Those who work here don’t just have dust clinging to their sweaty skin. They don’t just feel the sun’s daily burn—they also discover how closeness forms and a new perspective on Israel emerges.
The air is dry, the dormitory still dim in the half-light. At 5:45 a.m., the first alarm buzzes. A 68-year-old Canadian electrician slowly rises, slips into his beige SAR-EL uniform, grabs his water bottle, and steps into the dawning morning. Nearby, someone murmurs a prayer in French; two beds over, a group of young American women giggle quietly about last night’s game evening. The hallway already smells of strong instant coffee. In twenty minutes, it’s roll call. This isn’t a tourist trip but a structured, temporary mission: three weeks immersed in army life, weaponless but with responsibility. This article takes us into the daily rhythm of this unique commitment.
Arrival and initial orientation
A SAR-EL deployment typically begins at Ben Gurion Airport, where volunteers are greeted by Madrichot—young IDF women who serve as their...
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