By Gabby Miller
I really enjoyed the Taste of the IDF chavaya. From learning krav maga, to camping, to first aid, the chavaya was very fun. I personally love learning about self defense and what to do in emergency situations, so everything we learned in the chavaya was perfect for me. We even learned how to carry an injured person out of the field in several different ways. I feel like I’m better equipped to go out of my comfort zone now because I know that I will be able to handle myself in extreme situations. Not only did the chavaya teach me new survival skills, but it also increased my understanding of what being Israeli is like. Since the vast majority of Israelis go into the IDF, learning what the IDF is like and what it stands for really helped me understand what life in Israel is like. It taught me that the IDF has very strong moral values that it makes sure the citizens of Israel also have. These values include brotherhood/sisterhood, loyalty, and respect. The respect value was interesting to me as they make sure that everyone has not only respect for themselves and the others around them, but for the enemy as well. They try and make everyone realize that the other side is fighting for something they are just as passionate about. This is an interesting perspective coming from America because for the most part you are taught from a young age that America is the best country in the whole world and that anyone going against you is wrong. Hearing another country saying that you need to look on both sides and live a day in another person’s shoes is very comforting in a way. Overall, this chavaya was amazing and I learned so many new and useful skills. I would definitely spend another night under the stars just enjoying nature in the Taste of the IDF.
