My Sar-El Experience during the Second Gulf War

Russ McAlmond
April 2003
The reasons I went to Israel with the Sar-El program are numerous but the most important reason was that our people need us at a very difficult time. We have all heard the question, “What did you do during the war, daddy?” Someday, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will ask what we, as Jews, did during this intifada to help our fellow Jews in Israel. I had sent money, raised funds for Israel, wrote Congressmen and women to help Israel, assisted our synagogue with security issues and still was not satisfied that I had done enough. I had never been to Israel and knew that a visit there would help put money into the economy but I wanted to do more than just visit.

Searching on the internet for more direct ways to help Israel I came across the VFI Pacific Northwest web site put together by Josef Herz. I read every letter written by VFI / Sar-El volunteers as you must be now. My reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Here was something I could do besides sending money that would directly help my fellow Jews in Israel and give me an opportunity to visit the land I had heard so much about. I contacted Josef and he helped me complete the paperwork in less than a month (including getting a new passport). Then the Iraq war broke out and there were questions whether or not I could get on a flight to Israel at that time. Fortunately, even though several other airlines cancelled their flights into Israel, my airline did not and I was on my way.

Security at the airport was extraordinary for the flight into Israel but after going through it you felt safe once you were on the plane. Arriving in Israel was indescribable but I will try anyway. We flew in over the beautiful blue-green waters of the Mediterranean coming in for a landing at Ben Gurion Airport. The land reminded me of flying into southern California with the palm trees and beautiful beaches near Tel Aviv. It was a bright sunny day in Israel in contrast to the rain and clouds we had left earlier in Newark, New Jersey and before that in Oregon. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, sunshine always has a very positive effect. Still, the overriding feeling when first arriving in Israel was one of disbelief. It was hard to believe I was actually there.

I was based at a medical supply base near Tel Aviv. The Israeli soldiers, male and female, were extremely friendly and helped us get oriented to life on an IDF base. We had separate living quarters on the base with air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, phone and other amenities. It was a bit primitive but life on a military base is never luxurious. My fellow volunteers had come from all over the world including the US and were wonderful people. I still keep in contact with them even now. All of us were motivated by a love of Israel and a burning desire to help in any way that we could.

The work was mundane but that was to be expected for volunteers coming directly from civilian life to a military base. Even though being a former US Marine, I was quite a bit older, could not speak Hebrew, and therefore could not do anything too complicated. Still, the work was important in getting medical supplies updated and packed to be sent around the country to IDF units. I even came across some medical supplies that were from Portland, Oregon. We were tired at the end of the day but it is that good ‘tired’ you get from working hard and feeling you are accomplishing something. On the weekday evenings we had educational lectures, time to call home, write letters, and catch up on the news about the war in Iraq.

Our supervisors and madrichot spoke excellent English and we had no trouble making arrangements for weekend trips and tours. Since I did not know anyone in Israel, I was concerned about what to do on the weekends. Let me eliminate that fear right now. Sar-El has a nice facility in Tel Aviv that was free where you can spend the weekend. My advice, nonetheless, is to bring some money for weekends and visit all of those places you’ve dreamed of. I spent both weekends in Jerusalem with a side trip to the Dead Sea that included climbing Masada. We also had several tours during the week provided by Sar-El, one to the incredible Diaspora Museum on the grounds of Tel Aviv University, another to the fascinating Armored Corps Museum between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Both were wonderful tours where we had IDF soldiers who gave us lectures about the facilities. We also had a walking tour of “old town” Tel Aviv which included visiting historical Jaffa. Although I did not go there to be a tourist, the weekend excursions were wonderful and the people were so happy to have you there, especially shop owners. There was a sign in one of the shop windows in Jerusalem that said in English “Big discounts for brave tourists.”

I was ready to come home after three weeks but I was also planning to go back again soon. The new friends I had made, the incredible sights I saw, the sense of accomplishment I had with the work I did there are just a few of the reasons to volunteer once again.
I strongly encourage you to volunteer for a Sar-El program whether you are Jewish or a friend of Israel. They desperately need your help and this is the most satisfying way that I have ever come across to assist Israel and Israelis at this difficult time. Israel will gain from your assistance but I sincerely believe you will get the most out of this unique experience.