Israel's Security

*FROM 12/22*

This morning we had to wake up earlier than we were now used to thanks to the exam schedule (aka 7:45). After breakfast, we got on the bus and drove up into the Mountains. At our first stop we talked about the 6-day war and it’s effect on the Golan. We also talked about Eli Cohen, who pretended to be a Syrian businessman but was really an Egyptian turned spy for the IDF. He helped the IDF find the Syrian bunkers by telling them [the Syrians] to plant eucalyptus trees around the bunkers for protection. These trees were actually a sign for the Israelis so that they would be able to easily find the bunkers; especially b/c the tree wasn’t native to Israel so it was easy to point out. Sadly, the Syrians eventually found out what he was doing and killed him. However, he was a major reason we were successful during the 6-day war. Then, we got on the bus and had an early fast food lunch. After lunch we went to Ben Tal, which was an Israeli Outpost during the Yom Kippur war. We heard a story about Tzveka Gringgold, who was between troops when the war broke out but went out and formed a 3 tank troop anyway. The 2 tanks that he was not in were both hit and were unable to be of fighting use, but that did not stop him from using them to his advantage. He still radioed the other two tanks so that the Syrians would think they were still working. He and his tank also drove from hilltop to hilltop making it seem as if there were multiple tanks shooting. They were able to hold of the Syrians by themselves for 36 hours! Then we walked through a bunker so that we could see what they were like back then and are like today for the soldiers than have to live in them. Next, we got on the bus and drove to a nearby kibbutz where we saw a movie on Oz 77, a tank troop that fought in the Yom Kippur War. When we got of the bus at the kibbutz, we saw something none of us were expecting to see….SNOW! As we drove down the mountain we drove next to both the Syrian and Lebanese boarders. After that we went to the Naot show factory and outlet. I tried on a few pairs of shows but ended up deciding I wouldn’t actually wear them. So, since I wanted to have something to remember the day I bought a small 10 shekel leather heart shaped Naot key chain. Then we got back on the bus and went back to the hostel. When we got back we had a hour to relax and then had dinner. After dinner we had our final class discussions. We talked a lot about how we are going to continue to have Judaism and Israel in our lives back in America. It is so sad to think I won’t be spending 3+ hours a day with my Jewish History class. We have really become such a family and I have gained so much knowledge over the past 4 months that I wouldn’t have without them. In short, the next 4 days are going to be extremely hard. Before EIE I had no idea what to expect and it really just hit me that I have been in a foreign country for 4 months. I feel like I am going to wake up one morning and it is all going to have been a dream.