... doing well on the LSAT is by no means a guarantee of entrance to law school, and it is a far cry from doing well in law school and actually passing the bar exam. That said, kudos to Mr. Stark! I think he made the right choice, especially when he takes a look at the statistics and sees how much Jews are discriminated against in terms of law school admissions these days .... sad, not to mention unfair, but true. Despite being a minority, Jews are not considered a minority in the United States. So Mr. Stark's well-deserved spot in an Ivy League law school may well be given to a mediocre student who did extremely poorly on the LSAT and failed the bar exam multiple times. Is the U.S. a great country, or what? Good luck to you, Mr. Stark. You'll succeed in any endeavor you choose to pursue.

lets see if the author still feels this way after a year and a half in the army. as a lone soldier who left a cushy life in the us over two years ago to join an elite combat unit, i can speak from experience when i say his expectations are unrealistic and he should get ready for a bit of culture shock regarding israelis.

#1 - Do you plan on staying in IL forever? You grew up in the US, enjoyed its freedoms, lived a comfortable lifestyle. Why not? I served in the US Army. And now I can see why Americans think Jews have dual loyalty. Did you ever send a letter to a Jewish American soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan? DId you every go to any rally's for their cause??? #2 - lastly, the army, any army is no joke. people die and you are now just a pawn. may you not have to fire your weapon and just remember this, make the other guy die for his country. the more of them die you win.

Bullseye. Good luck in your new life!!

If I were 22 instead of 62, I would be on the El Al flight with you.

for your one comment/question: "Did you ever send a letter to a Jewish American soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan?" Your question prompted me to join the Jewish War Veterans, on behalf of my Dad, Abraham G., a WWII vet (deceased) and to become involved with their SOS program, whereby they send "kosher" packages, etc., to our Jewish men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Like young Robert, who is on his way to join the IDF, I hold sacred, the long-distance "kesher" between American and Israeli servicemen. G-d Bless Israel, G-d Bless America. Shavouah Tov.

Welcome home and good luck......I hope and pray that after serving in the Army, you will still be strong in your beliefs.......Israel is not perfect, but it is ours.........fron a former American

He does not deserve any more recognition and hand-clapping than any other 18-year-old Israeli who joins the IDF due to Israel's mandatory draft. Just because a person is obligated by law to join the army, does not make his personal sacrifice any less than someone who volunteers. All soldiers deserve equal credit.

It's not crazy, it's group self preservation and protection of Jews worldwide. If the proverbial excrement hit the fan in the United States, we'd have Israel to run to. Yasher Koach.

When I was 16, I was very passionate about Judaism and Zionism, that I left my nice life in NY and volunteered with Sar-el- volunteers for israel, for 3 1/2 weeks. Obviously it is much different than officially become a soldier, but I got a taste of military life. It was tough, and we did menial jobs and it was a very eye opening experience. I still have a passion for it, but I think the author will find himself around people who have different financial issues than him- many of the soldiers I talked to were poor. Also, many of the combat soldiers on our base were not even Jewish, they were Druze and Muslims- excellent elite combat soldiers, nonetheless, this was very interesting to me! He is going to have to get along with people that are not all lawyers and Jews, and be able to act as a unit. Also, he may have to wash dishes, collect garbage and paint walls, cook for an army- hah. Just a thought, but behatzlaha!

There is no place on this planet that's truly free.

Thank you Astronaut for joining the JWV. I am also a member of JWV. I just hope this soon to be soldier understands that this is not camp. Life in the military is not easy. When people ask me what it was like I tell them to go sit in a puddle for a few days while it is raining, cold, eating very little and all the while looking for people who want to kill you. There are no "do overs" and you don't get to restart the game.I hope he gets that.

I agree with tobey, The author is indeed in for a culture shock, he will aslo need his families support back in the states for the times that some of his expectations fall. As I have adopted several lone soldiers over the years,(one who took his own life) due to the pressures. He will have to be in a right frame of mind for sure.

A truly inspring elucidation of what it means to have a Jewish soul. Mazel Tov !

By any legeal definition, zionism is a form of racism; it intends to give different rights to different etnic groups. It is unfortunate that Joshua doesn't realize this (or doesn't care.)

just plain wrong!!! End of your story

fault! hehe

ignorant of the meaning of Zionism and you don't realize this (or you really don't care)

I happen to be one of them. I wish all Jewish people had as much loyalty to Israel as this young man that joined the I.D.F.! If I had known what I know now I also would have joined the I.D.F. when I was younger..

True: military life is not some Hollywood goodie-bag a la Tom Cruise Top Gun. It is guts and sweat and fear and bravery and giving it all you've got. But this is why we love and honor those of you who put your lives on the line, whether that "line" is in The Golan, or in Afghanistan. It is 40 + years that man set foot on the moon, and we still scrap and scheme here on Earth, to see who own the most turf. Sincere wishes to you and your compatriots.

If not you are a coward, for while members of the US military put their lives on the line, you wish to be nothing more than a military policeman preying on the defenceless. The one missing platitude from your misbegotten list of pathetic excuses is the renouncing of such citizenship.

yes, as a 23 year old it is, but if your a 40 year old and have to pay at least $50,000 per year can be $100,000) to send your kids to jewish schools it isnt.

"And now I can see why Americans think Jews have dual loyalty." What is wrong with that? Cant you be a good American Jew lowing your country, and in the same time love Israel? I am a Scandinavian Jew. I love both my countries. I was brought up by 2 good Jewish parents, that taught me to love both countries.There is no harm in that... I just hope that when Stark comes to Israel, he is cleaver enough to see the 2 sides of the coin here.

I commend the author for volunteering to serve, but in no way should he be treated differently than anyone else fulfilling their duty. I feel like as an American I can say this, but many of us come with this sense of entitlement during our service, and I definitely think he's going to be in for a rude awakening. There's also a reason why why the IDF doesn't draft Olim Chadashim immediately, and instead generally makes them wait a year until being drafted. Even in Garin Tzabar there is lengthy period of acclimation. Lastly, in the author's blog, he mentions being given a gun at Bakum? Something that will never happen. And it's noted on a date that hasn't even occurred yet. Something seems strange here.