Post your introduction here

[elvaricocele]

(sorry if my english is not very good)

Hi, my names is javier im from argentina im 21
i would be entering in the army on the 26 of august 08' i need to do the ulpan because my hebrew is not good at all
im really anxious on joinig the army, believe me, i quiet the univ(i used to be on the fist year of arquitechture), and i sold my car to pay the flight to israel
so... yeah i want to join the army
well
thanks a lot for the info that you put on the forum, believe me it helped
me a lot

[Leafs22]

Hey guys, I'm just finishing high school, I am 18, I am Canadian. I would like to enlist this year but I think may 2009 is more realistic. I have some questions but I will save them for a separate thread, I look forward to discussing your experiences in the IDF with you.

[AJSNation]

My name is Adam Sulkis, I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, went on Birthright a few times and now have made the decision to join the IDF, hopefully the Shayetet since I have been a swimmer all my life, since age 4, USS teams, High school and College, been a swimmer for almost 20 years, and I'm only 23 years old!!! I've been a swimmer and a Jew my entire life, to serve the army I dream of Shayetet, as I've wanted to be a Navy Commando/Seal since I was age 10.

[Jess]

Hello everyone!

I was born in Israel, but haven't been there since just before I turned three. I'm 23 now, so it's been awhile, and I can't wait until I can return in some way, shape, or form.

While MAHAL isn't intended for people in my particular situation (or of my particular age), I have already learned some things by browsing around here. I do want to join the IDF, I'm just not sure I can anymore, and that's what I was researching when I happened to find this community. Many thanks to those who have put so much information into this place. It's really great.

[natess114]

hello my name is Nathan Schweitzer, i'm 17 years old and plan to join the IDF after high school. thanks so much this forum has been very very helpful.

[finster]

Hi, everyone.

My name is Sam ("Finster" is okay, too); I am 19 and I am currently attending the University of Arizona with the hope that I will be able to join the IDF in the summer of 2009. I am guessing I will be at the army ulpan as my Hebrew is not terribly good. There is not much else that I can think of. I was on Birthright in June and then I was backpacking across Israel for most of the summer, so I have some experience being there at least!

Is anyone else here thinking of joining in the summer? It will be nice to know at least one other person will be going through the same thing I will be going through, or even just to meet more friends in Israel. Probably I will be living on a kibbutz for a little while, too.

Anyway, term-papers are just about done, so I am enjoying my extra free time away from the university! I hope all of you who are from the United States are having a great Thanksgiving, and all of you who don't celebrate it are still having a great Thursday.

EDIT: My first question. Is there any difference between this thread and the rest of the "Introductions" forum?

Thanks,

-Sam

[gerhardt]

Hi guys.

My name is Gerhardt and i am a 19 year old male.
I live in the most dangerous country on earth (that is not at war)
SUNNY South Africa!!!!!!
I am also form one of the most Hated nations in Africa (The Boer Nation)

So as you might have guess.... I have made contact quite a few times in ambushes without having to be in the military ha ha (TRUE)
Actually on way way to do groceries shopping. ha ha ha

Now i am being converted at a orthodox sinoguage (did i spell sinoguage right?)

I am going to make aliyah and Join the IDF for a permanent career.
I knew what it feels like to be hated without having done anything wrong from a very early age. That's why i connected so well when i first came across the Jewish people.

Now i am like part of their family and i love them .

[LoadedDice]

Hello everybody,

My name is Zack and I am 21 years old. I was born, raised and reside in California.

I am (obviously) getting serious about joining the IDF for several reasons. Israel is a unique safe haven and a cultural center for the Jewish people. I know if anything should ever happen, I can almost always go to Israel (Thanks to the Law of Return)

Hopefully I will be in Israel doing Ulpan by early 2010 and enlisting that year.

And like many have said this is a great website & forum that made getting on track for Mahal simple.

Toda Raba !

Zack

[theluckynumber]

Hey Everyone,

My name is David and I was born and raised in Aachen, Germany. I am currently at University in the Netherlands. In early August I will fly to Israel with a friend to go backpacking and to visit some family and friends across the country. While my friend will fly back to Germany after a few weeks, I will stay in the country and volunteer for the IDF. I am planning on making Aliyah afterwards. Why afterwards and not before my service? Because I want to make it 100% clear that it is my wish and my choice to serve in the IDF and not because I have to.

Im looking forward to finally getting home to Israel.

Take care guys,
David

[hoktain]

Hey my names Daniel & my fathers study into out ancestry leads back to Israel, I was hoping to work in with the Australian & Israeli embassy here in Australia to spend 4 years in Israel doing a documentary on the language and culture. During this time i was hoping to volunteer with the IDF not only to better my discipline and learn valuable skills, but to see if our family descendants are still alive and if they are, fight for their right of national security.

I believe I could also use this experience to fight Arab propaganda posting videos, pictures and news along the way.

[42go]

Hi all. I am 23 and from the USA. I have graduated college. I am considering doing Machal but am worried about my age and about what I would do after finishing the program.

[rafi]

Hi all. I am 23 and from the USA. I have graduated college. I am considering doing Machal but am worried about my age and about what I would do after finishing the program.

Welcome to the board. Not knowing when your 24th birthday, I would advise you to decide quickly.


The Mahal program is for men younger than 24 and women younger than 21. Eligible are non-Israeli Jews, descendants of a Jewish grandparent and the spouses of the aforementioned. The program consists of 14 - 18 months of IDF service (depending on command of Hebrew).

[Dan]

Hi, my name is Daniel, and I am a Jewish 17 year old living in Maryland. I am planning to graduate from high school in May, and I am interested in traveling to Israel. I am very interested in the Mahal program, however, I still have some apprehensions from joining based on the logistics of living in Israel alone, as a lone soldier (as I would be.) Thank you, and I appreciate all of the advice and wisdom of those who have been through this experience before.

[commentator8]

Hi everyone,

My name is Yehuda (and i've been sober for...) and i am a 20 year old aussie who has recently been in israel for about 3 years broken up over a 5 year period in a israeli high school (yashlats) and then two hesder yeshiva's. I am planning, and have been for a year and a half, to enlist in machal hesder for march 10'.

I would like to keep abreast of any changes to regulations and use you as a resource for questions about my enlistment (with the various issues like having been in israel for over a year and a half...).

Any other aussies/anyone looking at march 10'?

[rafi]

Hi everyone,

My name is Yehuda (and i've been sober for...) and i am a 20 year old aussie who has recently been in israel for about 3 years broken up over a 5 year period in a israeli high school (yashlats) and then two hesder yeshiva's. I am planning, and have been for a year and a half, to enlist in machal hesder for march 10'.

I would like to keep abreast of any changes to regulations and use you as a resource for questions about my enlistment (with the various issues like having been in israel for over a year and a half...).

Any other aussies/anyone looking at march 10'?

Reach out to the Chief Rabbi of Sydney. He has family in the IDF right now and can help you with questions specific to Australia.

Good luck!!