A special event held on Sunday at the Hannaton Educational Center in the Galilee brought together members of Christians for Israel International and about 30 young men and women from North America who recently arrived at Kibbutz Hannaton through the Tzofim Garin Tzabar program.
The participants planted hundreds of tulip bulbs in a gesture of support for the new “lone soldiers,” young adults from the Jewish Diaspora who move to Israel without immediate family and are preparing to enlist in the IDF.
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Members of Christians for Israel International join new Garin Tzabar lone IDF soldiers
Leon Meijer, the organization’s executive director, said the bulbs were donated by supporters in the Netherlands who wished to stand with Israel. “We believe in encouraging Jewish people who dedicate their lives to building the State of Israel, especially those who have taken major, meaningful steps in their lives to be here,” Meijer said. “It is important for us to show solidarity with young Jewish people who are committed to this mission. Projects like the one at Hannaton support young people making a challenging, life-changing step, and caring for them is a core value for us.”
He added that the organization views lone soldiers as part of the modern story of Jewish return to their historic homeland, a concept referenced in biblical prophecy. Christians for Israel International supports a range of humanitarian and aliyah-related initiatives, including helping Jews escape conflict zones such as Ukraine, assisting Holocaust survivors and providing trauma support to victims of the Oct. 7 attacks.
Earlier this year, Hannaton’s new Lone Soldier House welcomed its first residents. Located at the Hannaton Educational Center, it provides an egalitarian and pluralistic environment for young adults from diverse Jewish backgrounds. The initiative was created in cooperation with Keren Kayemet LeIsrael–JNF, JNF USA and additional donors. The project offers pre-army preparation, support throughout military service and post-service guidance within Hannaton’s alumni network.
S., a 22-year-old from the United States and a member of Garin Tzabar Hannaton who is soon to enlist in an elite IDF unit, said it is meaningful to see people from around the world stand with Israel. “It means a lot that people feel connected to this land the way we do and to our shared mission to make it flourish,” he said. “I believe in the restoration of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, and it is deeply meaningful to know we have partners in this dream from so many places. That’s why I came here, to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Officials at Hannaton note that thousands of lone soldiers currently serve in the IDF, each with a personal story behind the decision to enlist without close family nearby. Rabbi Yoav Ende, executive director of the Hannaton Educational Center, said the events of Oct. 7 underscored the commitment of lone soldiers to the army and to the people of Israel.
“For them, this is a conscious decision to become part of the social and historical fabric of the Jewish people,” he said. “Many stood on the front lines and fought bravely alongside their Israeli-born peers. Some fell in battle, far from their biological families, yet embraced by their second family — the people of Israel.”
Ende noted that lone soldiers often face challenges and moments of loneliness during their service. “Here, our soldiers are not alone,” he said. “They are part of a program designed to give them tools for meaningful integration into Israeli society and for contributing not only during their service but afterward as well. We see them as the next generation of leadership and strive to provide what they need to succeed.”