Posted on 08/05/2003 6:03:21 AM PDT by Alouette
The Judean sun beats down, pounding our backs. Sweat covers us, burning our eyes, causing the dirt to stick to us. We are soldiers of Israel. Or at least training to be. It is what G-d wants. I have trouble distinguishing between the blisters and bug bites on my hand. My arms ache and my muscles shiver from over-work. I don't think I can do anymore push-ups. Every so often, HaShem expresses his compassion by sending a cool gentle breeze to refresh us. I close my eyes and smile as I savour G-d's gift. Not only the gift of the breeze, but the gift of allowing me the merit to serve as a fighter in the Jewish army of the reborn State of Israel.
How we have yearned for so long. I try to keep reminding myself of this as my training grows more intense. My knowledge of the Hebrew language is poor, and I often become frustrated. I feel stupid and it saps my strength; drains my motivation to be here. I have to struggle. To remind myself of the greatness of this mitzvah - to take responsibility with the future of my nation. To have an intimate relationship with HaShem as I participate in bringing the Redemption of the world. I imagine what the great Torah luminaries of history would have sacrificed to be here in my place - to wear the uniform of an Israeli soldier. I am fulfilling the dreams of and longings of two thousand years.
Night falls and it is time for a run. Finally a chance to feel self-worth. No feeling like an idiot. No talking in broken Hebrew. Just pushing my body to its limits as I request for G-d to strengthen me. My sergeant leads us. The run is hard, but I feed off of it. I remind myself that pain is merely weakness leaving the body. G-d strengthens me and I excel. Others try to submit, but I offer them encouragement to continue and pull them along. We train for war in the breathtaking hills that the Maccabees lived and fought in. Our souls transcend history.
The sergeant stops. So do we. He begins to speak to us in a commanding voice. I feel great admiration and love for him. He is training our hands for war - turning us into weapons. He is making me a more efficient servant of HaShem. Bringing me closer to G-d. I don't understand what he is saying, only a word here and there. So I imagine what he is saying. What I would say if I were in his position. And I inspire myself with my own imagination of his words. We continue our run and I feel empowered.
We return to camp in time for dinner and to pray. And then we prepare our things to go home in the morning for Shabbat. I live alone. My family still resides in the Kingdom of the Cross. Like hostages of Eisav, in a land not their own. I hope they come soon. I try to use Shabbat to rest and replenish my emunah.
And then, on Sunday morning, I must return to the base. I don't feel as if I have had enough time off. I am running late to meet my unit in Jerusalem. I hail a taxi. The driver is suprised at the combination of my uniform and the lack of Hebrew skills. He listens to a Torah tape as we drive. We are truly a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation. The national expression of G-d reborn in our Land, to bring light to the world.
We arrive at the spot. So many soldiers. Finally I find my unit. Only last week, they looked like a motley groups of boys thrown together by fate, now they appear as serious fighters. All strong and tanned, in their olive-green uniforms. On their heads, kippot of various colours and sizes. On their backs are strapped M-16 rifles. And on their belts, each have a pair of magazines. Some have thick beards and peyot flowing from their ears to their shoulders. I look at my uniform and realize that these are the holiest clothes a person can wear. I bathed in the mikvah this morning; my soul shines bright through the uniform, and I feel ready for another week in the army of G-d.
May Messiah have compassion on him and give him faith.
Our president has said this quotation "I would rather stand in front of the cannon of the wicked, than the prayers of the righteous". May this young soldier be given the cannon of prayer and faith in fullest measure.
I assume that this was written by a female soldier. It doesn't appear consistent from the title.
I assume this means that this soldier was not born, nor raised in Israel? I have always found it odd that of the six Jewish friends that I have who I know have served, only two served in the US Armed Forces, one Army, one Marine. The other four went to serve in Israel.
Women use mikvah only if they are married and only after they have concluded their menstrual cycle.
Furthermore, it is a very common practice for religious Jewish men (especially the haredim) to immerse in mikvah every morning before prayer. If there is no ritual bath available, they can immerse in a river, spring or even the ocean.
BTW even though the construction of mikvah is identical for men and women, men are not allowed to use women's mikvaot. First reason, for modesty. Second reason, women's mikvaot are meticulously maintained and they don't like it fouled by dirty men ;)
I'm trying to figure out what country he is referring to. My guess is that he is from the U.K.
I have always found it odd that of the six Jewish friends that I have who I know have served, only two served in the US Armed Forces, one Army, one Marine.
My dad is a U.S. Navy vet, served in the Pacific during World War II. My cousin also served in the U.S. Navy, three uncles served in the U.S. Army and one of them was killed in the Pacific when a Japanese kamikaze crashed into his troopship.
BTW I too served, as did my dad, both grand fathers, 3 of 4 great grand fathers, and too many cousins, and uncles to count. In one Houston cemetery I place 11 flags on Veterans Day, half a dozen in another, all for family vets.
The descriptions this soldier writes would serve as excellent ideas for a good PR campaign the IDF could run in the Israeli media to FURTHER raise the moral of the troops.
It is the duty of humanity to obey G-d. Amidst all the peans to "democracy" and attacks on "reactionary islamic theocracy" I am afraid this--the only answer--is being buried deeper and deeper.
Wild Thing
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