Parents visit their 'lone soldiers'

In honor of next week's Family Day, parents of Israel's lone soldiers will come for a one-week visit to Israel.

By YANIV SALAMA-SCHEER
IDF soldier lebanon 224 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
IDF soldier lebanon 224
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
In honor of next week's Family Day, (Yom Hamishpaha) the Jewish Agency, the Friends of the IDF and the IDF are bringing the parents of Israel's lone soldiers for a one-week visit to Israel. Lone soldiers are those serving in the IDF who came to Israel as olim or volunteers and whose families are still in their native countries. The isolation that some of these soldiers feel sparked the need for Regila im Ima, a program that brings the families of lone soldiers to Israel every year. The program traditionally has some 50 parents participating, but this year, 200 parents from the former Soviet Union, the US, Europe and Canada will be coming to visit their children currently serving in the army. "It's a miracle for them," said Alex Selsky, a Jewish Agency for Israel fellow and the event's creator. "Sometimes these soldiers don't see their parents for years. The majority of these lone soldiers are part of Jewish Agency programs, and it's the responsibility of the Jewish Agency to help them out." The project, which will include trips to some of Israel's famous attractions such as the Dead Sea, Masada and Jerusalem's Old City, was funded by the United Jewish Congress and Keren Hayesod. The program will end with a ceremony for Israel's lone soldiers in Jaffa held by Ze'ev Bielski, the director of the Jewish Agency, and Maj.-Gen. Yitzhak Eitan, chairperson of the Friends of the IDF. "I myself was a lone soldier," Selsky added. "So I know how important this is, and how good the soldiers feel to have family come and see them."