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Reserves Deputy Aviv Regev is on tour to promote the film Beneath the Helmet

'Beneath the Helmet': The paratroopers who stand for Israel

New documentary film follows five Israeli soldiers, aims to improve Israel's image after Operation Protective Edge across US university campuses.

Following the increasing anti-Israel sentiment and investigation by the UN Human Rights Council on the alleged war crimes that occurred during Operation Protective Edge, the documentary film "Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front" seeks to improve the Israel's impression by shedding light on the military experience of five diverse Israeli soldiers.

 

 

"I discovered the ignorance and lies that are spread about us. I learned that there is another war taking place that I wasn't aware of – the war on Hasbara – and I decided to join the fight," says Reserves Deputy Aviv Regev who was chosen to promote the documentary film because the five soldiers featured are still serving in the IDF.

 

'Beneath the Helmet' - Promo from JerusalemU.org on Vimeo

 

The movie, which will be screened for free in over 100 university campuses across the US, was produced by the Jerusalem U Foundation in order to strengthen the bonds between Jewish youth to Judaism and Israel.

 

The film producers accompanied five paratroopers for a year, from their basic training to their beret march, and until their release into the home front.

 

The five young soldiers are from different backgrounds but are united in their experience serving in the IDF - from the shooting ranges, basic training, kitchen duty, and night watches to special training.

 

The five soldiers featured in the film are a diverse group, with each representing the various communities and cultures that exist within Israel.

 

Mekonan, who immigrated to Israel at age 12 from Ethiopia, lost his father on the journey to Israel and lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Bnei Brak with his family of ten.

 

The beautiful and sometimes spoiled Coral is from Herzliya Pituach, and did not even want to serve at first, but eventually became a commander.

 

Eilon, the son of a religious family from Ashdod, a city very familiar with the sound of rockets, was the first to serve in the IDF from his family.

 

Oren, whose family moved to Switzerland when he was five years old, came back to Israel by himself to serve as a paratrooper.

 

Lastly, Eden, from a village in northern Israel by the border with Lebanon, the son of an American immigrant to Israel, joined the IDF after the second Lebanon war, which he felt in the yards surrounding his village.

 

The five soldiers who appeared in the film are still serving their mandatory service, therefore, Reserves Deputy Aviv Regev, who completed his service as a paratrooper brigade commander a year ago, was chosen to present the documentary film on its tour through the US.

 

"After my service in the IDF I traveled alone, three months in New Zealand and two months in China. Before my studies began, electrical engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, they approached me and asked if I could leave for three months in order to promote the movie on US campuses," said Regev.

 

Reserves Deputy Aviv Regev who is on tour to promote Beneath the Helmet during his army service
Reserves Deputy Aviv Regev who is on tour to promote Beneath the Helmet during his army service

 

"It wasn't my original plan but during my travels I met young people from over 12 countries and discovered the ignorance and lies that are spread about us. I learned that there is another war taking place that I wasn't aware of – the war on Hasbara – and I decided to join the fight," said Regev.

 

"I'm going to have to re-register for my studies at the Technion, but I cannot just stand aside. All that the evil need to succeed is for the good to stand aside," Regev said.

 

The 24 year-old said the documentary film is a "convenient platform to connect to people and to explain to them that overall we are pretty similar, everyone who is not anti-Semitic."

 

Jerusalem U has produced several films to promote Israel awareness which they screen on campuses and TV channels in the US.

 

Last week, the film was screened in New York and Los Angeles with the attendance of many Hollywood producers and donors, an event that took place to honor the deceased lone soldier Max Steinberg, who was killed during Operation Protective Edge.

 

"Beneath the Helmet" will be screened this week at New York University, Berkeley, UCLA, and University of Michigan.

 

The movie was produced by Raphael Shore, founder and CEO of Jerusalem U, and Rebecca Shore, written by Baruch Goldberg, and directed by Wayne Kopping.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.03.14, 11:20
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