Monday May 11, 2009
Posted by D.B.
Lately I've been getting an inordinate amount of emails from guys in America looking to join the army before, during, or after college. I suppose they search the net to see what it's like in the IDF, find my blog, and want to ask their questions. I can understand that. If I would have found a blog like mine two years ago, I think the author would've had to end up blocking my emails! I would've driven him crazy.
And so, I've been finding myself lately thinking of all the advice I'd like to give to anyone considering the army. Sometimes I think I should tell them to not worry about getting in shape before joining, since you're going to be forced to push yourself past your limits anyway. But to counter that, I then realize that running and pushups and the like might help relieve the stress and anxiety inherent in such an adventure.
Sunday Dec 14, 2008
Posted by A.J.
My last entry A Moral Army, generated many passionate responses, and I feel it necessary to add some context to the scene that I described at the checkpoint.
Wafa Biss, a resident of the Gaza town of Jabalya suffered severe burns in a cooking accident in her home in January of 2005. She received medical care at Soroka Hospital in the southern Israeli town of Be'ersheva. As an out-patient, Wafa was granted permission by the IDF to exit Gaza to complete her medical treatment. On June 21st of that year, Biss was arrested at the Erez Crossing leading out of Gaza with 10 kilograms of explosives in her possession. Her own words speak for themselves: "My dream was to be a martyr. I believe in death," she said. "Today I wanted to blow myself up in a hospital, maybe even in the one in which I was treated. But since lots of Arabs come to be treated there, I decided I would go to another, maybe the Tel Hashomer [Hospital], near Tel Aviv. I wanted to kill 20, 50 Jews. Yes, even babies."
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About this blog
Army Life
A.J. made aliyah with his family in 2003 at the age of 15. After two years of study at a pre-army yeshiva , he joined the IDF's Armored Corp in August 2008.
D.B. was born and raised in Virginia, USA, and graduated from The College of William & Mary in Virginia in '07 with a degree in Government (Political Science). In September of 2007, he made aliyah and is currently serving as a combat soldier in the Israeli Army, Golani infantry brigade. D.B. also blogs at Israeli By Day, American By Night
They write about day-to-day experiences as soldiers, and observations about life in the army.
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Recent Comments
JOYCE, MISSOURI: To #19
You are so correct. If it was my state being shot at we would absolutely defend ourself, that is if Obummer can make up his mind weather to SEND RELIEF TROOPS OR NOT,oH WHAT A SICK WORLD WE LIVE INGOD BLESS iSRAEL
Gideon, RSA: The bible says "Pray withut ceasing". I pray lots, all day, every time I get on a motorcycle I pray. Don't worry about the trappings of religion regard them as a niice to have not a need to have.
The work you are doing is a blessing, it is a prayer in action.
Thank you.
Yehoshua Dalin: General (ret.) Effie Eitam said (roughly) "there is something about war-In English there is a word for it, "glory". I believe that in the struggle of war, as in the struggle of life, there is glory if there is PURPOSE. There is pain and death and suffering in all areas of life, not just in war. But if you struggle for the sake of God, then there is a purpose to life, and war. Without God, there is no purpose to life, or war, and therefore no glory.
As to "Demonizing the enemy"- if you don't believe that you are in the right and the enemy is in the wrong, you lose your ability to fight.
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