Community Week: Army Day

This was no regular day.

Imagine being greeted by a 5"10 stocky red-haired general yelling, “You have 15 seconds to get off this bus and you just wasted five." We started at the army base where we saw some top secret videos as well as expired army tanks.

Sam Maller captures Matt Blumenthal, our red-haired general

 

 

 

 

 

After our top secret tour, we spoke with a member of our Israeli families fathers who served in the Israel Defense Force. He spoke about his experience as well as his views on the draft, who should fight and how being in the army helped him as a leader.

After group discussions we all put our game faces on, for it was time.

It was the time that we were all preparing for, the battle of all battles. The mighty paintball war. For 4+ hours the battle waged on. Balls of paint shot through the dry Israeli air as the tactical units of each side set positions in bunkers, cars, and behind musty old tires. The paintball battle was surely one for the ages and will be told for generations to come.

It was then time for the last leg of our journey, to Liran's lookout, an Israel soldier who was killed in the Second Lebanese War, but, more importantly, the brother of a fellow Diller and an all around incredible person. Thriving in all realms of life, academically, athletically, morally, and ethically, Liran was an outstanding human being, and to commemorate and celebrate his life, his father spoke to us about his life and the significance of the lookout.

It was truly a magical moment and one that got me personally thinking about my life and that one day hopefully I could do something that is deserving of a memorial like that, and, more importantly, do something that will leave an impact on others like Liran did. After dinner and a nice night circle, our night ended.  Besides the welts, bruises, and paint stains, we all fell into bed with a smile on our faces.

Thanks Diller for another amazing day!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Alex Jekowsky