"If our enemies would simply leave us be, at least in our own home, then I would not be here. But they haven’t made that choice, so here I am to contribute my small part to the security and wellbeing of our homeland, so that all Jews have a place to be truly free." I'm glad you're making aliyah at all, but think it's better to do it for positive reasons. I made aliyah from the U.S. almost 30 years ago because I loved the idea of living in our revived Hebrew-speaking Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael. Certainly I would also have done it if all our neighbors were peaceful and friendly. In the long term, a positive love of living in the Jewish state is the most likely to keep you here, rather than some more abstract, even statistically based, sense of duty.

But you'll never be a billionaire by posting nonsense 24/7 on Ynet.

good point .. i like to say it in other words ----evryone can recognize his rgiht but not evry one can get it .. iam here becouse it is my right and and i could get it not like my sister in ramalla

Get over yourself. Youre writing about yourself and your feelings etc. Some advice - the second you get rid of that mentality, the better you will do in the army. Unfortunately I served with too many people (primarily from the US) who joined for the glory and not the cause. They all got a "kafa" (slap) eventually. Sure you state these altruistic reasons for going - but why the need to broadcast ? There's thousands of other kids who are going quietly with the exact same mentality as you and while not having as cushy of a life as you - they have no choice about going. There's Israeli kids who have to leave broken homes and parents who battle to put food on the table, who are then considered selfish because they choose combat instead of being jobnicks. Give them some credit Ynet

For Robert Stark: I am glad you have found a home in a nation to which you are prepared to commit "Your life, your fortune and your sacred honor". It is unfortunate that your choice was Israel when the US is at war with its military in the field and taking casualties.

That's your problem, you expected Israel and Tzahal to meet YOUR expectations instead of meeting theirs. I left Canada and joined the Tzanchanim, and later the security services. Was it easy? No, but that made me even more determined to make it work. I worked to become totally fluent in Hebrew, I worked to become Israeli and was treated as such. I remember serving in the Sinai when I could often not make it home, and sleeping on a bus in Hadera or Afula. No big deal.

USA citizens should join the US A Military Services, just as I did, My Brother, and My Father. To serve in the IDF to be part of an occupation that suppresses the rights of other peoples is repulsive to me and to practically the whole world. What will the author do when he is asked to shoot at some 10 year old boy throwing a stone?

As Gilad Shalit, a French citizen who served in the Israeli forces, should be rebuked his french citizenship!

And trust your instincts. Just be aware that it doesn't always work out. In the end you have to love the place you choose to live, no other reason will suffice in the long run. If it works out(like it did for me) that's great.If it doesn't then you know you've given your best shot...

What does that mean? Please provide us with a definition of what being Israeli means because after 7 years here, I haven't found yet

He is joining the IDF out of a romantic vision, like some went to the Spanish Civil War. Rude awakening on the way.

You really haven't a clue what Israel and the IDF is all about.Very ignorant for an ex military man.Who is occupying in Israel-well, it can't be Israelis, it's their country right? Arabs are the occupiers using terror to gain a big slice of Israel and create an other Arab state.Pleny of info on the net and youtube to educate you.Nobody ever asks any soldier to shoot 10 year old kids-but sometimes thing on the ground dictate action with rubber bullets.Arabs educate their young to be terrorists.Have a good day.

# 2 said it perfectly. Which homeland does Robert speak about? He feels he has two of them. I am sure a sabra might disagree with that.

This "me me me" attitude will get him nowhere. He needs to realise that it isn't all about him and his experiences in the army, it's about being part of a whole. And what's with this know it all attitude? He's barely in the country and already he's condemning his fellow Jews and accusing ultra-orthodox of basically robbing from the state. Get a grip. You can have an opinion when you actually spend a serious amount of time in the country. What does he want? Should we all just fall over ourselves with adoration for him? I'll have much more respect for someone who has actually completed their service and contributed to society.

i came to israel at age 17 alone in 1971 and did 3 years army and i am still here against all the odds..only if you can be pushy and determined can you succeed on your own..good luck

home. It's an "extreme" adventure you can talk about for years, a contribution to the Jewish tradition, you could also use it as a notch to you're future law career. One American did it before you and wrote a whole book of his experiences and then went home to the US to his real life. Coming of Age experience. If you stay twenty years, do more than the year foreign volunteer experience , do twenty years of reserves , be on call for wars, then it would be inspiring. But call this what it is , your tango with tango and testing bravado all the while doing your tribal duty....serious congrats but not that unusual or special.

Exactly so, the young soldier is just a pawn........ Perhaps he does not really understand history and political systems ie those that mix religion and politics. If only we knew then what we know now!!! In any event, I hope he has a good life here and wish him well.