On my last trip to the United States, I met a young man who told me that he wanted to serve in the Israeli army. I told him to go to hell.
Not in such blunt terms, of course. But my response caught the guy by surprise.
After all, I’m the author of a memoir about my service in the Israeli military. Don’t I think it’s the duty of all young Jews to serve in the Israeli military?
No, not when the young Jews in question aren’t Israeli and have no intention of making their lives in the Jewish state.
You see, the young man told me that he was certain he wanted to live his life in the United States, but he felt compelled to “do his duty” to the Jewish state by serving in its army. He’d do a year of service and then come home, satisfied that he’d done his share.
I meet guys like this all the time. They’re generally intelligent, motivated and fierce patriots of Israel — a country where they don’t reside.
Unfortunately, the Israeli army and programmers of Zionist education for young people cater to them through programs like Machal, a framework in which young Jews from other countries serve in the military, and Sarel, a program that offers an opportunity to do a short stint in uniform in a support position.
To my mind, these popular and much-lauded programs give the wrong message to young Jews in the Diaspora — namely, that the essence of Zionism is military service. If you’ve done the army, they seem to be saying, you’ve done your part and you can go home.
Nothing could be more foreign to Zionism’s historical heritage. From Hibat Zion through Herzl to Ben-Gurion, the goal has always been Jewish settlement in Israel. It became apparent early on that a Jewish army would be necessary to protect Jewish settlement and achieve and protect Jewish sovereignty, but that army was always an instrument, not a goal in and of itself.
So young Jews who want to do their part for Israel should make a good faith effort to make lives for themselves in the Jewish state. If it works out, and if their age and physical condition qualify them for service, then they should by all means serve in the army. If they serve, they should be proud — but they should always keep in mind that an army is a necessary evil, not an ideal. It’s living here, holding down a job, raising a family and participating in political and cultural life that are the essence of Israel patriotism.
I’m not an aliyah fanatic. I realize that it’s not right for everyone, and that many people try to make the move but don’t succeed. But military service should only be a product of aliyah, not a surrogate for it.
Israel should shut down Machal and Sarel. Young people who want to do something for the country should be directed to the community services and NGOs that are desperate for volunteers. A month or a year teaching Ethiopian immigrants, organizing children’s activities in a battered women’s shelter, doing office work for an environmental organization, or painting bomb shelters in the Galilee or Sderot is of far greater value — and much more Zionist — than the equivalent time spent in uniform.
That’s what I told the young man: Israel has more than enough soldiers. What we’re lacking are committed and active citizens.
Haim Watzman is the author of “Company C: An American’s Life as a Citizen-Soldier in Israel” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2005) and “A Crack in the Earth: A Journey Up Israel’s Rift Valley” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux).
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What if the short army service leads them to aliyah ? I would rather they participate in the programs in Israel then spend their time thinking about Israel from afar. Jacob Richman Ma'aleh Adumim, Israel (made aliyah from New York in 1984)
What about this other article in the Forward saying that there will be a shortage of soldiers in the future? I think any help is good. "Rapid Rise of Israel’s Orthodox Schools Sparks Fear of Army, Work Force Shortage"
What the author seems to not understand is that in the Diaspora there is tie to Israel as a representation of ones Jewishness, not of nationality. Hence whether an individual is considering alyah or not is not an issue. Participating in the army and supporting Israel is viewed as protecting/supporting our existence as Jews.
I'm sorry, I can't accept that military service, which is about using deadly weapons and killing people, is simply another "hasbarah" activity, or something people might choose to do as an expression of their Jewish identity. The goals of hasbarah and of fostering Jewish identity are much better achieved by other means--for example, through the Birthright programs that SandersNY so oddly implies I oppose. What's at issue is what message we want to give to young Jews. What does Israel need from them? Not time in uniform, I argue, but a commitment to being a part of this society and working to improve it. As for Mendy's concern about the army's claim of a manpower shortage, please see Stuart A. Cohen's "The False 'Crisis' in Military Recruitment: An IDF Red Herring," http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/docs/perspectives33.pdf.
I wouldn't use Herzl as a model of living in Israel. I served as a shlav betnick in 1972 - 1973. I'm proud of my service and would encourage those who want to serve in Machal/Sarel to do so. It is laudible that these young people was to put on a uniform. Working for an NGO? Pass the Latte.
Children of the Israeli elite, such as diplomats who grow up abroad, are expected to serve in the army. After they do that, they are free to do anything and everything they want, including continuing their lives outside of Israel. Watzman is entirely incorrect: to the secular Israeli patriot, serving in the Israeli military is the essence of both their Judaism and their patriotism to the state. Military service in the secular Israeli culture is the ultimate expression of their Judaism.
For Big Bill - The term "crimes against the Jewish people" refers only to the Holocaust (the Eichmann trial in 1961, for example). Moreover, Big Bill claims that that one cannot "be a member of two nations". Many people throughout the world have dual citizenships. There is nothing unusual about it. I've met people who have triple citizenships! In any case, there is nothing wrong with an American Jew's wishing to serve in the IDF. It's quite natural for a Jew to feel that Israel's problems are his problems, and that he'd like to shoulder some of the responsibility.
Ben Levi is correct. A tatse can lead to eternity and the most pressing need is not only in the IDF but support for our homeland in any degree. The end should be Aliyah but even serving one's people is admirable enough a thing to not be dismissed out of hand. I pray more brothers come home, even for 3 years.
Gee - why don't we terminate the Birthright Program too, since most of the American kids who come on those whirlwind tours won't make aliyah. And we might as well tell American Jews to channel their support of various projects in Israel to other causes elsewhere, since most American Jews prefer the cushy life of the Diaspora. The Machal program, if nothing else, is a great hasbarah program that brings unity among Jews. No one who does a year in that program will remain as they were before coming. That alone is worth it.
Would that they saw America as their country to defend, Americans as their nation to protect, and the American Armed Forces as their proper place. But, alas, one cannot serve two countries nor be a member of two nations. As the Law of Israel holds, it is a crime against the Jewish people to fight for any other nation than Israel. Would that America has the same law for its own citizens. It is best for both our nations that they make aliyah, as the author recommends. Staying in America to live off gentiles does neither their own nation nor the American nation any justice, and merely confuses them regarding their proper duties and loyalties.
Mr Watzman, the birthright program isn't the type of project that someone would be opposed to. Why shouldn't youngsters get a chance to visit Israel, especially since the bill is being paid for by philanthropists? Yet, you claim: "What does Israel need from them [from young Diaspora Jews]? Not time in uniform... but a commitment to being a part of this society and working to improve it". Well, ten days of touring Israel certainly isn't a commitment, nor is it being a part of our society. But it surely is better than not coming at all to Israel. The real issue is that so few Jews spend any time in Israel at all. Whenever I meet Jewish tourists here, they always tell about their friends and relatives who were opposed to their choice of destinations! Perhaps, as in your view, a Jewish volunteer to Israel could choose a civilian project. However, I'm really not too worried about those Jews who choose to spend their time here whether as a student, or as a volunteer or whatever. The real concern is for those Jews for whom Israel is not a destination at all - or if the trip weren't for free, they would never have come to see the country for themselves. What percentage of Forward's readers have been to London, but never to Jerusalem? In short, you've caught me by surprise by your choice of "battles".
For those young people eager to serve in the Israeli army, I hope they are seen as supporters of Israel's massive human rights violations. While few get to be actual war criminals, such active support for the IDF and it's policies (occupation, targeted assassination, home destruction, siege, humiliating an entire people)should merit some condemnation. I've served in the army, and left Israel. Someone headed the other way, knowing what we know, is contemptible. While good manners would prevent me from saying so in person, I'd avoid such an individual. (I served, refused, and got out of the army during the first Intifada)
I agree with Haim Watzman that living in Israel is the ideal, not serving in the army. However, there is another consideration that comes to mind when he suggests that motivated Diaspora youth should volunteer for work in the community services. Volunteers coming to Israel might think that they are coming to help Israel; however, it's not the entire story. People want to spend their time in Israel - not simply out of a sense of duty - but because they are in NEED of spending their time in Israel. Someone might wish to do a school year at the Hebrew University; someone else might want to work with Ethiopian immigrants - and someone else might wish to lessen the military burdens of others by taking his turn at the guard post. It's not only about Israel - it's about the youngster in search of meaningful content as a Jew. Time spent in Israel is a Jewish experience, and participation in her society is participation in the making of Jewish history. It's a society that presents Jewishness as a core identity, and its revived Hebrew culture is no less than a miracle of Biblical proportions. We should be concerned (and worried) about the millions of Jews who have never spent any time in Israel, and not with those who come to experience life in a Jewish society.
Gee, I wonder what was the destination of Refusenik when he left Israel. Let me guess - he went to the USA. There, of course, a nation was founded over a whole continent under circumstances that wouldn't raise any kind of criticism from his point of view.
How are you in any way comparing sar el and machal? Machal is an active duty tour in the military itself, mainly the infantry (Nachal) and you are comparing Sar-el which is a program to help volunteer FOR the army, not IN the army. You package supplies and stuff, nothing like the duty served through machal. Get your facts straight. In thisa time of need for israel, when military service is down 40% among the youths in Israel, why not get the help you can? I am one who is going to be volunteering, most likely through machal. I love the country and there is nthing better than being there. Do i feel comeplled to do my duty? of course. Am i going to live there? most likely but im not 100% sure.
This reply comes long after the article but posts following mine really need to be adressed. Specifically, the last one by the author, and then the last one by Ben Levi. To suggest that Jews should go to Israel to only fufill YOUR ideas is arrogant bar none. What an obnoxious attitude, not to mention ridiculous. Who will be defending all these social workers and studying men? It takes security and security takes man power. The Diaspora has always been important, almost from our very beginning and to suggest that a Diaspora Jew has no place defending other Jews is just ridiculous. Nothing could be more nobel. The author tells us in his last post that serving in the army means one must use weapons, etc. He does not find that particularly important, rather he sees peaceful pursuits as more fitting endeavours for visitors to Israel. Sorry, but you need to get in touch with reality. Israel is a tiny, tiny nation surrounded by people who not only wish to destroy it, but like HAMAS wish to exterminate every Jew on Earth. Social workers will stop this? If one finds THAT to be their calling, they can serve in NACHAL and opt for the 5-th and actually use 1/3rd of their Active Dury engaging in social work, and 2/3rds defending the rights of other Jews to also engage in it. Rights take defending, defending takes people, and when we have 20% of our Jews in Israel shirking their military service we can use all Disapora Jews who wish to serve. It is beyond honourable, to defend Jews and Jewish Culture is above all other acts EXCEPT saving Jewish lives...and serving certainly ALSO serves that need.
This man is ludacris and should not be allowed to write or even be called a jew. There are so few WILLING young men and women in Israel that actually WANT to serve in the Military that they need as many foreign volunteers as they can get. IF you have actually met any of the soldiers in Israel many of them say they would not serve and instead go directly to college or travel abroad. There are the exceptions where men and women willingly join combat units and serve with pride. Having personally volunteerd with Sar-El and working as a security consultant now with DHS I have trained with and consulted on many of Israels bases and with many elite units, I have met willing and proud soldiers from both Israel and other countries like america canada and australia, Israel greatly benefits and appreciates foreign volunteers. Without them many of the conlicts Israel has been a part of and come out of victoriously would not have been possible with volunteers from other nations. I am disgraced to read an article but such a thoughtless calling himself a jew and a soldier he is a disgrace to all his fellow soldiers and jews worldwide. his last words "committed and active citizens" is ironic since he disregards volunteers and can't admit they are as committed if not more than israels own people. Israel is a great nation and wonderful country and people like Watzman just bring it down and degrade its people. Haim Watzman you are a disgrace to your country and people.
I appreciate the layout of your argument and how you lay out your position on ‘lone soldiers’ in Israel. I however disagree with the conclusion that serving in ‘volunteer army’ service for Israel “perverts the essential nature of Zionism.” Jews in America often find the best way of supporting the state of Israel is through financial donations. Are you to say that if these ‘American donations’ go towards the IDF and not to kibbutzim than it is not Zionist? Zionism is not a one dimensional expression. The state of Israel exists because it is able to excel in many facets, not just the science, not just agriculture, and not just the military. If an able bodied 21 year old living in Atlanta, Ga feels a connection to the land of Israel and is willing to give two years of his life to the IDF and do it for FREE than that is his/her way of contributing. Many of us ended up in America by chance, and have cousins in Israel by circumstances beyond anybody’s control. If I chose to fight for the cause of defending the people I love in Israel and the country I so often visit than I will do so. Your conclusion is completely ungrounded is disconnected from the substance of your argument.