12/28/06 "The IDF gave me so much; I want to give something back" By Rony Shapiro
Source: IDF - Official Website
Of the 21 thousand Jews who immigrated to Israel this year alone, one sticks out in particular. He is already a fluent Hebrew speaker, and has already explored the fields of Israel and has become familiar with Israel's geography. This new immigrant is Staff Sergeant Eliyahu Juslit, who has been serving in Kfir Brigade's Nahal Haredi Battalion for almost two years. Eliyahu officially made Aliyah today, and finally feels what it is like to be a true Israeli soldier in the Israel Defense Forces.
Justfield landed in Israel today along with 230 other Jews from the United States, Canada and England. Eliyahu, or Eli as his friends from his unit call him, initially immigrated to Israel with a group of foreign volunteers intending to join the IDF for a time period of a year and two months. "I finished my required year and two months, and I was not ready to be released," he says. "I felt uncomfortable with the fact that I only serve for that time and my friends from my unit serve for three years. I am no different than them. I felt that just because I was born in the United States I should not have the privilege of serving less time." Tens of thousands of Jewish youths from around the world immigrated to Israel this year in order to do volunteer work, most of them volunteered for service in the IDF.
"I truly learned Hebrew in Paramedic's Course," Eli recalls. "I was sent to the course hardly speaking Hebrew. It was very hard, but I had an officer, Ran Israeli, who sat with me every night until two AM and went over the material with me word by word. He made sure that I pass the course and that I learn Hebrew. I remember I was guarding at the gate of the base and Ran came and taught me Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel. I had been in the army for five months and never knew Hatikvah, and he taught me in two hours." Despite Eli's hardships with the language at first, he finished Paramedic's Course with exceptional marks.
Eli was joined by 16 young men and women on his flight who are due to enlist into the IDF in upcoming months. Most of them are expected to serve in combat units. "Without the IDF and the people here in Israel I would not be here today," he explains. His family still lives in Chicago, but the excelling paramedic is doing anything he can to try to convince them to immigrate to Israel. "I feel it is a privilege to come here, to live in our country. Hopefully, my family will also make Aliyah."
Justfield is supposed to undergo Infantry Corps Officer's Course soon, and intends to build a military career in the IDF, in standing army service. "The IDF gave me so much; I want to give something back. I would like to continue as an officer in the Nahal Haredi Battalion." As Eli looks on the reception hall at Ben Gurion airport and sees the raised flag of Israeli, he lets out a sigh of pride and satisfaction and announces: "it has been difficult, but it's truly worth it all."
