Arutz Sheva spoke with Anglo hesder yeshiva (Torah academy) students combining Torah study with IDF service on Tuesday, as they were about to join the Kfir Battalion.
"Parents are making the sacrifice together, with their children, to send their kids to the Army," Rabbi Daniel Rhein, educator at Yeshivat Har Etzion, stated. "It's a very proud day, a very exciting time, and a very challenging time."
Asher Manning made Aliyah 13 years ago and "has been looking forward to this day for many years." Yitzchak Webber, also enlisting, was "very excited" about his upcoming service.
Several parents noted that sending their children to the IDF not only made them proud, but feel "truly Israeli."
"It's a result of caring about the Jewish people, the land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel more than anything else," Eve Harow, who was sending off her son Matanya, said.
The enlistees, for their part, were thankful to have the opportunity to learn before enlisting.
'It's been an amazing two years," Asher said. "I think it gives you a lot of boost to go to the Army with a whole world behind you which is supportive, and understanding, [and] with experience, and really knows the system throughout, and I think it's one of the best things a soldier can have behind him."
Matanya Harow also wrote a short song on the occasion of his enlistment, below.