Davidi, Rosaline and Me

Marking the “Yoms” these past two weeks made me nostalgic about August 1984, when I spent three memorable weeks at Machane Bilu near Rechovot, proudly wearing Israeli army fatigues. My friends, Paula and Alice, joined me for a stint with Sar-El -Volunteers for Israel, strongly encouraged by Paula’s mom who was an integral part of the organization. The program offered a discounted plane ticket and combined manual labor with a built-in Israeli public relations twist; we worked with and befriended the soldiers on the base and were taken on a couple of daytrips around the country.

Our group of Americans, ages 18-70+ worked in the heat, stenciling signs on the sides of trucks, peeling potatoes, packing provisions and parachutes and cleaning the facilities. We spent evenings schmoozing and singing with the soldiers, rode the bus into town after work to taste melawach and jachnun. At the ending ceremony we were awarded certificates signed by our base commander and by Sar-El chairman, (Ret.) Brig. General Davidi for our volunteer work. We had made new Israeli and American friends and felt honored to have done our little bit to help our beloved Israel.

This adventure created two shidduchs. During my Sar-El service, I befriended Jay Bernstein from Ft. Lee, N.J., introduced him to my first cousin and they are married with three kids. Jay served on Sar-El several times including during the Gulf War. He is currently recording secretary and advising counsel to the organization. Jay recommended I go on Chevra Le’Haganat Ha’Teva’s Massada and Ein Gedi hike where I met my bashert. Another exciting experience was when Paula and I happened upon a talk by Rabbi Meir Kahana in Jerusalem. We were wearing our uniforms and were reprimanded by other onlookers for attending a political rally as “soldiers.” We were chastened, but charmed at being mistaken for real Israeli soldiers.

Sar-El began in 1982 as a result of material loss sustained during Operation Peace for Galilee. When most able-bodied soldiers were recruited to serve, the ripe crops were left behind rotting in the fields. A creative solution arose--bring in American volunteers to help out in the fields and other tasks, freeing up the soldiers for more critical business. Dr. Aharon Davidi, former head of the I.D.F. Paratroopers and Infantry Corps, then directing the Golan Heights community, organized the successful initial recruitment of 650 American women and men.

Davidi founded and led Sar-El for 27 years. Volunteers now hail from 30 countries--led by the U.S. and France. Each year about 5,000 come to serve from one to three weeks on different IDF bases. They work mainly in logistics, maintenance, supplies and medicine, allowing the army to turn its soldiers to missions on the main frontlines and help alleviate the IDF’s manpower shortage. Volunteers reconnect to their Jewish identity and Zionist ideals. Under the leadership of Davidi, Sar-El has recruited over 125,000 IDF volunteers, 6% of whom made Aliyah. The program is stronger than ever today; the IDF has instituted a special program for Israelis living overseas to complete their army service through Sar-El.

Rosaline Millman, o”b”m, my friend Paula’s mom, was a true American patriot. She was born in Brooklyn and served as a WAC--Women’s Army Corp--during WWII at age 21, joining against her family’s wishes. After retiring from her career at NYC’s Board of Education she volunteered on one of the first Sar-El missions and was hooked. Rosaline, an ardent Zionist, was Sar-El’s treasurer and ran the New York office with president Florence Cohen. They promoted the program, recruited thousands of volunteers over 17 years, coordinating registration and travel arrangements and working closely with Davidi to plan assignments in Israel.

Born in Israel in 1927, Davidi was the youngest son of an immigrant family from Bessarabia. At 15 he served in the Haganah and Palmach. In the War of Independence he fought with the Negev Brigade, where he met his wife, Chassida. Davidi volunteered for the IDF paratroopers and was an officer in Ariel Sharon’s Unit 101. He was decorated with the Medal of Courage for actions in the Gaza Strip. In the Sinai Campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander Davidi played a decisive role in the Mitla Pass battle. He became the first commander of the IDF Paratrooper and Infantry Corps. During the Six Day War, Davidi helped capture Sharm-el-Sheik and led his paratroopers to the Suez Canal.

In 1970, after retiring from active military service, he earned his Doctorate at the University of London. Dr. Davidi taught geography at Tel Aviv University, then became the Director of Community and Cultural Activities of the Golan and Jordan Valley in 1977. Davidi was awarded the annual Moskowitz Prize for Zionism in 2010 and received the President’s Award for his dedication to Sar-El. Aharon Davidi, a true Israeli hero, died February 11, 2012 and is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I dedicate this to General Davidi and to Rosaline Millman, a”h, whose birthday was April 15. She was an amazing, knowledgeable, opinionated lady who advised me, enriched my vocabulary and exemplified love of Israel. Her beloved Sar-El continues to be a worthwhile program for Americans and Israel, but I hope, one day soon, it will no longer be needed.

For more information go to www.sar-el.org or www.vfi-usa.org

Miriam Bradman Abrahams is Cuban born, Brooklyn bred and lives in Woodmere. She organizes author events for Hadassah, reviews books for Jewish Book World and is very slowly writing her father’s immigration story. She is teaching yoga at Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio. mabraha1@optonline.net