Israel was in our blood, and despite our family living in Iran for generations, we were excited about the move. It was a fulfillment of a centuries-old desire to return to the land of our forefathers. We told everyone in Iran that we were going on vacation to Turkey, and never came back. We left everything behind: our house, our belongings, and all of our extended family.
At first, it wasn’t easy. We didn’t know the language. We were quiet and introverted, and had to learn to understand the Israeli mentality. The difficulty has paid off, though. Being in Israel has taught me to appreciate the little freedoms, like the ability to walk around openly with a kippah. That would not have been easy to do in Iran.
Giving makes me happy. It satisfies me to see myself making a positive impact on the lives of others. Throughout the years, I dedicated my free time to being a medical clown. I would dress up and go cheer up children in hospitals. When it came time for me to draft, I decided to pursue a role in the IDF as a combat physician. Growing up, doctors were my role models. They dedicate their entire lives to helping others. Seeing others do good is contagious and I was inspired to do good myself. Being a combat physician isn’t easy. The job requires years of difficult training, but it is all worth it. It has made me both a better person and a better medical practitioner.”
-G, student in the Israel Defense Forces Combat Physicians Course
