Israel 4,
March 17, 2024,
Hi Everyone,
Last evening I went out to eat with my Tel Aviv Hebrew tutor and his lovely girlfriend. We went to an upscale Israeli restaurant with the usual young crowd that we see at restaurants. I don’t know where people of my age hang out in the evenings. I certainly was the oldest customer there. This was a sharing type restaurant so I asked Elior to pick the different dishes. We drank a great Bordeaux wine of my choosing. I entertained them with my usual stories of how I met my wife in France and how Dominique got pregnant with the twins.
This morning we were all up bright and early for breakfast. Several pre-arranged buses picked us up at the hotel and brought us to the airport. There we were give our final instructions as to which group we would be with and which base we would be volunteering on. We also were given dog tags, a rather sobering moment I felt. I am staying on an army base 20 km south of Tel Aviv, well away from any action. There have not been rocket attacks here.
When we arrived here we were assigned 3 very young female soldiers in whose care we would be. They are very charming and helpful. We were given instructions of what we can and can not do. This does not seem to be too restrictive. I can write my blog and take pictures as long as I avoid taking pictures of soldiers and sensitive army equipment and be discrete about what I write. There is no censorship. We were given IDF uniforms with a special insignia that distinguishes us from the real military. I believe that my white hair may also be a distinguishing factor. We were also assigned rooms in a barracks. We are either 2 or 3 volunteers per room.
We had a get together at the beginning and end of the day to introduce ourselves. Most of the volunteers are American with a few Canadians, French, Argentinians, Germans, and Norwegians. The atmosphere is very friendly and up beat. When we presented ourselves we had to give our reasons for coming here. Some had been with this organization before. Everyone came to help Israel in her hour of need after Oct. 7.
Lunch was pretty good and plentiful. There is no alcohol allowed on the base. I have rarely had a meal without wine in 50 years. In the afternoon, we were give our assignments. I worked with an American sorting medical supplies. It was the type of job that my mother warned me I would have if I didn’t study and go to university. It was a shame, as much of the equipment as well as many medicines were out dated and had to be thrown away. This is a terrible waste.
Love,
Brian
gobriantravel 
hakol hakavod!
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