Mentors: The Center has created a network of former lone soldiers to advise and support those entering the IDF – to personally offer support on a one-to-one basis at every step of their enlistment and active duty.
Additionally, there is a group of post-army mentors composed of both former lone soldiers and concerned Israelis willing to devote their time to mentor new immigrants finishing their service. Through this program, we are in touch with various places of employment, where former lone soldiers or other passionate Israelis reach out to the Center, and connect them with their first job in Israel.
Apartments: With little free time during their service to search the web for available apartments, and difficulties understanding Hebrew sites where housing options are listed, we drafted a team of volunteers to aid soldiers by searching the web, calling landlords to inquire about available apartments, and keeping up-to-date lists of soldiers looking for places to live, and those needing another roommate to fill their flat, in order to match between them.
Shabbat Meals: Thanks to the generosity of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, we are able to invite 200 lone soldiers every month to a catered Shabbat meal in their social hall. Hundreds of Israeli families have volunteered and begun receiving lone soldiers into their homes on Shabbats and holidays.
Culture and Language: To maintain the level of motivation needed to succeed in the IDF, an appreciation and understanding for Israeli history, society must be developed. This knowledge allows lone soldiers to integrate and interact with their peers by strengthening identity as Israelis before and during their army service. Following discharge, social events that push lone soldiers to improve and expand upon their Hebrew vocabulary we see as crucial to success in academic and professional life in Israel
Trips: Thursdays and Fridays most Israeli soldiers return home from the army, drop their laundry bag by the front door, grab the sandwiches Mom has prepared, and then head out to a beach or spring to relax and drink coffee after a hard 14-21 days in the army. Until now, lone soldiers never had such a luxury…Once a month throughout 2009, and our goal is every Friday by the end of 2010, we arrange a trip to the outdoors to relax, sit around and barbeque, and give lone soldiers a chance to enjoy the country they work so hard to defend.
Events:
Party at Mike’s Place with Telalivit.com! – Febuary 13, 2010
Pre-Draft Seminars – Febuary 4, 2010
Team Building Day, Lone Soldiers of Kf’ir Infantry Battalion – December 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Dinner – Thursday November 26th
Read the write-up in the Jerusalem Post: Far from Home, But not from a juicy slice of turkey
Over 120 lone soldiers joined the IDF at induction bases around the country.
The Center sent two teams of volunteers to give them final pep talks and explanations about what awaits them in their first weeks of service at the Mikveh Alon Base. They were joined at the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem drafting sites, where volunteers were on hand to offer tips and support, having gone through the same doors and boarded the same buses in the not so distant past…
Thank you to Katie, Igor, Shmully, Tziki, Sarah and Emma for spending their days at the induction sites. They wished the lone soldiers of November 2009 good luck, told them about the Center’s services, and gave them advice on what they are about to go through in the coming weeks. Wish them luck! We’ll see them on Shabbat, and back in civilian clothes in 2012!
Seminar for Lone Soldiers drafting in Nov. and Dec. – Wednesday Oct. 14th
Current and former lone soldiers, IDF officers, and representatives from the Absorption Ministry were available to explain the induction process, how the army is structured, and the rights lone soldiers are entitled to during the course of their service. Questions were asked and answered in Hebrew, English, Spanish, Russian, and French.
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Passover at Tziki’s House
