 
From West Point To The IDF: Oleh Joins Record 430 New IDF Soldiers Making Aliyah This Summer
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Published on Thursday, August 06, 2009 -
COMMENTS (4)
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| A flight chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency arrived in Israel on Tuesday carrying 238 new olim from North America. |
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This summer’s second charter aliyah flight, organized by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency, arrived on Tuesday, bringing 238 North Americans. The new arrivals are joining over 3,000 Western olim coming to Israel this summer on 16 aliyah flights—comprising 4 charter and 12 group flights. On this week’s flight were 55 olim soon to be drafted into the IDF, who are among 430 young North Americans and Britons arriving this summer through Nefesh B’Nefesh’s recently expanded soldier aliyah fund.
One of the new soldiers, Tsvi Mark from Maryland, who plans to enlist in the IDF’s elite Egoz unit immediately after making aliyah, was training at the West Point U.S. Military Academy when he decided to make aliyah. “I had always wanted to join the U.S. army and train at West Point, but once I was there I realized that what I really wanted was to go home, to our land, our people, and our army.”
Also on board was a large contingent of 35 olim from Cleveland, Ohio. The CEO of American Greetings Corporation, Zev Weiss, joined them to accompany his dear friend, and CEO of Intellectual Property Joseph Mandelbaum, who made aliyah on the flight.
This charter plane featured the winning logo of the Nefesh B’Nefesh and BabagaNewz.com, an educational website for Jewish middle-schoolers and teachers, ‘Destination Israel’ logo design contest, which encouraged students in Grades 4–7 to create an aliyah plane logo. The winning entry, drawn by sixth grader Esther Bellinsky, was painted on the side of this flight.
Hundreds of families and friends, as well as Israeli dignitaries, gathered at Ben Gurion airport to welcome the country’s newest olim at the Nefesh B’Nefesh arrival ceremony. Those present included: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Dmitry Apartsev; Chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky; Head of the Education Department in the IDF’s Education and Youth Corps Colonel Roni Sulimani; CEO of El Al Israel Airlines Haim Romano; and Co-Founders of Nefesh B’Nefesh Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart.
Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to revitalizing aliyah from North America and the UK by removing or minimizing the financial, professional, logistical, and social obstacles of aliyah. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh to its 20,000 newcomers, has ensured that 98% of its olim have remained in Israel. www.nbn.org. ♦
1 - Posted on 8/12/2009 1:38:51 PM
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The man who left West Point without completing his studies or his obligation to the United States Army has made (at the very least) a mistake with far reaching ramifications.
The person who sponsored him for appointment will lose credibility, and may have a difficult time facilitating new appointments. The early departure of this gentleman may also lead to a negative outlook towards Jewish candidates for appointment or advancement in the US Army.
I feel that this person should have either completed his American obligation prior to making aliyah, or he should have never started at West Point in the first place.
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by Gary |
Brooklyn |
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2 - Posted on 8/19/2009 8:21:55 AM
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I am a West Point Cadet, part of the Class of 2012, and one of Tsvi's former classmates. Tvsi left West Point at the end of his freshman (plebe) year. We do not have a commitment to the Army until the beginning of our junior (cow) year. This gives each cadet a chance to familiarize themselves with the Army and life as an Officer. There are about 80 individuals in my class who have decided that the Army is not for them and left already. None of them have a commitment to the Army. It is not fair to say that a person is not allowed to start West Point without a commitment to finishing it. Most of us begin our cadet careers at the age of 18-19 years old. Is an 18/19 year old straight out of high school supposed to be able to make a blind decision and sign away the next 12 years (4 of which are college)? No, right now I am at the United States Military Academy, do you know what my peers from high school are doing? They are sleeping, drinking, and partying while I am here busting my ass everyday just to keep my head above water.
Not only is acceptable to leave West Point before junior year, it is somewhat common. I expect my class to drop at least 100 more people. People quit for various reasons, most hopefully quit for the simliar reasons Tsvii did. He quit not just to serve the IDF but to be the best soldier/leader possible and in today's Army it is not possible for an Orthodox Jew. What is Tsvi to do on a Friday night when one of his soldiers calls him in need of his help, but Tsvi can't drive over there because it's Shabbat? If that is the type of leadership he can offer in the US Army why not go serve somewhere that he can fully practice his religion and serve? Besides, Tsvi leaving West Point has been blown out of proportion.
As far as credibility of Tsvi's sponsors I don't believe they lose any. Every year Senators and Governors appointment cadet candidates and every year they quit. We all have at least one nomination to be here. How is Tsvi leaving different from another cadet leaving to go to a state school? Their credibility remains unharmed. The negative outlook on Jewish candidates exists or doesn't exist already. There are people that have prejudices towards Jews, African-Americans, Muslims, and etc. However, religion is not something asked at any point in the application process.
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by Anonymous |
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3 - Posted on 10/25/2009 4:03:07 PM
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I guess this shows where Jewish loyalties really lie. That is also why they spy on us and sell our secrets to our enemies. With friends like these...
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by Anonymous |
PATERSON |
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4 - Posted on 10/27/2009 12:14:51 PM
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The Anonymous West Point Cadet below has an interesting point. Some cadets find that military life isn't for them, so the leave. Fair enough.
But that's not the case here. Tvsi is apparently gung ho about the military: the problem is that he's decided to be a traitor to the United States and join the military of a nation that I (and many others) consider to be the most dangerous enemy of the United States.
The facts are clear: Israel conducts massive spying and espionage activities against the United States. Israel and its American 5th column helped foment the Iraq War for Israel.
Amazingly, Congress has carved out an exception to the normal course of events for Americans that serve in the Israeli Occupation Forces. Whereas service in any other foreign military cause loss of U.S. citizenship, there is a loophole for service in the IOF. (Hence the ability of concentration camp guard Jeffrey Goldberg, another war pimp, to return to the US.)
The bottom line for me is that Tvsi is a traitor to this country and should be permanently barred from ever entering the USA again.
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by Joe America |
NYC |
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