Holiness in the IDF

BH

Back from the Holy Land once again.

Mayanot Israel – Birthright Bus 559:
- Forty American college students or recent graduates
- A charming student leader
- A “Spiritual Guide” (me )
- A youthful Israeli coordinator
- A humorous tour guide
- An adored security guard/medic
- An obnoxious bus driver
- Eight very special Israeli soldiers.

For the third time this year, I trekked through the Land of Israel in lighting speed with my Mayanot group. Caesarea, Tiberias, The Golan and Galil, Tzfat, Tel Aviv, the Negev, Jerusalem and more – all in 10 quick days. Sure, I’ve seen 98% of the sites before, but this time it was different – and I’m not only referring to the above 100°F weather. What I speak of is my “crew” – the staff and participants of Mayanot 559.

On this trip, as in the past, my group and I shared many special moments. TEN members of our family celebrated their Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall! Also at the Kotel, FIVE 559ers entered Jewish manhood as a Bar Mitzvah. ELEVEN of us adopted Jewish names for the first time in our life. In addition, FOUR of our sisters kindled the lights of Shabbat for the very first time and EIGHT of our brothers performed their first donning of Teffilin.

So, there you have it; the numbers of Mayanot 559. There were many great moments for our group as we celebrated together, danced together, prayed together and grew together.

After presenting all these number, there is one that particularly sticks out for me, especially this week. “Eight very special Israeli Soldiers.”

As has become a popular component of Taglit, our now close-knit family grew by eight for five of our 10 days. Those eight being “Chayalim” – Soldiers - in the Israel Defense Forces, the IDF. All from very different upbringings from each other, these eight young men and women quickly morphed into important roles on our trip. Our American youth and Israeli took “integration” to a new level. Friendships grew quickly and everyone was learning each others’ cultures.

The American student and the Israeli soldier – today’s Jewish youth. From very different backgrounds and levels of observance our crew quickly learned that our soldiers were special people. For hours and hours, every day, our remarkable gang-of-eight spoke of their love for Israel and their privilege of defending her.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe held the IDF troops in high regard and Mayanot 559’s Chayalim are no different. The Rebbe once stated that those that have total willingness to defend our Land and our people 24/7 are of a different level. These are people that even have the ability to bless others.

This week’s Parshah, Ki Teitzei states (Deuteronomy 23:15) "V’hoya Machanecho Kadosh “And your [military] camps shall be holy.” This is where the Torah tells of several requirements that need be performed to ensure that the Jewish military camps are regarded as holy and are presented that way.

After five days with our IDF troops, I see this verse still very much in play. I overheard one of the soldiers discussing with an American participant. His display of Jewish pride made me shiver. I was amazed. During that conversation I heard him say several times how privileged he is to fight for the Jewish people.

All eight of our soldiers made it their duty during five short days to deliver this specific message. While some of them are admittedly not observant by any stretch, their sense of Jewish pride and honor pierces the highest ceilings! To me, this public display of Yiddishkeit – Judaism – makes today’s IDF camps Kadosh, holy.

I have led three trips, and if my math skills serve me right, that means I have now had 24 proud IDF members in my groups. While all of them, and even throw in the three security guards I’ve worked with – all former soldiers – have displayed unbelievable pride and honor, this group taught me a few things.

In five days with my most recent group of soldiers I learned the importance of speaking out for your cause, even when it may not be popular. Not every American kid agrees with them, but they simply did not stop. They were going to inform their new friends about their selfless defense of the Jewish state and of the Jewish people.

Pride. Honor. Self-sacrifice. This ensures that your military camps will be holy.

This defines our Chayalim.

May G-d bestow unlimited blessing upon our brave brothers and sisters that stand guard over our Holy Land!