The Begining.

I apologise in advance for incorrect spelling, grammar and punctuation. This post will be a bit about my first 91 days in Israel, its been a very busy 91days and I am sure I have left out some of the more interesting and fun times. 

So I should start with my first trip to Israel.

March 2011.

My father and I decided to go to Israel together after our conversion, both being great supporters of Israel and the IDF we also decided that for our trip we would participate on the Sar-el program.(Sar-el Website) A program where foreign volunteers can work on army bases for short periods of time.

"Scruff bag and I"

We arrived the afternoon before Purim and were driven to a base near Tel-aviv called מצרפ “Matzrap” located within תל השומר “Tel Hashomer” (the logistical HQ for the IDF) “Matzrap” is solely responsible for distribution of medical supplies, The base sends out medical supplies and equipment to bases all over the country including hospitals and storage facilities. While on base we were tasked with preparing equipment to be sent to Japan as part of Israel’s aid to Japan during the recent tsunami. It was tough work but I met some really amazing people during this time.

At fourteen I was diagnosed with Diabetes and had to give up on my dreams of serving in the military, well I tried too! During my time at Matzrap I noticed there was a soldier on base who had Down syndrome. For me it was a complete shock to see a person with down syndrome working in the army. After asking a few questions I found out that it is both a duty and a right to serve within the IDF, Which meant that if you’re exempt from service due to medical reasons you could still request to call upon your right to serve, and this is where my IDF adventure starts.

On returning to the UK I decided that I will return to Israel and take my right to serve. This was by no means an easy decision. At the time I was engaged and starting my own business. In order for me to go I would have to give up so much, some would feel too much and to be honest there have been times when I would agree. I began my Aliyah process with the Jewish Agency and had the chance to join a group on July 25^th. I took the chance, and in doing this hurt people I didn't want to hurt, it also meant having to leave my boy behind.

"My boy"

July 25^th I flew out to Tel-aviv with 30 עולים חדשים “olim chadashim” from the UK. After arriving we were taken to משרד לקליטת עלייה, Ministry of immigration and absorption where we were given a taste of what to expect, a lot of Hebrew paperwork which I'm sure says "Sign to say you have read and understood" (oops!) after this we traveled to Jerusalem and spent the night in the Ramada Hotel, I say night but in reality it was 5 hours. 

The Jewish Agency had set up a day for olim chadashim to set up all the services they would require. Mobiles, bank accounts and health insurance being the main objectives. What this means is 250 French, 30 English, 18 South Africans and 1 Australian (ha!) running around being asked to sign a ton of papers that make no sense!… I did meet some good people during the chaos though!  While blazing a path through my objectives I learnt a very important lesson, Jews rip Jews off, and not speaking Hebrew just makes it easier for them! (I spent the first four days in Israel attempting to fix the problems which started in the first 24 hours) Later during the day I received my תעודת זהות (Israeli I.D.) at הכותל (the Kotel)

The first step of my plan in drafting was to return to Sar-el and start the process while working with in Tel Hashomer. When I returned to Matzrap I met two Americans who were also joining, Mike and Zack. They're really good guys who decided like me to join the IDF, Although they were joining the IDF through the program מחייל "Machal". This is a program where foreign volunteers can join the military but are not required to take Israeli Citizenship. Machal goes back to the war of independence. For those from Southend District Reform Synagogue that know Sydney Graham, Sydney was apart of Machal during his service in Israel.

During my first four weeks in Israel I had completed my initial interview and my “Tzav Rishon” the interview consisted of questions to find out why I had come to Israel and why I thought I should join straight away and not wait a year as other olim chadashim do, and some basic working history for my self and my family. The Tzav Rishon is a soldier’s first call. This is where you are asked hundreds of questions during a second interview,  I remember having to explain my working and educational history by month all the way back to when I started school in South Africa aged 7! You're poked prodded and drained of bodily fluids, asked to wait for uncertain periods of time and then given a psychometric test on a computer.

After I completed this I realised that the drafting process would take much longer than expected and although I really enjoyed working for Sar-el I needed to work on my Hebrew. 

I made a few calls and found an Ulpan on Kibbutz Mishmar Ha-Sharon. The idea is simple, you work one day and learn the next. So for the time being I'm on Kibbutz until February, theres a range of different work but mainly I work in the fish ponds catching fish.

Although the Kibbutz wasn't part of my plan, I think its been the best part of my adventure so far. Apart from improving my Hebrew, I have met some really good people, and have had some really good times with them.

My next step in the adventure is to be given my medical exemption from service, originally this was going to be on the 5/12/2011 but one of the soldiers in the draft office who works with olim chadashim was able to change it to the 30/10/2011. I will go to Tel Hashomer and be told I am exempt from service and officially be given my "Profile 21" after this I start the volunteer process.

People have asked me to keep them updated on what I do in Israel, So I'm going to try update every now and then, but for now hopefully this suffices.

Much love,

Yallah!

PS: I have left out a lot of stories of crazy but good times with the people I have met, but I know for sure there will be more!