Dallas Teen Fights for Israel

By Rachel Carp

For American teens about to turn 18, life is a hectic, exciting and often stressful time, filled with college applications, prom plans and decisions about what careers to eventually pursue.

Israeli teens on the cusp of 18, in contrast, must place their futures on hold in order to protect their country.

After high school graduation, Israelis are required to provide military service for the Israeli Defense Force. Men are obligated to serve in the IDF for three years and women for 21 months. After serving, Israelis remain a part of the reserve service, which requires men to contribute about a month of service a year until the age of 43-45. The IDF also calls up reserves for active duty during times of crisis.

Sometimes the call of duty in Israel is heard half-way around the world. Daniel Oved, a senior attending Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas, plans to join the IDF this summer, after graduation. Daniel feels a strong connection to Israel. He grandparents fled there from Iraq shortly after Israel became a nation in 1948. His parents were both born in Israel and most of his family lives there today. Daniel’s parents moved to the U.S. before his birth. “I do not have Israeli citizenship,” he says. “But ethnically I am Israeli.”

Daniel Oved, a  Greenhill senior, will follow in the footsteps of his father, Jacov 

While most of his peers will leave for college in 2013, Daniel chose to enlist in the IDF because of his loyalty to Israel. “I owe my life and my family's lives to Israel. Most of my family has fought to protect it, and now, I feel like I have to go and do my part to keep the country alive,” he explains. “It is in a constant state of fear, always prepared for the worst, and simply needs more people to help protect it.”

The IDF, which was formed after Israel achieved statehood, is vital to the survival of Israel and consists of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. While the majority of the IDF is Jewish, the IDF conscripts all citizens living in Israel regardless of religion. However, only 50% of the conscripts serve in the military. Certain citizens and religious groups are exempt from service. Although controversial, the ultra- Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim, are not forced to serve in the Israeli Army. Under the Tal Law, these citizens can delay their service as long as they are studying at Yeshiva. Additionally, the Religious Zionist group in Israel, while still obliged to serve, serves in a different sector of the IDF called Hesder, which is a mix of Talmudic study and military service. Arabs living in Israel, married women and residents who have mental or physical disabilities are all excused from military service but may volunteer to serve.

Tzav Rishon, the military draft process, consists of medical and intelligence examinations, physical profiles, and one on one interviews, and works hard to find the best fit for each Israeli in the IDF. There are many different service options available for citizens of Israel, including combat and non- combat positions. A large portion of the IDF service is actually off the battlefield. While Non-combat jobs are often viewed as less important, they are necessary for the success of the Israeli army. Men and women can use their degrees to join non- combat alternatives such as foreign relations, army spokespersons, administration, budget and finance, security guards, police, intelligence and gathering.

Unique to the Israeli army, women have had equal rights to men since 2000. Involved in combat units since 1994, Israeli women fight in the artillery corps, infantry units, armored divisions, and air force. Women are also involved in combat support options working as instructors, officers, and trainers. 

A program called Mahal allows Jewish noncitizens like Daniel Oved to enlist between the ages 18 to 23. While Daniel “used to be afraid of missing out on the American college experience,” college is in his future. “Since I’m in Israel for 16 months and one can only defer from school for a year, I will have to wait until I’m in Israel to apply. Therefore, by the time I enter my freshman year of college, my fellow seniors will be going into their junior years.”

Beyond duty, Daniel expects that he will “become more disciplined and mature” from serving in the IDF. “I hope the experience humbles me as well as pops the bubble I currently live under.” Daniel observed positive changes in his family members who joined the IDF. “Those that went [to the IDF] are better and more proactive people. The army does that to a person,” he says.

Because of the mandatory draft, most of Daniel’s family served in the IDF. “My dad was an officer, so he did a lot of fighting in his days. He fought in the Yom Kippur war. My grandfather was a spy for a couple years while Israel was being created. He was Iraqi, so he pretended to be a Muslim and helped smuggle Jews across the borders and into Israel.” Within the IDF, Daniel hopes to obtain a combat position. His father served in an artillery unit operating the radios, and Daniel aspires to join this unit as well.

Jacov Oved

The enlisting process will not begin until 2 months after Daniel arrives in Israel. He will fly to Israel in August and start basic training next October.

Choosing to enlist in the IDF forced Daniel to confront his mortality. “If there is one thing I'd be most willing to die for, it would be [Israel]. I'm no brave hero or anything, but I owe my life, as amazing as it is, to Israel's existence. Everyone’s willing to die for something they love and I truly love Israel.”

Daniel’s biggest hope is for Israel to live in peace. “If risking my life is necessary so that others don’t have to fight anymore, I am more than willing to do it.”