Canadian-Israeli soldier Natasha Sterne will be one of the soldiers to receive an award for excellence in IDF service on Thursday at the President’s house in Jerusalem.  Sterne, 21, came on aliyah (immigrated) from Canada two years ago in order to enlist in the IDF. 

Sterne said Wednesday that she was very excited about Thursday’s awards ceremony, and added, “The IDF isn’t only Israel’s army.  It’s the army that defends Jews around the world, and therefore I think that all Jews should serve or at least volunteer in the IDF.”  Sterne’s parents, who live in Canada, will join her in Israel for the ceremony.