For the American holiday of Thanksgiving, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) hosted IDF lone soldiers from America serving in the army without their family being in Israel, as a way of thanking their altruistic spirit seen in defending the Jewish nation.
"The IDF has an unconventional secret weapon in the young women and men who serve the State of Israel while their families live overseas," said AJC Jerusalem Director, Lt. Col. (res.) Avital Leibovich.
The event was attended by many soldiers who represented a variety of IDF units, including the paratroopers brigade, military police, intelligence and artillery brigades.
MK Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid), himself an oleh (immigrant) from the US, took part in a Tel Aviv thanksgiving dinner with over 100 lone soldiers, in an event organized by the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin.
"The most difficult challenge for lone soldiers is being away from family," said Lipman. "They tell me the feeling of being alone is greatest when their families at home are gathering for family or holiday celebrations."
"Thanksgiving is one of these times and it is an honor for me to join the soldiers during this challenging time to raise their spirits and pay tribute to the remarkable contribution which they are making to the state of Israel and the Jewish people," concluded the MK.