IDF - Israel Defense Forces

The military in Israel is one of the best in the world.  And also one of the most tried and tested.  They’ve had many enemies, both in Biblical and modern times, but they also have had one advantage - the God of Israel.  You can read in the Bible the miraculous victories of Israel’s army.  You can read the internet, read history books, and watch interviews to learn of the miracles that have occurred for Israel’s armies in the modern era since becoming a state May 14, 1948 - including the war that began May 15, 1948. There is an excellent DVD series called "Against all Odds - Israel Survives".  God is faithful, and has protected His chosen people for His Name’s sake, keeping a remnant throughout history.

I (Linda) was recently invited to accompany our IDF project coordinator on a visit.  Originally we were going to visit a base near Gaza, but the IDF cancelled that visit, not wanting civilians on base at this time due to the recent barrage of mortars and rockets coming out of Gaza.  So, we traveled to a military base in the far North at the Israel - Lebanon border.  It was a first visit to this base, and we were delivering fleece jackets to the soldiers there.

In Israel, IDF enlistment is mandatory, not optional.  When young men and women graduate from high school, they are required to serve in the military.  1 - 3 years.  After their service is complete, if they don’t choose to make a career in the military, they are still to return each year for one month of training until age 45 (depending on the type of job they were serving, if training is needed).  Each individual is considered to be in the reserves in case of war.  It’s really amazing to think that most of the nation age 18-45 is prepared to fight if necessary.

The first type of “training” the new soldiers undergo is to tour many of the important landmarks in Israel - including the Old City & Western Wall in Jerusalem and Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum). Along with the tours are history lessons of the places visited and the wars fought to protect the nation. This is for these young men and women to see with their own eyes why and what they are defending.  

There are a few exceptions for enlistment.  One exception being the ultra-Orthodox Hassidic Jews, whom are exempt from mandatory service.  The IDF also receives Jews from all over the world who want to enlist to defend Israel.  These two situations create a need that our organization attempts to fill - they are called “Lone Soldiers”.  The IDF relies on the families of its soldiers to meet many of the needs outside of the basics.  The government funds received by soldiers are very minimal being only $75-$150 USD per month.  If a soldier from another country is in Israel away from his family, they would not have the immediate support that most soldiers have.  Also, if a soldier steps away from a Hassidic Jewish background, they are usually cut off from their family, for they believe it’s forbidden for them to serve in the military.  Other than the fleece jackets that we provide for the units at the bases, we also are able to assist the Lone Soldiers directly with their personal needs.  Many times they also need someone to talk to, to know that there is someone who cares about them.  Many of these soldiers visit our offices each week.

It is our desire to show our love and support of the Israel Defense Forces.  We encourage them that they are an extension of David’s army from the Bible, and we many times supply them with Tanach Bibles or the book of Psalms.  Our organization is well received by the IDF, they know exactly who we are, and who the help is coming from.  The project is currently growing very quickly.  We’ve had many requests and the doors have been flung wide open.  I personally believe it’s a sign of the times we are heading into, and we are receiving favor to assist and meet the needs of the people groups we are here to serve, including the IDF.

And we weren't done loading yet!

Just East of Jerusalem

We began our adventure to the North at 8:45 am, loading the van completely full of fleece jackets to provide extra warmth when needed to these young men and women serving on the front lines at the Northern border.  We traveled East out of Jerusalem towards the Dead Sea, then turned North at Jericho and drove through the Jordan Valley hugging the Jordan River.  It’s a most amazing and beautiful sight.  To our right, just on the other side of the river, was the Jordanian Mountains.  I’ve seen many magnificent mountains in America, but this was a different kind of beauty.  It was almost all desert - and although the mountains looked naked with no trees or greenery, they were quite majestic.

Click on picture to view larger :)

When we arrived just south of the Galilee area, it began to get greener.  Orchards of dated palms, fruit trees, and magnificent wildflowers.  We drove around the East side of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) then West towards Kfar Nakhum (Capernaum).  We continued to travel North past Korazim towards the border.  When we got close to where we thought our destination was, we realized we were headed straight toward an Arab village.  This didn’t seem to be right, so we tried going around the mountain a different way.  This took us way over by Mount Hermon!  It was a spectacular drive - up, up, up (and past Nimrod’s Castle), but when we finally called for more specific directions, we found we were actually correct to be driving toward the Arab village.  So we turned back around, and in no time, going down the mountain is always faster, :) we were again heading toward the village - and the Lebanon border!

Snow on Mount Hermon!

It makes sense really...the base is at the border, within 1/2 mile of the border.  But I can say it seemed a bit “adventurous” for us to be so close to one of Israel’s enemies.  Once we arrived on the base, we were greeted with big smiles and much gratitude.  After a few introductions, they gave us a tour including an above ground bunker type place.  We learned a lot about the specific strategic purposes of the base, and some of the challenges they face.  I wanted to take some pictures, but understandably, it was not allowed.

When asked if they felt nervous being so close to their enemy (we could literally see across the border into the city), we were told they didn’t feel “nervous”, they felt “ready”.  They also said there are only 2 stages in the IDF - “ready for war” and “war”.  Wow - there’s a lot said in that one phrase.

In the Old City - Jerusalem

We spent a little time with two of the soldiers.  One was an Israeli from a town outside of Jerusalem, and the other was from Canada.  It was his last day of service. He was going to spend a few weeks touring the nation he had just defended before heading back home.

Although we were invited to stay and eat lunch on base with the soldiers, we needed to head back.  It was already almost 2:30 pm at this point, and we needed to make it through the Jordan Valley before dark.  The Palestinians in the area have been known to place large rocks in the road to cause damage, and there are no street lights on highway 90.  So, after the men unloaded the large boxes of jackets, we said our good-byes and headed home.  With no time to stop and eat lunch, we got something to go at a restaurant and ate on the road.  It was a challenge trying to eat my sandwich and take pictures of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) all the while heading down a steep windy mountain! :)

You’ll be happy to know we made it back to Jerusalem just before sunset.  It was an amazing day - what an adventure.  I feel very blessed to a part of an organization that is impacting lives in such a practical way.  And the IDF is just one of the many projects that we serve.  We also help Holocaust survivors - visiting them in their homes because they are now elderly. We serve victims of terror - both whole communities (like those near Gaza) & individuals from specific attacks. We support new immigrants that have made Aliyah (Jews moving back to Israel), and we have a project especially for Ethiopians immigrants.  We also have a large project to encourage and support the poorest citizens in the communities that need assistance. We’ve even seen an increase of the Orthodox Jewish community who are willing to come to our offices to receive assistance, given with His love.  

Jim and I couldn’t feel more fulfilled in the work that God has called us here to do.  Daily we are touching lives with words of encouragement & comfort, smiles & hugs, and doing the “behind the scenes” administration necessary for it all to come together.  We are truly part of an amazing group of people who have laid down their lives, and left their home countries to serve God and the people of Israel.  A heart-felt thank you to those who support us so we can be on the front lines - for Jerusalem is truly the Epicenter of the world.  

 ”For he who touches you (Jerusalem) touches the apple of His eye” 

says the Lord of Hosts (the Lord of Heaven’s armies)

  Zechariah 2:8