The Military
When Israel became
a state, it needed an army to protect itself.
The
IDF (Israel Defense Forces) was formed from some earlier groups who had
protected the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.
To read about these earlier groups, you can click here.
There are three branches of the IDF.: The Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. Almost everyone in Israel serves in the IDF.
For
many years, Jews were treated badly by other people. Jews are very proud that
now they have their own military to defend the Jewish People and the State of
Israel. They serve in it for at least three years.
Many Orthodox men spend five years in a combination of learning at a
Yeshiva and being in the IDF.
The
Yeshivot that they learn in are called Yeshivot Hesder.
After high school, most 18 year olds go to the IDF. Both men and women must serve their country. Many students in Yeshivot study for a few years before joining the army. Their rabbis believe this makes them both better students and better soldiers since they better understand the mitzvah of defending the Jewish People.
Some people, including some Orthodox women, who cannot be in the army, join Sherut Leumi and provide other service to the country besides fighting.
Even after they finish their time in the IDF, Israelis remain in the Reserves. That means that they have to train for one month a year and be ready if Israel needs them.
Unfortunately, sometimes people die when fighting in the military. Israel has a special day, Yom HaZikaron, the day before Independence Day, to remember these brave soldiers.
The Three Branches of the IDF...
THE ARMY
The Army is the main part of the IDF. It is made up of many different parts. In addition to regular soldiers, there are teachers, soldiers who drive tanks and other special brigades. “Brigades” are special sections of an army. Besides defending the country, the Army also does works of chesed in other countries. They have helped people who were bombed in Kenya, Africa. They also have helped when there were earthquakes or other problems all over the world.
THE AIR FORCE
The Israeli Air Force is the newest branch of the IDF. It was formed just before Israel became a State. At first it was very hard to find planes. Nobody wanted to let Israel buy planes to defend itself. Sometimes the Israelis had to take apart old planes from other countries and sneak the pieces into Israel. Then they put the planes back together. Below is what one of the first Air Force planes looked like:
When Israel was fighting to become a State in 1948, the Air Force was able to rescue many places that were cut off by Arab armies.
During the Six Day War, the Israeli Air Force managed to knock out more than half of Egypt’s Air Force before Egypt's planes even left the ground. This meant that Egypt could not hurt Israel.
In 1976, Arab Terrorists
hijacked (stole) an airplane that was traveling from Israel to France.
They refused to release the Jewish passengers. They took the plain to Entebbe, a city in Uganda, Africa.
In a very famous rescue, the Israeli Air Force was able to sneak up on
the terrorists and save the passengers of the plane.
Unfortunately, the young captain of the rescue team, Yonatan Netanyahu,
was killed trying to save other people. Yonatan’s
brother became very famous in the government.
Can you find out who he is?
Hostages released during the Entebbe Rescue
In 1981, the Israelis learned that Iraq, a nearby Arab country was about to make nuclear weapons. These weapons were to be used against Israel and other countries. The IDF sent an Air Force plane like this one to bomb the plant. In less than two minutes, a plane like this one destroyed the weapons factory:
Today the Israeli Air Force has
the most modern planes in the world. They
use them to defend the country and also to help people.
Below is a picture of them rescuing Jews
from
Ethiopia who wanted to make aliyah.
Not everyone who wants to can serve in the Air Force. It is considered a great honor. You have to be very smart, have great eyesight and be very brave.
THE NAVY
Before Israel became a State, some Jewish groups had their own ships to help sneak Jews into the Land of Israel from other countries. In 1948, just months before Israel became a State, the Navy was formed. Its job is to protect the waters around Israel from enemy attacks. If a ship attacks, the Navy tries to destroy it. The Navy uses submarines, too, to help defend the country. Not everyone can join the Navy. It takes at least a year of training to learn the complicated electronics and systems that make the Navy run.
Navy submarine
Dabur
boats are used to defend the coastline. They
often catch terrorists trying
to
sneak into Israel to hurt people.
Below is one of Israel’s newest ships. It is a command ship. Airplanes can land on it and it has weapons to fire on enemy ships.
The military is something that everyone wishes was not needed. However, since there are still many people in the world who want to hurt Israel and Israelis, Israel still needs its defense forces to be strong.
WEB-SEARCH
Try to find out....
Who is Yoni Netanyahu's brother?
Name a Yeshivat Hesder.
How many IDF soldiers have died while in the army?
CHALLENGE QUESTION:
There have been soldiers from outside of Israel who have helped Israel by being in the IDF. What are these groups called?
If you are a FMS student and try the challenge question, email the author your answer at sjablon@fuchsmizrachi.org.
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http://www.izkor.mod.gov.il/
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