This is a continuation of my previous post about the IDF. I studied abroad at Tel Aviv University from January until May of 2010. I stayed in Israel for two more months after TAU, visiting family. I wanted to do something beneficial for Israel so I decided to volunteer with sar-el. This is a 3-week program where non-Israelis, ages 17 and older, can volunteer in the IDF. Sar-el means service for Israel. A description from the IDF page about sar-el states: "Volunteers will work alongside or under the direction of soldiers and perform duties such as packing food rations or medical kits, cleaning tanks, painting helmets, radio repairs, gas mask refurbishment, changing spare parts, gardening, or cleaning." This experience was probably the best thing I did in the 6 months I spent in Israel. Tel Aviv was great, but it is like any Westernized metropolitan city and I was looking to experience a more real aspect of Israeli life. I was on a base in the North which was historically Druze and Bedouin. Until the mid-80s non-Jewish minorities tended to serve in the cleverly named "minorities unit" which was known as Unit 300, the base I was on. We would sleep and eat our meals there, but during the work day we would go to a nearby outpost.
While we were not doing secretive IDF work, we were helping do menial tasks. We were required to wear uniforms, uphold base rules, and work in the kitchen - like all IDF soldiers. In the evenings we had educational group sessions about the different units in the army, Israeli pop-culture, roles of the IDF, current events, etc. At the outpost we had various duties: removing the old camouflage, filling and arranging sandbags, and the most enjoyable of all weeding. We were able to experience things such as going inside a tank, shooting an M16, having a party with miluim (reservist soldiers), and attend Druze Day (a day honoring Druze soldiers - speeches from President Shimon Peres and former Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi included.) We also went on a trip to Rosh Hanikra (grottoes on the Mediterranean) and had a pool day at a nearby kibbutz. 
To the left is my group which consisted of: 2 IDF soldiers as our group leaders (1 Israeli, and 1 British who made Aliyah); Jewish Americans, Canadians, French, Swedes, British; 2 non-Jews that wanted to support Israel: 1 from England and 1 from Germany; and 2 IDF soldiers from the base we were located at. On this trip I made some great friends from abroad, which I am still in contact with. Also, I became really close with a few soldiers from the base, who also keep in contact with. This program allowed me to create permanent bonds with Israelis and Israel supporters from all over the world. It was a bit of work, a lot of fun, and allowed us to support Israel in a very meaningful way. It increases soldier morale to see people volunteering to do what they are required to do.
I will share with you a funny little anecdote. One of the IDF soldiers from the base we were staying on was wondering around as I watched him. He was clearly gay, which is not a problem to me, but was simply bewildering. I turned to another soldier and asked "Is it okay that he is walking around openly gay?" She replied, "Of course! Why wouldn't it be?" At this point, it was June 2010 before the American "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed. So of course, based on our laws I said, "In our military, people aren't allowed to be openly gay." Her reply was, "Really? But it's America!" It was astonishing to me that people think the U.S. is the freest country, yet someone's sexual orientation was not free in our military. I learned that since the 90s, Israelis serving in the IDF are allowed to be open with their sexuality. Israel is only one of 24 nations that allow this. I am really proud that, now, our military has the same policy!
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