AUGUST 1 • 2024 | 27
Many diaspora Jews feel
deep connection to the
Jewish homeland. Some, like
Linder, find their bonds to
Judaism strengthened and
energized once they witness
firsthand Israel’s resilience,
spirit and survival instincts.
In his case, helping Israel
to wage war is resonant of
his ancestors’ flight from
eastern Europe, those who
managed to prosper in the
U.S. — and those who were
murdered in the Holocaust.
“The work we did isn’t
fighting,” he said. “But it
does allow soldiers to fight
who might otherwise have
to perform the tasks that we
did.”
Linder’s activism perpet-
uates a theme exemplified
by his parents and grand-
parents, getting directly
involved to help those in
need. In 2022, he and a
friend raised $300,000 to
purchase ambulances, with
help from a Romanian
Zionist organization, to
assist Ukrainian medical
facilities.
“We were told that our
ambulances definitely will
save lives,” he said. “Again
and again, I’m reminded
that individuals can do
amazing things.”
Sar-El got its start in 1982,
during Israel’s invasion of
southern Lebanon. The late
Aharon Davidi, a decorated
paratroop officer, recruited
a group of 650 American
pro-Zionist volunteers
to fill in for soldiers who
were fighting and therefore
couldn’t tend to crops or
perform work duties. The
following spring, Sar-El was
formed, a nonprofit; the
name is a Hebrew acronym
that stands for “Service for
Israel.”
Since its early days, more
than 240,000 volunteers from
30 countries have come to
work alongside IDF soldiers
and commanders, providing
logistical support, about
40,000 since Oct. 7. Along
with goal of strengthening
Jewish identity, the organiza-
tion states as one of its goals
offering “a realistic view of
life in Israel and encourage
the possibilities for aliyah
among Jewish participants.”
Linder said he hopes to
return to Israel. Then he
showed me a picture of an
Israeli tank crew that he
and a Jewish friend and IDF
veteran from Romania have
“adopted” with the purchase
of bulletproof vests.
Find more information at
www.sar-el.org.
Linder’s base Natan Sar-El group at flag raising
Linder and his friend
Louis Post sit on the
many duffels with
uniforms and
sleeping bags packed
for troops.
Steve Linder and the
base’s executive officer