"This is Where I Belong"
IDF soldier

 

Basic training jolted Binyamin Zemelman out of his comfort zone. He faced freezing cold weather, grueling work, and primitive living conditions. "I would picture all my friends back in college, sitting around eating pizza and listening to music," recalls Binyamin, 21.

But 16 months later, he had adjusted to life in the Golani Brigade, an elite infantry unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). His buddies in uniform helped him through the toughest moments. "I was never alone; we were there for each other, all going through it as a unit," Binyamin says. "You get strength from your friends."

Deciding to risk his life in Israel's army came naturally for Binyamin; after all, love of Israel came with his upbringing in Silver Spring, Maryland. His school, the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, has graduated other students who enlisted. "I never thought of not joining the IDF," Binyamin says.

In traveling far to take risks for the Jewish people, Binyamin is not alone. From its earliest days, Israel has always relied on Diaspora Jews to bolster its fighting forces.

During the 1948 War of Independence, 3,500 overseas volunteers from 43 different countries arrived in Israel to defend the new state against Arab attacks and riots. They came from many walks of life, speaking many languages. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion created a professional volunteer fighting force for them called MAH. AL, an acronym for Mitnadvei H. utz La'aretz, "overseas volunteers." Israelis quipped that MAH. AL stood for Meshuga'im Mi'hutz La'aretz, "crazy guys from outside Israel."

Today, more than 5,000 young Jewish men and women from around the world have come to Israel to volunteer for IDF duty. They arrive as "lone soldiers"-without the support of parents who live in Israel-and typically serve 14- to 16-month terms. Mahalniks fight alongside their Israeli counterparts, sharing every aspect of military service, including danger. In last year's Hezbollah War, on the day before Tisha B'Av, Michael Levin, a 21-year-old "lone soldier" from Mangold, Pennsylvania, died a hero's death when he and two IDF comrades came under heavy fire. Growing up, Michael had spent summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos and was active in United Synagogue Youth.

Twenty-year-old Daniel Baker of Worcester, Massachusetts, was no stranger to the Jewish state when he joined the IDF. "Before I was 18, I'd been to Israel nine times," Daniel explains. His family also hosted Israelis on exchange programs in the United States for months at a time.

Still, Daniel never dreamed of signing up with the IDF. Two years ago, he came to Israel between high school and college. He planned to live on a kibbutz, relax, meet people, and improve his Hebrew. But the experience touched his heart and changed his course. "Without the IDF, there would be no Israel, and being a Jew in the Diaspora wouldn't be as easy as it is now," Daniel says. "So volunteering was something I chose to do."

A 20-year-old from Teaneck, New Jersey, Moshe Rapps began his IDF service at the end of March. Yeshivat HaKotel-a hesder yeshiva that combines advanced Torah studies with military service-played a part in his choice to enlist. "Joining the IDF had always been in the back of my mind, but living here made the difference," Moshe says.

He and his family spent a long time talking over his plans. "My parents are happy; they're proud of me, behind me all the way. They always have been," Moshe says. "Sure, they're a little worried, but they feel the importance of what I'm doing as much as I do."

Yet when Daniel joined a combat unit, his family was uneasy. "I can't say my mother wants me to be in a combat unit in the Israeli army," he says. "I don't think any mother wants that for her son-in any army." But both his parents have grown to support his decision. In fact, they and Daniel's sister visit him as often as they can.

As for Daniel, joining the IDF was something he'd do again in a heartbeat. "As much as you have to give, you get back even more," he says. "I've seen things my friends in America will never see, some of it things I didn't want to see. But I can't even imagine my life without the army."

When his own IDF service wrapped up in July, Binyamin was planning a return to yeshiva, then to university in Israel. "Israel is my country," he says. "This is where I belong."

Daniel, meanwhile, has advice for youth who are considering service in the Israeli army. "Take your time; don't rush it," he tells them. "Then make your decision based on what's in your heart, what you really feel."

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