Thanks to the Garin Tzabar program, young diaspora Jews can learn everything from geography to Hebrew to prepare for enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces.
Allow me to salute a pair of young women who decided to venture out of America, Miami of all places, to make like Diddy and come home to serve in the Jewish homeland’s army.
Identical twin sisters Yarden and Rachel Paul moved to Israel last year with the aid of Garin Tzabar.
While most of their American classmates were gearing for college stateside, the Paul twins decided to take the big step to make Aliyah. Since their move, they've began training to become education NCOs . They have much educating to do.
In an interview with Israel Hayom, the twwwiiiinnnsss opened up about their decision:
"Our friends who are now in college don't really understand why we decided to come to Israel and enlist. They think it's dangerous," Yarden said.
The Middle East can be quite treacherous. Fortunately, Yarden is resolute in the face of danger of rockets from Gaza and sunburn.
"We talk to our mother, who is very worried, all the time. If we don't manage to talk to her for a few days because we don't have time, she starts to think something happened," Rachel said.
I know mothers are supposed to worry, Mrs. Paul, but on the basis of photographic evidence I think we can agree that Rachel can handle herself.
"We explain to her that there's no need to worry, that there are bomb shelters and that it's not as bad as it looks on T.V., but it doesn't really calm her down," she added. "Our friends think there's a real war here."
In the case of war with Iran, they'll be well-prepared. The twins had a tank before the Governator ever did.
Yarden said, "Our friends who are now in college don't really understand why we decided to come to Israel and enlist. They think it's dangerous, but they don't understand anything. ... They think all that's here is God and camels."
And for Purim, leopards.
The twins' devotion to Israel has never been stronger.
The girls described their experience on the kibbutz as "incredible." They are grateful for their adoptive families, the coordinators for lone soldiers, particularly the coordinator for lone soldiers on kibbutzim, Tzvika Levy, and their peers in the Garin Tzabar program who they say made them feel at home, despite being so far away from their families. The "warm embrace" they received helped them cope with not seeing their parents in almost a year, they said.
With selfless twins like Yarden and Rachel taking selfies with the Israeli flag, the Jewish State will make out alright.