On February 18, a group of volunteers and staff from Minneapolis Jewish Federation embarked on a week-long volunteer and solidarity mission to Israel. Aaron Goldstein, a community member and one of the volunteers, recapped the first day. Read his account below.

Our group had the honor of hosting a barbecue for about 40 soldiers, which consisted of a group of reservists operating a tank column in Gaza based at Nir Am, a kibbutz located on the Israeli border with Gaza. When the war started, there was such an overwhelming response from this group because everyone wanted to serve, and there was a limited capacity of tanks available. In the weeks following the October 7th attacks, the army identified about 90 older, non-functioning tanks and took their parts to build 9 working tanks for this crew. Some of these tanks are 30+ years old, but they are still participating in missions regularly into Gaza supporting the infantry with artillery fire.

Their base is the community room of the kibbutz, where just a few people have returned home and the majority are living alongside over 200,000 displaced persons within Israel until it is safe for them to return. There were soldiers in their young 20s as well as a driver in his 50s, who heeded the call to fight even though he hadn’t been in a tank since the 1990s! These are regular people who left their kids, spouses, jobs, and studies behind to show up for their country.

One soldier, a physics student, showed me the study materials he keeps in his jacket pocket to try and stay fresh when he can. Another soldier shared how he feels like he is two people at once. On the base, he’s a 20-year-old kid again, but when he gets home the switch flips and he has to immediately step into the role of husband and father of two young kids. As a parent, I can relate. It’s hard when we miss one family meal or are gone for a weekend. Four and a half months of disruption would be inconceivable for any of us.

I asked one soldier, “What do you think comes next? How will you know when the war in Gaza is over?” His response couldn’t have been more Israeli. “I have my own opinions, but when I am here on the base in uniform, I just do what I am told; that’s not for me to decide.”

From numerous interactions with soldiers these past few days, they are all so humble, and while they appreciate the generous gestures we all want to do for them, it’s hard to accept our gifts. They often insist that we give it to another soldier. It’s the TikTok concept of doubling it and passing it to the next soldier.

While the meal itself was delicious and we appreciated the opportunity to see the tanks up close, the message we wanted to leave with the soldiers is how much all of us back home are thinking about them, praying for their safety, and thanking them for all they are doing. We want them to know they are not alone in this fight. In our community, we each have our battles back home and are doing our part in this war. We will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of Israel!

עם ישראל חי חי

Visit Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s website to learn more and donate to the Israel Emergency Fund.

Tikvatenu: Day One