It is Wednesday afternoon and we are at the tekes siyum (graduation ceremony) of our
son Ariel’s 32 soldiers. This exciting
moment marks the end of their six months’ basic training. Proud parents,
grandparents, siblings and cousins come out. Some hold up large signs,
others wear matching T-shirts printed with their soldier’s picture on them.
Everyone brings coolers stuffed with food and perches with cameras and videos ready to
capture the big moment.
missiles at IDF jeeps on the northern border. We knew there were casualties. We
knew there could be a war.
comprising 113, entered the army as young kids. Now they stand as a cohesive,
professional group of motivated soldiers. Six months ago, they were all
strangers. Now they have formed close bonds that will last a lifetime.
be drafted, a war in Gaza was raging.
Rockets were slamming into Israel by the dozens. Code Red sirens blared
in Ashkelon, Beersheva and Ashdod. It was very unsettling. Despite wars, the
drafts continue.
there was also a war in Gaza. Hundreds of rockets were pounding southern Israel
and the inhabitants were fleeing their homes. On the day Ariel was drafted, the
Palestinians shot an anti-tank missile at an IDF jeep.
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June 2014, it was a time to celebrate and a time to be tense. Soldiers were
combing the Hevron area to find the three teens who had been abducted and we stood together and prayed for them.
felt pride for my son. Yet I was experiencing deep sadness for the missing boys
and found I could not even bring myself to write about Ariel’s huge
achievement. Ariel came home that evening
with a respectable new title, a bar on his lapel and a huge new responsibility.
three mefakdim (sergeants) who report to him , they molded them into a
cohesive, responsible, enthusiastic group.
the tekes siyum of our son Ariel’s 32 soldiers. This time, I am not watching
the soldiers; I am looking at my son the officer standing in front of his group.
a little intimidating. He has worked hard over the past six months and feels he
had done a good job.
and still cannot speak much Hebrew, I cannot fathom what army life is
like. I have no idea what my son does
everyday and my only tangible connection to the IDF seems to be washing his
khaki uniforms when he comes home.
and standing in front of his soldiers like a serious leader. As I watch him saluting allegiance during HaTikvah, along with other officers and high-ranking
soldiers, I feel his dedication and loyalty
to protecting Israel.
is for a young person to make such a huge commitment. (As an officer, he must
serve an additional year and four months to the prescribed three years of
army service.)
the blue and white flag being raised and buffeting in the sea breeze. We all sing
HaTikvah, the Israeli national anthem. The soldiers receive their pins and some
are rewarded for excellence.
soldiers lift their berets and they spiral into the sky. The green berets fly up with a communal
joyous cry, and come crashing down with a thud. Training is over and now there is a serious job to
be done.
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