 |
| From mefakedet (sergeant) to a twentysomething… |
arrived at base in uniform, then changed into civilian clothes and walked out
the front gate. Just like that. (Of course there were many offices she had to
visit and lots of paperwork involved…bureaucracy and the IDF are solid roommates!)
quivering, then she broke into tears. I try to understand but I am an olah, an
immigrant to Israel –and she is too. Yet I never served in the army. My daughter’s
army service helped to develop an intrinsic part of who she is today. Her service was
formative in attaching her to this country and in helping her to grow.
tears. I remember, just two years ago, looking at her army uniform arranged neatly
on her bed. I wrote a posting about her new life called Cut From One Cloth.
0
0
1
32
188
Amnic
1
1
219
14.0
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
sleep and to a rigorous schedule. These recent tears are about leaving this tight framework, of
working hard and knowing that each minute contributes to the greater good. Her
tears are all about the lifelong friendships she has made, the laughs, the
hardships and the deep bonds she has forged from being part of a something greater
than herself. These long, hard, meaningful days are over. And what is next?
say. I know she will eventually adjust to civilian life. The army helps
every soldier after they are released; they know it is hard to simply transfer
from being a proud soldier saluting in uniform, standing at attention, to that woman at
the grocery check out, leaning on a shopping cart, standing in line.
path they want to take next. They give them a Maanak Shichrur, money after they leave to help them get back on their feet. They give you a Pikadon, money they have seven years to use to study, buy an apartment or start a business.
expanse of time before her. When she was an army sergeant training soldiers,
her day was neatly arranged in 20-second intervals.
 |
| Getting back on her feet Israeli style…from army boots to Naots. |
and we must all steer a path, with ourselves at the rudder. She will do fine;
the army has taught her great life tools, the gifts of giving, leadership, discipline, wisdom and of reaching deep down when life get tough.
so proud of her.
0
0
1
356
2030
Amnic
16
4
2382
14.0
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Discover more from Life in Israel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Life in Israel 