{"id":52284,"date":"2015-11-12T14:08:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T19:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=52284"},"modified":"2015-11-12T18:04:09","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T23:04:09","slug":"yachad-israel-brings-joy-and-pizza-to-army-bases-across-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/yachad-israel-brings-joy-and-pizza-to-army-bases-across-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Yachad Israel Brings Joy (and Pizza) to Army Bases Across Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Yachad
Yachad Israel and Magshimmim Chalom pose for a picture while making pizza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On November 10, members of an Israeli army base came face-to-face with people they were protecting in Israel. And their grateful visitors even brought them pizza.<\/p>\n

The visit was organized and planned by Yachad Israel, the Israeli arm of Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. Yachad is an agency of the Orthodox Union. Twenty members of Yachad Israel\u2014 individuals with special needs\u2014 met at Haim\u2019s Pizza in Rishon L\u2019Tzion to bake pizza for IDF soldiers stationed at the Palmachim army base. The pizzas and the transportation were sponsored by donors to Yachad\u2019s Pizza4Soldiers program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone in our greater community appreciated and loves the IDF, but showing support isn\u2019t always the easiest thing to do,\u201d said Eli Hagler, associate director of Yachad. \u201cOur Pizza4Soldiers campaign allowed Yachad to give hundreds of people across the world the opportunity to say thank you to soldiers through our program.\u00a0Creating the pizzas in an inclusive manner and delivering the fresh pies to an army base will help boost moral amongst the soldiers.\u00a0This will continue to keep their moral high knowing that there are Jews all across the globe who love them, appreciate them and support them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yachad Israel also partnered with Magshimmim Chalom, Realizing Our Dream, an IDF program that integrates individuals with special needs into the Israeli army.<\/p>\n

Lisa Galinsky, Program Director of Yachad Israel, explained that the partnership was a natural fit.<\/p>\n

\"A
A group photo of Yachad Israel members, Magshimmim Chalom and IDF soldiers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe always wanted to do something together with the IDF so we decided this Pizza idea might just work,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Her intuition was proven right as soon as groups arrived at the pizza store. Jewish music began blasting on the stereo and both Yachad Israel and Magshimmim Chalom members began dancing with each other. If it weren\u2019t for the IDF uniforms, it would have been difficult to tell the participants apart.<\/p>\n

Many of the participants of Yachad Israel are native English speakers. Their families either made aliyah or they grew up in English-speaking homes. However most speak Hebrew fluently and sang along with the music.<\/p>\n

Though Yachad Israel is relatively new, the program has had an outsized effect on participants.<\/p>\n

Meir Malak was born in New York, but made aliyah at the age of eight, 17 years ago. He has been participating in Yachad Israel activities for the last three years and works providing food for people in need.<\/p>\n

“I like coming to Yachad Israel activities,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if I have a flight to New York that day I would come and leave early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meir also is part of Yachad Israel\u2019s RBC (Relationship Building Course), a social skills development programs which meets once a week<\/p>\n

“The soldiers will be glad,\u201d he predicted.<\/p>\n

Once the pizzas were made, participants gathered on a bus provided by Yachad Israel and headed towards the Palmachim army base. As the bus got closer to the base, we could already see the excitement. As we departed from the bus, soldiers began asking questions and talking to the group\u2014and most importantly, given the relatively limited cuisine at army bases, if there would be food.<\/p>\n

Yachad Israel and Magshimmim Chalom gave out the pizzas they had made to the soldiers along with personal notes submitted by the pizza\u2019s donors.\u00a0 As the stereo played again, the soldiers danced with the participants.<\/p>\n

The Israeli soldiers were delighted with the food, but even more so with the company.<\/p>\n

Omer, one of the soldiers serving on the base, explained that he and his unit had just recently arrived on the base.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing to a new place and seeing people who come all the way here just to do this thing for us makes us all very happy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Yuval, another soldier at the base, added. “It’s beautiful,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are supposed to be the ones giving to our nation, and here our nation is doing all this for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The evening ended with group picture, featuring Yachad Israel, Magshimmim Chalom and the soldiers of the base. As the photographer was getting ready to push the button, one of the soldiers, who was sitting with his friends away from the group, suddenly ran across the yard, guitar in hand. Everyone waited for him to join the group picture because in Yachad, everyone belongs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe outpouring of support for the IDF was incredible to see,\u201d said Yoel Sterman, director of Yachad Israel. \u201cWhen we began this campaign we didn\u2019t know what to expect. Thanks to all of our supporters, we will bring more than 500 pizzas to a number of army bases over the coming months.\u00a0As a former IDF soldier, I know firsthand how important and meaningful something like this is to the soldiers.\u00a0Yachad loves Israel, its soldier and the IDF.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the photographer snapped the picture, the participants yelled out \u201cWe love the IDF\u201d and it seems that the IDF love them all back, very much.<\/p>\n

To donate a pizza to an Israeli soldier, click here<\/a>.\u00a0\u200bTo see the full album of photos from the event, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On November 10, members of an Israeli army base came face-to-face with people they were protecting in Israel. And their grateful visitors even brought them pizza. The visit was organized and planned by Yachad Israel, the Israeli arm of Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. Yachad is an agency of the Orthodox Union. 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