RIFIDF

Michigan Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

The DIGNITY Program

Caring for the "Lone soldier"

In Israel, when someone asks how things are, the answer
typically given is: Yiyeh tov! ("It will be good!")

Each year. more than 3.000 lone soldiers" choose to
leave the comfort and safety of their homes and families to
journey to Israel and enlist in the IDF. They come from all
corners of the globe. speaking many different languages.
and representing a wide spectrum of social, economic,
political. and religious backgrounds. They are united by
their deep love of Israel — and their heart-felt determination
to help defend the Jewish national homeland.

But this cautious optimism has been severely strained by
the ongoing geopolitical and economic crisis that has come
to be known simply as the matzav ("condition"), which has
had a particularly devastating effect on increasing numbers
of combat soldiers serving in the IDF. Here are some of the
harsh facts:

• One out of every five new IDF recruits comes from a
disadvantaged socio-economic background and needs
financial support.

• Several thousand soldiers opt to stay on their bases
rather than go home on their days off simply because
there isn't enough food at home to feed them.

• 14,000 soldiers have been recently classified as "soldiers
in financial distress."

• Unit commanders and fellow soldiers often use their own
meager salaries to help their comrades-in-arms through
difficult times.

Through its DIGNITY program, the Friends of the IDF
provides millions of dollars annually in special grants for
soldiers-in-need and their families, as well as for food
allowances and holiday-gift vouchers. The DIGNITY program
has distributed critical aid that has enabled these deserving
young soldiers to remain at their posts, pay their bills, and
help keep their families afloat.

"Some of us are lucky," says Mattan, a paratroop
commander. "We have a home to go to, and a mom who is
waiting to feed us and do our laundry. But some in our unit
don't have that."

"The FIDF DIGNITY program is

a godsend!"

"For them, the Friends of the IDF is a godsend!... It really
does give them their dignity," he notes. "Now, a day off
doesn't mean killing yourself to earn a few more shekels.
And you can have a place to go to on that day off without
having to worry that there won't be anything on the table for
you to eat."

These soldiers not only have to be taught the basics of
military skills, but the Hebrew language. as well as a crash
course in the day-to-day culture of modern Israel — all this
without the support system of family and friends to help
them through a difficult transition. Only very special
individuals are capable of making such profound individual
sacrifices — and the FIDF keeps a particular eye out for the
needs of these unique volunteers,

One problem that often arises confronted Sarah, a lone"
soldier from South Africa. "Sarah had no family, no
apartment and, therefore, no regular place to go to on the
weekends she was oft" recalled Naomi, her platoon
commander, "The Friends of the IDE found her a place to
stay. It helped he it helped me as her commander. and it
helped our unit — because, now that she no longer had to
worry about where she was going to sleep on the weekends,
she was able to focus on vhat she needed to do."

Whether it's making sure that they have places to stay on
their days oft that they are remembered on the holidays. or
that they can keep in touch with their loved ones abroad, the
FIDE provides physical — and emotional -- support that
reinforces the lone soldiers' convictions that Israel is where
they truly belong.