The Observer, April 25, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 26
Case senior leaving to serve in Israeli military this summer
Ask senior economics and finance major Nadav Weinberg about his summer plans, and he'll tell you something you may not expect. Born in Jerusalem, Weingberg has chosen to return to his native country in order to reconnect with his father's family. Though he is not required to join the Israeli Defense Force, because his parents are American, it is something he expects of himself.
"I decided that, no matter what, I would live in Israel again and make Aliyah [the act of becoming an Israeli citizen] to build relations with my father's family," he said. "Learning Hebrew would be a priority if I wanted to accomplish both of theseAbove all, I decided that when I look back on my life in 50 years, I do not want to regret any chances I did not take or obligations I did not fulfill.
"Knowing that my father served in Lebanon and that each and every one of my aunts, uncles, and cousins has served in the IDF, I realized that it is now my time. It upsets me that since I am lucky enough to be born to American parents, I am not required to serve while my cousins who share my blood are fighting for my country. These patriotic roots drove me to enter service in the IDF this coming November."
Preparaing for service began over a year ago, the process starting with enrollment in the program Garin Tzabar. Garin Tzabar is a program of the Friends of Israel Scouts movement, designed to get Americans motivated to help Israel in different ways. Although not affiliated with the IDF, Garin Tzabar helps Americans ages 17-23 interested in serving in the IDF learn Israeli culture, Israel's political system, and assists with the transition for Americans into Israel in order to make it as smooth as possible.
"The process has been pretty rigorous, with trips once a month to New Jersey to meet with the other 35 group members from the East Coast since December," Weinberg explained. "The meetings are three days long and entirely in Hebrew. Although rough, it's helped me with my Hebrew tremendously. My biggest trouble has been learning Hebrew; I was born in Jerusalem but moved to the U.S. when I was two and a half, and forgot most of my Hebrew. Going to classes at Siegel College in Beachwood and studying online with Rosetta Stone, my Hebrew has gotten much better. Knowing that I was going to serve in the IDF, I have been training physically for a year, running about 10-15 miles a week and lifting three times a week."
All his preparations will begin to pay off this summer when he leaves for Israel on June 11. Weinberg will begin his journey with an immersion program and then will enlist in the IDF in November.
"My first choice is Nachal, which is one of the main brigades in the IDF. Nachal is known for having a lot of international soldiers," Weinberg explained.
Despite the intense training, the most difficult part for Weinberg has been neither the physical aspects nor learning Hebrew, but rather revealing his decision to his parents.
He elaborated: "Although both my parents moved to Israel and my father served in the IDF, I knew that telling them would be the hardest part of it all. I waited as long as I could to tell them and finally did in September. What resulted was a two-hour heavily charged, emotional confrontation that left my entire family in tears. It was especially rough, since I am postponing a job offer from Merrill Lynch in New York City, something that my parents thought that I would take in a heartbeat. You have to realize that some things in life are bigger than you are. You can't live life in regret wishing that you had done something; when you have an obligation, you seize it and don't look back."
