Some 100 Jewish youngsters from around the world have made aliyah to enlist in the IDF voluntarily as Israel wages a war against the Hamas terrorist organization.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
In a month they will put on their uniforms, but not before completing a preparatory course by the Defense Ministry's Defense and Society Department, which takes place at an integration center in Karmiel, northern Israel, where tensions with the Hezbollah terror group are heightened.
Video: IDF soldiers sing Hatikvah on the coast of Gaza / Credit: Usage under Israeli intellectual property law, Article 27a
During the four-week program, the young men and women will prepare physically and mentally for their service as well as study Hebrew and get to know Israeli society.
"About 100 Jewish youngsters from the Diaspora chose to leave their families, friends, and work to come to Israel and volunteer for the IDF," Udi Dror, head of recruitment at the Defense and Society Department, said. "They do this at a time of war to take part in the defense of Israel. This is not taken for granted and it is exciting. We support them upon their arrival in Israel and will continue to do so throughout their entire military service ".
One such youngster to enlist is eighteen-year-old Esther Brown from Mexico.
"The first thing I love in Israel is the people: they are warm, and even if they scream at you – it's with love," she told Israel Hayom. "I love the views, the food, and especially the way everyone makes you feel like you're not alone. I'm really happy to be here."
Esther knew from a young age that she wanted to move to Israel.
"I always wanted to help Israel, and certainly in this period and in the current situation. I arrived in Israel in July, and when the war broke out in October, I had the option to fly back to Mexico and not join the program. I thought about it a lot, my parents wanted me to return at first, but I decided to stay despite the difficulty. And now? The pride that they feel is much greater than the worry.
"On Oct. 7, I was really afraid, and even now there is fear, but my priority is to make Israel a better place, to contribute. Many people sacrificed their lives so that I could live here safely, and I want to contribute to others as well. As part of the preparatory course, we met a bereaved mother who lost her son. It was very emotional and the story spoke to me."
Esther doesn't yet know which unit she wants to enlist in.
"I want to serve in a combat unit, and if possible – join the canine unit (Oketz) or the Search And Rescue Brigade. Another option is military service in the foreign relations unit because I feel that I can really help in public diplomacy."
Nine-teen-year-old Soleil Tibi from Paris will don his uniform next month.
When asked which unit he most wants to join, he immediately answers "Golani." So far in Operation Swords of Iron, the Golani unit has lost most fighters but has also reached the most impressive achievements.
Soleil has three siblings and most of his family members still live in Paris. He developed his passion to join the IDF while studying in Israel.
"Ever since I was little, I knew I would come to Israel, but I didn't think it would happen at the age of 17, and my parents didn't really like the idea either. In France, I met friends who told me about Israel, the school, and the army. As a result, I decided to come to Israel to study at a school in Holon. There I met friends who had to enlist in the IDF and older friends who already had – and their stories excited me to enlist. Although I am not obligated to enlist, I decided that I wanted to, and to join a combat unit. I really want to get into Golani."
Soleil was on a brief trip to France when the war broke out and returned immediately to Israel to fulfill his dream.
"I talked to my friends who had already enlisted and went out to fight, and this only strengthened my desire to join the IDF, defend the country, and live here in Israel. My family was very worried and told me that it is dangerous these days in Israel, but they understood that this was my wish and supported me. Moreover, it is difficult in Paris at this time as well due to the antisemitism, and this is felt on a daily level."
"The war only increased my motivation to enlist in the IDF," said twenty-year-old Abraham Matt, originally from New Jersey.
Born and raised in the US, Abraha moved to Israel about two years ago, during which he studied in a yeshiva. "I want to enlist in the Sayeret Matkal and intend to reach as high and strong as possible," he said.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
When asked what motivated his decision to enlist, Abraham said, "Last year we visited Masada. The tour guide told us the story of the place, that it was the last place of refuge for the Jews [in the Great Revolt] and that they had nowhere to run. At that point, I realized that in order for that to never happen again, I had to volunteer and contribute. Israel is the country of Jews from all over the world – from the United States, France, and Russia. It is our home.
"I heard about the events of Oct. 7 when I was in the US on a visit. I got the pictures on my phone, and it was a real tragedy. At first, I did not believe that such a thing could happen. But after seeing and understanding, my motivation to enlist increased. I feel that fighting is really a sacred mission, that the people of Israel should be united and defeat Hamas."
With regard to life in Israel, Abraham said, "When I'm here I like to meet new people. Here it's not like in the US. In Israel, people help you, you feel the warmth and community. Here in the program, there are people who came from all over the world, and despite that – we have a common language."
