DJ Eran Barnea entertains lone soldiers
Photo: YoSee Gamzoo Letova
Over 6,000 lone soldiers enjoy fun day at water park
A fun day organized by welfare groups and the IDF brings lone soldiers at Israel's largest water park; performances and post-army guidance are provided.
Over 6,000 "lone soldiers"—Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers with no immediate family in Israel that they are in contact with—gathered Thursday at Israel's largest water park, just outside of Tel Aviv, for a day of rest and recuperation.
There are some 6,550 lone soldiers from 80 countries serving in the IDF today. About 826 came from the United States, 582 from Ukraine, 531 from Russia, and 515 from France. Sixty-seven percent of lone soldiers are men, while 33 percent are women. Some 54 percent of lone soldiers serve in combat or combat-support roles.
More than 6,000 lone soldiers gathered at Shefayim Water Park (Photo: YoSee Gamzoo Letova)
Over 6,000 lone soldiers also received essential information about life after their military service (Photo: YoSee Gamzoo Letova)
In addition to the park's many attractions, the "Fun Day" featured a pool party with Israeli DJ Eran Barnea, gift care packages, an all-day smorgasbord of barbeque and desserts, and a special performance by Israeli hip-hop duo Strong Black Coffee. The lone soldiers also received essential information about life after their military service.
Israeli hip-hop duo Strong Black performs for lone soldiers (Photo: YoSee Gamzoo Letova)
In addition to the lone soldiers, IDF unit commanders, some 1,000 non-commissioned officers, high-ranking military officials, and FIDF supporters also attended the "Fun Day" festivities to meet the soldiers.
DJ Eran Barnea entertains lone soldiers (Photo: YoSee Gamzoo Letova)
"Fun Day" kicked off the first-ever national appreciation week for the IDF soldiers in Israel. During the weeklong series of events, FIDF is distributing gift packages to more than 17,000 combat soldiers and will send five ice cream trucks to visit more than 34,000 soldiers on IDF combat bases across the country. On Sunday, July 2, 15,000 IDF soldiers will gather for music, food, and live entertainment hosted by FIDF in partnership with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at the IDF's training campus in the Negev.
