where to o, wh t to do, nd s for dv ce from peopleIsr el s re more th n re d to ve t T l to people When ou meet someone, s them the r n me, s for the r number, s boutthe r r ndch ldren the next t me ou're there, nd the w ll help ou out even more I’m best fr ends w th Ch nn the B n er nd Bo zthe Bus Dr ver You need to m e fr ends bec use th t's how ou m e t throu h- B Rebecc Ch r t n-Sp tz POSITIONS MILITARY LIFE Kravi (‫ – )קרבי‬combat Kav (‫ – )קו‬operational dutyLochem (‫ – ) לוחם‬fighter/warrior Imun (‫ – )אמון‬training Jobnik ( ‫ – ) ג׳ובניק‬noncombat Shmirah (‫ – )שמירה‬guard duty Mitbach ( ‫ – ) מטבח‬kitchen soldier Krav maga (‫ – )קרב מגע‬IDF's hand-to-hand combat training Chovesh ( ‫ – ) חובש‬medic Mitvach ( ‫ – )מטווח‬firing rangeChopel = Chovesh Plugati (‫לח'ו'פו״חל‬ Tekkes ( ‫ – ) טקס‬ceremony= ‫ – )חובש פלוגתי‬platoon medic Tekkes Hashba'ah (‫ – )טקס השבעה‬swearing-inRassar (‫ – )רס״ר‬master sergeant Tekkes Kumtah ( ‫ – ) טקס כומתה‬beret, at the end of advanced trainingMishakit Tash ( ‫ ) משקי״ת ת״ש‬- Sha'ah b'yitziyah (‫ – )שעה ביציאה‬an hour of punishment, in charge of soldiers' personal leave base later than others Yom Siddurim (‫ – )יום סידורים‬errand day affairs Regilah ( ‫ – )רגילה‬one week breakMishakit Aliyah (‫ )משקי״ת עלייה‬- Bettim (‫ – )בתים‬medical leave on basehelps new immigrants with their Gimmelim (‫ – )גימלים‬medical leave off base, sick days Yitziot (‫ – )יציאות‬schedule of leave (days on/off base) Hebrew Madas (‫ – ) מדס‬exercise 74

February 2nd, 2018 10:00-11:30 AM Betzalel 26, Jerusalem RSVP: http://bit.ly/2AfwsF3 M16A-RC17H Thinking about staying in Israel? ‫שבת פרשת ויקרא‬ Find out what it’s like to live and study in Israel HYeNErEAeXRT2./22>G: Giva Shmue75

Get a taste of life in Israel and have funmeeting like-minded Yeshiva & Midrasha students! At Israel Independence Day you will: Create delicious Israeli Salatim Hone your Hebrew Skills Explore Israeli culture Friday, December 8th 10:00-12:30 Hechal Shlomo 58 King George, Jerusalem Space is limited! RSVP: http://bit.ly/2h9PPIc 76

Sheru Leum Sayarot Night January 22nd 7:00-9:30 PM NBN Offices (Nachum Cheftzadi 5, Jerusalem) One-on-one help to prepare for interviews! Dinner will be served. Want to know what it’s actually like to be a bat sherut? Speak with current bnot sherut bodedot who are serving in education, tour guiding, administration, special ed, medicine and more!These bnot sherut will discuss topics like, their day-to-day schedule, Hebrew and Israeli culture, the transition from seminary to sherut leumi, the sign-up process, challenges, achievements and advice. January 8th, 2018 7:00-10:00 PM OU Center Keren HaYesod 22, Jerusalem

RSVP Required:http://bit.ly/2zj15dpWant to know what it's like to be a female soldier? Here Next Year and the Lone Soldier CenterIn Memory of Michael Levin, invite you to the IDF Brunch for Women. Learn what options existfor religious women in the IDF, speak with current female lone soldiers and meet other seminary students considering IDF service. Brunch will be served! Where? Yafo 51, Jerusalem When? Friday, January 12th from 9:30 - 11:30 AMIDF BRUNCH FOR WOMENRSVP Here: http://bit.ly/2AdK7wn 78 HYeNErEAeXRT

Looking forward tohearing from you! Nefesh B'Nefesh: [email protected] Here Next Year: [email protected]