Just the other day I went to a networking event on a rooftop lounge known as Sky Bar in Pittsburgh. I felt antsy though prepared. It seemed as if everyone knew each other. Each person had a colored coded name tag for his/her industry and it seemed as if everyone was deep in chat. Who [...]
I'm an innocent nineteen year old American who decided to leave my hometown of New York City to serve in the Israel Defense Forces mainly to get away from Mom's irrational fear and worries. Everything I've in fact, learned about the Arab speaking world in Israel has been heavily influenced by the media in relation [...]
It's one thing to go through a difficult or challenging life experience. It's another thing to figure out the best way to write the lessons of that difficult period of myself, a mere 18-19 year old, complete basic training in the IDF, one of the most famous armies in the world. Simply put, along the [...]
One of the hardest things I had to deal with while serving in the Israel Defense Forces was learning to keep the faith and staying upbeat in touch times. I hardly spent enough time in Israel as a kid to feel a comfortable connection with the country, and serving in the military albeit by accident, [...]
"I want you to show me what type of power they exercised over you when you were younger. I really want to experience your life early on. What I would also like to experience is the emotional pull of your writing; I want to be transported into your emotional life more. I believe that your [...]
Chapter 10 of my memoir, Accidental Soldier: What My Service in the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me About Faith, Courage and Love and I'm faced with a daunting task of writing about a bullying scene which is key to solving my problem with a specific garin member, who happens to be British and a new immigrant. [...]
The difference in size between the US and Israel is what makes the culture in Israel so accessible. When I first had my taste of watching IDF soldiers hitchhike and entertained the possibility of volunteering for the service, what comforted me greatly, was how well these soldiers were integrated and that is attributed mainly to [...]
Doritos? Like what the fuck? How did he know to call me that name? He’s a Brit. They don’t have Doritos over there. Or do they? I want to tell him to go to hell. To shut the fuck up. I’ve been traumatized by the name “Doritos” all my public school life and right now, [...]
Each day when I go to write at our local library or our neighborhood coffee shop to write my memoir, Silence: What the Israel Defense Forces Taught Me about Faith, Empowerment and Courage, I'm already filled up with nervous anticipation: will I make progress with this scene? Can I get into the right mood and [...]
Note from author: A "garin" is a term used to describe a group of young people (either immigrants or native born Israelis) who do the army together - from start to finish - usually in the Nahal unit/division of the army. Historically, Nahal included such pioneers as Golda Meir and Yitzchak Rabin who were attracted [...]
Once I'm outside Ben Gurion airport and without my immigrant card, I try to remember what I'm supposed to do. Luckily, I have kept the letters my Dad and stepmother telling me about the brave decision I did to leave Mom and New York City. These letters are kept super close in my side pants pockets and for [...]
I had no idea how much 28 kilometers would really mean until we were about halfway through. Part of our march would lead us through the backway of houses and orchards and more apple fields. It was the first time I had the opportunity to size up the camp. We would pass by the same [...]
The day of our twenty eight kilometer march was scorching hot. Our “special” meal for the day consisted of the same old – eggs, cottage cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, bread, and hot tea – similar to kibbutz food. I ate an extra helping of each for extra energy. We loaded up our gear for the trek [...]
“Smol, smol, smol, yamin, smol!” Left, left, left, right, left!” Groups of girls march in uniform past our tents, to the dining room and from every which way. As we waited for our commanding officers to arrive to our platoon for our morning gathering, I listened to the shouts at this base called “Machaney Shmonim” [...]