Why I went to Israel

Sandy Sutain
October 31, 2002
Van and I decided that we had to visit Israel this fall to show our support for the Jewish State and to demonstrate that terrorists cannot succeed in keeping Israel isolated and tourist free.

Our friends Sherry and Jerry Speal were volunteering for two weeks on an army base. We decided that we too would volunteer, but the first program we could register for was a three week one. I loved the work. My job was to prepare medical field kits for doctors and medics in case of war. I worked with four people. My boss was an army brat from Hawaii that recently went on Aliya. She was efficient, dedicated, and easy going. My co-workers, a Canadian Jew from Toronto, A retired Sea Captain from Norway, and a South African woman contemplating conversion. There were 52 volunteers on our base. Many were Christian and very dedicated to helping the Israelis at this most troubled time. American Jews were in a definite minority. Why? I have pondered that question over and over. And I still do not understand why American Jews are not flocking to Israel.

Was I frightened? People kept telling us before we left that they were amazed that we were leaving for Israel. “How can you go; you have a family, responsibilities. Why endanger yourself like that? For what?” By the time I walked on the plane, I thought I was going to my death. However, a strange thing happened. Once I arrived in Israel, I wasn’t frightened. Everyone is working, going about his business, sitting out in the cafes, talking, arguing, laughing. This is Israel, a dynamic, thrilling nation. Every day a busdriver starts his route in beleaguered Jerusalem, he is a Jewish hero. Every time a mother puts her child on a school bus and goes to work, she is a Jewish hero. And the beautiful young men and women that comprise the Israeli army, proudly wearing their uniforms and willingly going into the West Bank to keep Israel safe from constant homicide bombings, each one of them is a Jewish hero. These youngsters are on the front line of this war on terrorism, fighting Islamic radicals that hate Jews, the West and modernity. And for five weeks with very little effort or courage on my part, I felt proud to be part of a Jewish front against terrorist madness. When my friends Gail and Howie Weber went to Israel this past Passover with their two daughters, they were asked how they could risk their whole family’s life. “Is our family more valuable than our Israeli friend’s family? They have to live with this situation every day. How can we not go and show our solidarity and proclaim that the destiny of the Jewish people is one". What happens to our brothers in Jerusalem will quickly happen to us even here in the Untied States. Perhaps that is the essential message of September 11th. Against theocratic fascism there is no hiding . Go to Israel. Right now is the perfect time not just because Israel needs your tourist dollars, nor because Israelis need to know they are not fighting this madness alone, but because every Jew must unequivacally proclaim by his presence that he too is a Maccabbi, that he too is a Chalutz, that he too has a ‘pintele’ Zionist in him. The Jewish people have always embraced life and growth and goodness and courage. I told my son Nathaniel that this decade is reminiscent of the 30’s and that Jews were once more being singled out as pariahs on the world’s stage. “No, Mom,” He replied. “There is one important difference. This time we have guns. We are armed. No one is going to attack us with impunity.” Imagine that after every terrorist act, ten thousand Jews would fly into Israel. Imagine. What then would be the message to the terrorists? Keep attacking and we will grow stronger. Keep attacking and Israel will prosper more. Keep attacking and we will flood the Holy Land with more and more Jews.

But I digress. I wanted to tell you what a fabulous time I had on Sar-El, the Israeli Army’s volunteer program. Not only did we work five days a week and feel productive, but we also went on fabulous tours and heard guest lecturers and met people from all over and learned so much. I read HaAretz and the Jerusalem Post weekly and pondered the different Israeli views from the far Left to the far Right. I appreciated the dynamic democracy that Israel is, surrounded by hostile and reactionary regimes.

We also traveled from Metulla, the northern most city in Israel, to the Negev when our three weeks with Sar El were over. We rode the buses In Jerusalem for a week, we rode the buses to Beersheva and Tel Aviv. We did not have one bad experience. Granted we were lucky, but Israel is working daily to keep its citizens safe.

I would like to end with a brief anecdote. One of the best adventures of the trip was a tour of a special area on Tel HaShomer, the base to which we were assigned . All twelfth grade students are invited to this area to find out about different army programs they can sign up for upon graduation from high school. We were escorted by a young religious soldier who told us of his experiences in Jenin a month before. He constantly reminded us that Israel’s army was a professional one and that always they must act responsibly and coolly and respect civilian life as much as possible. One army unit had an area set up to resemble an Arab village. Two young men were going to demonstrate how they run through an area, one protecting the other. One soldier told the other to take off his designer eyeglasses so that they would not be broken in the demonstration. His friend was very reluctant to part with his shades, but finally he turned to one of us and gave him the sunglasses. “Be careful,” he said in his limited English, “five hundred Shekels.” I looked at that boy not much younger than my sons, and I saw a kid who wants to look great, go out to clubs and party and have fun. And this young man must risk his life for the next few years, no, maybe for the rest of his days to keep Israel safe and free. And to think for three weeks, I was working with him and his people. Lucky me.

Do find out about Sar El and come for one or two or three weeks or even longer. The Norwegian captain was there for three months to help Israel. On the base you will feel very safe, and on weekends and trips you will be busy exploring and learning and having fun. Kol Yisroel aravim zeh la zeh.

May 2003 be a year of peace and blessing to all of the house of Israel and to lovers of peace everywhere.

A Team working on packing medical kits