Danit Aharonov Kibbutz Kissufim 2013

Thanks to Garin Tzabar and the support system provided to me, I never felt alone These challenges and experiences built me up and helped create the person I am today.”

“Making Aliya was both the best thing that I ever did, and the hardest challenge I ever encountered. Coming to Israel and serving in the IDF as a lone soldier is not the “normal” path for an average American girl from California, especially with the pressure of college all around you. But at the age of 17, I knew that is what I wanted to do.

Leaving my parents and sister was the hardest part, we are very close, and I was scared to live without that support system with me, especially in a different country.

I lived in Kibbutz Kissufim, that welcomed all 28 Garin members with open arms. As a Garin, we created an amazing bond and we are all still very close 6 years after! These people, who I never met before making Aliya, became my family here in Israel. I knew I had the support system I needed and friends I can trust. I am so lucky to have met my Garin. Without having this support system, my experience could have been completely different.

I enlisted to the Education unit as a “Mashakit Hod”. I started with a difficult 3 months course, and then served as a basic training commander at Michveh Alon. During my service of two years, I had to deal not only with being a soldier, which is emotionally and physically hard, but also dealing with being a lone soldier, which is harder. Still, Thanks to Garin Tzabar and the support system provided to me, I never felt alone These challenges and experiences built me up and helped create the person I am today.”