a plurality of these wonderful kids grew up in Israeli-emigre families, speaking Hebrew at home. Only the Hebrew language can assure ties to the homeland. Jewish education is a waste of time and money.

Good for you, boys! This is great to hear.

I welcome them but question their priorities. They should come to Israel to live here. Serving in the army is a responsibly for those who live here. Same result but a different mind set that I think will keep more of them here after the Army. The best of luck to all of them.

Jewish education is just as important as it provides the foundation for the Jewish people.

These are Israel's heroes. They give up a life of ease for the security of Israel. May G-d richly bless them and their families for this noble service they give freely, their lives.

are traitors. Turn coats. I wouldn't want a traitor in my unit. Somebody who is willing to sell out America is willing to sell out Israel too. I also doubt these kids could pass the American army's and marine's far more rigorous training and discipline. Guarding settlements that fly in the face of US interests in the Middle East is not the same as fighting a real war in Afghanistan where you're stationed overseas for one-year without respite. These kids are traitors. They're a disgrace. If they love Israel so much then the least they can do is turn over their US passports on their way out.

What do they think they are doing?Joining the military is not summer camp? Why didn't they join the US military? If they stay in Israel great. All power to them. If not, and they return to the US, they will have to hide their service. Last thing Americans want to hear is someone volunteered in another country's military and not their own.

Loyal To Their Country Of Birth? Why didn't these youths join the military forces of the US or Canada? They could have fought in real wars of aggression instead of being in a force that kicks ten-year-old boys, shoots into peaceful demonstrators and breaks people's doors down?

If American Jews support Israel, the haters will accuse them of dual loyalties. If American Jews make aliyah, thus clearly "getting off the fence" and choosing Israel as their primary country of loyalty, the haters STILL aren't satisfied. Haters gonna hate....

Are Arab Israelis loyal to their country of birth?

You cannot be more wrong. I grew up in Venezuela in a strong Jewish community, i did learn Hebrew in school but never spoke it at home since my parents don't speak Hebrew; with almost my entire family living in the US I decided to come and live in Israel, speaking the language can make you think that you want to leave in Israel but the truth is that your Jewish identity is what brings you here, you can always learn the language.

I don't wonder why Jews don't join the military services in their own countries. There were many Jews who fought for Germany in WWI and their loyalty to their country didn't mean a thing when the Nazis came to power. Many Jews fought for other countries in WWI and those same countries had no problem handing those same loyal citizens over to the Nazis. Israel would never do that and maybe these young men understand that and see Israel as being a country worth defending

Yet many Israeli citizens including the Haredim refuse. This is absolutely disgusting. Are the haredim walking heads down in shame yet? Or are they incapable of shame? Bibi sold the state and betrayed many of his voters.

II find your belief that 'Jewish education is a waste of time and money' an absurd statement. I am not sure what kind of experience you have had with Jewish schools in the diaspora, but I attend Moriah College in Sydney, Australia, and the amount of knowledge i obtain about Israel, Zionism and all things Jewish is unparalled to most kids I have met in Israel. At Moriah, we are instilled with jewish values that are taught in English, and while Hebrew (both Tanakh and Modern hebrew) is available at my school, it is not compulsory after grade 10. 99% of the kids at my school are not Israeli, and yet, although most of us are secular, i am quite certain that most would know more about the Jewish religion than secular Israelis. I am Australian, with no familial ties to Israel. Yet - I am joining the IDF next year, and cant wait to protect the homeland of the Jewish people side by side other Israelies! I hope you know understand that having Israeli heritage is not a necessity to love Israel as a home for ALL jews.

some even use the experience to further their careers. Few stay permanently.

These are the "Creme de le creme" of Diaspora Youth and Kudos are due to them all..BUT..has anyone asked these "Esteemed" officials, why, after the initial "Welcome Ceremony" and speeches are over, that 85% of these volunteers, after completion of their army service, return to their homelands? The minute that they are released, welcome to the bureaucratic nightmare called Israel!!

Jews are more loyal than most to their respective countries, you racist liar. If these great men want to immigrate to Israel that is certainly their right, and their business. Israel is the most humane and ethical country in the world( certainly more than the "Palestinians")

My sons did the same, joining up with the IDF, but only after receiving their respective degrees from MIT & Caltech. Different strokes for different folks. Regardless-welcome home...b'ruchim ha'baim!!

g-d bless the IDF. they take american kids many who are dropouts from the yeshiva world and help rebuild lives. many american kids find in the IDF courage and the ability to overcome obsticles they could never have faced in the world they came from.the IDF is the biggest dropout yeshiva we have.

AS one of these "Israeli Americans" I can tell you, the only reason most of these kids (who are now 18-20) is because of Jewish Education IE: Yeshivas, youth movements Young Judea Bnei Akiva. Only until recently has programs like Taglit influenced the non "modern orthodox" crowd from the states to come. I still agree with you it is a waste of money and time, but at least the love for Israel is installed into our brains.

Watch the movie "Cast a Giant Shadow". Learn about H.M. "Hank" Greenspun. These and other American Jews made a major contribution in Israel's War of Independence. A Jew can want to help Israel while remaining loyal to the country that has done so much for us.

Israel takes our aid and uses it to bring Americans to join the IDF.... is the tail wagging the dog here? No wonder American Jews are sensitive about "dual loyalty."

My son was in Garin Tzabar and 95% of his fellow enlisted Americans stayed in Israel until today. These are not people who come over as temporary olim and split when things get tough. These are "bad-ass" kids who are part and parcel of the Israeli fabric. They have a better percentile than the average Israeli. So Sarah, don't talk about things you don't understand.

Only some 3,000 out of 1.4 million active duty US servicemen and women are Jewish, about two-tenths of one percent. When it comes to Marines, the numbers are even more startling. It's one out of 1,000. One-tenth of one percent mostly pushing papers in US DD As twice as many in IDF than US Marines ,... 65 in G. Britain Armed Forces including 1 rebbe … coincident ? ,… Now, compare it with Jewish representation in US Supreme Court, US Congress or Senate ,...

What does it all have to do with loyalty? Tell me, how many american jewish soldiers have ever killed just one american non-jewish soldier? How many american jewish soldiers are loyally serving their country in Afghanistan or Irak? On the contrary, how many american moslem -by birth or election- soldiers have killed their fellow countrymen in the last two years? This is what unloyalty means.

You have nail it they should serve the nation that provided them an asylum and a roof over their heads first ,...

I would never disparage American fighting men but you need to evaluate the average mindset of American volunteers and kids who fight for the survival of the Jewish state. You must be a very silly man indeed!

There's no such a think like dual loyalty. Imagine your wife telling you that she's sleeping with other dude but she's loyal to you ,...