Alef: The NEXT Conversation

New Country, Old Home

By Benjamin Bakhshi

I used to read Israeli news at least three times a day, waiting for bad news to happen. When the Second Lebanon war broke out I found myself glued to the couch, watching the war on a buffet of television networks. This process repeated for Operation “Cast Lead” in Gaza. I found most of my attention focused on Israel, I could not stop thinking that half the Jews in the world were busy fighting wars and building a new country while I was at home managing a store at my mall, and doing some real estate on the side. I was a speaker at a small press conference in San Francisco where I shared my family’s experience leaving Iran and told the world of explicit desire to rid the Where was my justification to stay and watch the next war from my couch when I could physically be in Israel and influence Israel’s success, along with my Israeli peers?

Garin Tzabar helped me do just that. They organize groups of 20-30 people in cities throughout the world who are interested in joining the IDF. I joined them in March 2009 as a late entrant. The informational and bonding meetings continued until May, at which point participants waited until August to move to a kibbutz with their new friends, or like me, move to Israel earlier in order to learn more Hebrew.

I lived on friends couches in Tel Aviv for a while before I settled into my own apartment. Me and two guys from my program enrolled at Ulpan Gordon in Tel Aviv (I highly recommend this Ulpan to anyone at any level of Hebrew) where I spent the summer studying Hebrew, and partying. Israel has some of the best clubs in the world, in case you didn’t know, and as an American learning Hebrew the best way to practice a new language is by approaching a cute Israeli girl and saying, “Shalom, ani oleh hadash mCalifornia, ma shlomeh?” – Hello, I’m a new immigrant from California. How’re you?

In August I moved into Kibbutz Ein Hashofet with the rest of my new friends from America. We continued learning about the army and all the various places we could end up serving. I learned that I could serve in the Air Force, and began asking hundreds of questions about the opportunity. I was given a lot answers, and learned things I never would have had I been alone, relying solely on my own research on the Internet.

We did physical training to prepare for the shock of basic Army training. We took part in political and moral debates about war and peace. And of course, we studied Hebrew to be sure we could understand our officer’s commands.

I decided to leave the kibbutz in October and move back to Tel Aviv with a friend from my Garin. We found a roommate and are now settled not four blocks from the Mediterranean Sea. There is no replacement to living in Tel Aviv. It is a mix of a big city, suburban family life, and Cancun, all in one. I signed up with a gym across the street. I visited long-lost relatives throughout the country for Shabbat, BBQs, and trips to the Kineret. I worked as a busboy for some easy money and the chance to learn some more Hebrew. All the while I was at Ulpan Gordon, learning Hebrew and making friends from all over the world.

In December I enlisted into the Air Force, in the Anti-Aircraft division. I had four months of basic training, which included lots of discipline, physical training, shooting, and classroom time to learn our new jobs. The army provides lone soldiers, those who have no immediate family in the country, with extra benefits such as: double salary, extra days off, 30 days a year to visit family outside of Israel, and about 1000 shekels a month for rent.

I must say, as a 24 year old Californian with a degree in economics who volunteered for the army, I get a lot of special attetion from my fellow soldiers and commanders. I have heard numerous soldiers tell me that they felt ther job became more meaningful knowning that I gave up so much to join the army, while they are forced to enlist. I didn’t join expecting special treatment, but it does come well accepted when on the other side of the world my parents are wishing to see me everyday.

My parents and I maintain communication and have a good relationship with each other. They did not agree with my decision to leave home for Israel, but they supported me every step of the way. I give them credit for making me who I am today and not a day goes by without me thinking about them and trying to make them proud. They visited me one time so far, I will be visiting them soon I hope, and we will maintain a game of ping pong of visitations for a long time to come. In the meantime, live video chat via Skype and Facebook help them keep tabs on my life.

I haven’t regretted a single moment of my army service or my time as a new citizen in Israel. On the contrary I am happy to be here, happy that I have learned a new language, met new friends and family, and am able to directly impact and improve Israel and it’s defense forces by my actions, and not through third or fourth hand donations or taxes. And if, God forbid, there is another war, I won’t be sitting at home watching TV, I will be on base actively guarding Israeli lives and moving forward the Zionist dream through the 21st century.

Read more posts from Issue 12: Aliyah – Going Home.

Photos by Karen Horton, licensed under Creative Commons

Tags: aliyah, home, Israel

Posted by Rafi, Friday, April 23rd, 2010, 10:40 am, Going Home.