Gadna:  Experiencing the IDF

by Sasha Pullman              11th grade         Southern California

After a day of Jewish History class and a meeting with Rabbi Rick Jacobs on the kibbutz, we left for a 2-hour bus ride south to Sde Boker. It was pouring rain the entire way, and I watched out the window as the landscape turned from grassy fields to dry deserts. When we pulled in to the army base, I was nowhere near sure what to expect. In the weeks prior, I was constantly being told to stay positive and smile, which was reason enough to be scared. We were immediately rushed to put our things down, grab our hats and water, and run over to the basketball court. I was told to stand in achshev, a position that now feels very natural due to constant repetition. It was done with our feet together in a V-shape, and our left foot must be touching our water bottle. Our hands also had to be behind our backs in a diamond. Every part was very crucial, as the resulting punishment for not being in the exact position was pushups.

The Semalet, or the Sergeant came to our lines and randomly assigned us to one mefakedet, or commander who was the leader of our team of fourteen girls. We went to our tents and I was struck by how serious everything already was. We got our clothes which were a pair of pants, a button-down shirt, and an army liner. What the tents looked like when they were rolled up during the day. It began to pour as we were getting ready and our tent filled with water. It was an interesting way to start the week. We got our mattresses and made our beds. The tent was extremely cramped, not exactly a place I wanted to be spending most of my time. We practiced getting into a chet, and standing in achshev. Anytime we finished a break or meal we had to be in this position at a certain time.

The first night was somewhat rough. Many people did not like the amount of rules we had to follow or the living situation. We were also in very close quarters and had no personal space. Nevertheless, we made it through the night. Me and my friends in our uniforms one morning. The next day we began to talk about weapons. It was difficult talking about guns in a military context. I think many of us previously viewed guns only as a source of violence, not protection, and it was evident that ideas about firearms are very different in the U.S. than in Israel. It was interesting talking to our Mefakedet and explaining to her that guns were a source of fear and mourning for a lot of us. The state of gun violence in America is one that I am sensitive to, and it was very hard for me to view guns outside of that context. When we went to the shooting range, I was surprised at how much the sound of gunshots had scared me even though it was in a safe and highly controlled environment. I think this experience brought out the issue of gun violence in America and compared the difference in culture very well. Many people expressed that it was difficult as well, and it was very interesting to see how people viewed the experience of shooting a gun when they are such as source of anxiety and polarization in America at the moment. I also came to the understanding, however, that they are a vital source of protection, and extremely important in protecting the land of Israel. This is what the shooting range looked like.  Everyone was lying down in the position we learned the day before.

I learned many things, though being somewhat uncomfortable. I learned to appreciate the comfort that I do have, and take advantage of experiences like this one, and embrace what is unfamiliar. I also came to the understanding of the importance of the IDF to many Israelis. The fact that many of them spend multiple years of their lives following orders and giving up some freedom and individuality in order to protect their country. It is very admirable, and I grew to appreciate the system much more through this experience.

We learned about the difference between a national army and a professional army and understood the pros of a national army. It heightens national identity and connects almost all citizens. It also highlights the importance of protecting the country and being active in the nation. This seemed to be very important since Israel is a small and somewhat new country surrounded by conflict and the national army helps to aid citizens in uniting themselves and creating a national feeling.

A big highlight of the experience was kitchen duty. A wonderful four hours of cleaning the dining hall and kitchen after lunch on Tuesday. It was most definitely a time of bonding and plentiful complaining. It was also, however, very satisfying to have cleaned up after every person who ate lunch that day, and I understood the importance of working together to complete tasks. Some of us putting dishes away after eating In the end, we had the chance to meet with our Mefakdot, and they were all full of so much joy and laughter, even though the entire week they had to remain serious and impersonal. By the end, I learned to embrace the uncomfortable, and appreciate the amount of comfort I possess regularly. I also was able to learn how to view uncomfortable experiences as privileges since I gained so much knowledge from this week. Most importantly, I learned to have a greater respect for the Israeli Defence Forces, and I admire the passion that many have to protect Eretz Yisrael.