The Courage to Grow Roots in Foreign Soil

To be Israeli, some might say, is to have roots deep in the soil, to be fluent in Hebrew and to have what they call chutzpah. But history has told us time and again that nations are equally defined by their waves of newcomers as they are by their founders. We see that same pioneering spirit at the Spokespersons Training Course on the Gidonim base.

David Ben Gurion came from Poland and built a country from dirt and sand. Golda Meir stepped off a boat from Ukraine and helped steer the nation. In the Spokesperson’s Course, what we call the “Little Aliyah”, the same story unfolds. Native-born Israeli soldiers are the backbone: confident, grounded, loud. 

But it’s the soldiers like Joey, the lone olim whose Hebrew is sometimes shaky, whose presence stands out. “It was overwhelming, shocking, and exciting all at once,” Joey said of his first day. “Once I understood the people around me, I felt like I was in the right place.” Despite the language barrier, he says he made friends “really quickly.” 

Soldiers like Mia, who are Israeli but exempt from the army, still chose to be here despite personal challenges. ”I was in shock at the start,” she said, “I felt a little intimidated by everyone’s abilities. I sat there thinking that others knew everything and I didn’t.” It took Mia time to adapt to the environment, the commanders, and even the commands. “Slowly I opened up.” She had the persistence to keep going when everything felt foreign. 

Leaders come in many forms. In addition to Joey and Mia, it’s the Tal Dovner’s who make a difference. Tal, a combat photographer, always encourages others to smile, not just for the camera.  

At first, the combat photographers were separated from the rest of the course. They lived on different floors, only saw each other in passing, and were even forbidden from speaking with one another. “In the beginning I had about three people in my room,” Tal said, “There was a lot of space and it was comfortable.” But eventually, the groups merged.

Tal didn’t even arrive on the first day as he was on guard duty. “I only met people later,” he said, “But even so, we were pushed closer. It took about three days to connect with the other soldiers.” Once the groups joined together, the challenge switched from fitting in to learning how to lead in a bigger group. 

To take initiative in the Spokesperson’s Course is about creating a space for others to thrive. “Being a leader means understanding others,” Joey said, “While making sure everyone can work comfortably and happily.”   

Just like in history, it’s not perfect Hebrew or chutzpah that defines a strong soldier, it’s the courage to grow roots in foreign soil and to speak even if your voice shakes. The rookies, combat photographers, and the olim show us that it does not matter where you come from or what stage you join, as long as you’re courageous enough to dive in.