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Fall Newsletter 2002
Rising Through The Ranks
As newly-appointed madricha rashit (chief instructor)
for immigrant soldiers at the Machvah Alon army base
in the Galilee, Tzila Dvir, 22, oversees a staff of
250 and the study program for 600 students. "I am
responsible for all the teachers who work with
olim," says the Hadas participant, a native of
Kibbutz Saad. "At the same time, I teach IDF
commanders how to relate to the immigrants in their
units." Dvir, who has already supervised courses for
some 3,000 soldiers, began her army service as an
instructor for disadvantaged soldiers, and then
signed on for an additional nine-month commitment as
an officer in the immigrant division. "Studying at
Hadas before my army service gave me tremendous
strength," she says.
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| Strength From Hadas: Tzila Dvir (left) |
Often too busy these days to
attend on-base shiurim for Hadas soldiers, Dvir
intends to return to full-time learning at Midreshet
Lindenbaum after she is discharged in December.
Following closely in Dvir's footsteps is Reut
Fingher, of Hispin in the Golan Heights, who was
named outstanding graduate of her officers' training
course in June. "I became an officer because I'm
very committed to my work and to 'my' soldiers,"
reveals Fingher, 20. Although officers' training is
notoriously demanding, Hadas women proved ready for
the challenge: nine out of 31 graduates were from
Hadas. "We are extremely motivated people who really
want to make a difference," explains Fingher.
Trained by the IDF to teach math, English and
history, Leibowitz is drawing upon her Hadas
experience in an additional, volunteer project she
has initiated: preparing qualified soldiers for the
matriculation exam in Talmud.
But the soldier makes it clear that the high point
of her army service are the bi-weekly Torah study
sessions taught on the base by visiting Hadas
instructors. "We are constantly busy here and we
have tremendous responsibility on our shoulders,"
she stresses. "But those shiurim are compulsory for
me. I cherish that time to sit, learn and recharge
my batteries."
Studying for a Second Chance
Efrat Liebowitz, 21, admits that her situation is a
bit unusual. "My students are not only older than I
am, but they outrank me as well!" smiles the
Education Corps instructor. Leibowitz teaches
soldiers who did not complete their matriculation
exams in high school, and now, at the end of their
army service, merit six months of intensive studies
for the tests in preparation for civilian life.
REACHING OUT TO ALL RELIGIOUS SOLDIERS
"Army service poses significant challenges for
religious women, in areas ranging from living in a
non-religious environment to Sabbath observance and
modest dress," emphasizes Hadas director Rabbi Ohad
Tehar-Lev. "But knowing that we stand behind them
gives our students confidence and strength." Now,
OTS is also offering support to religious women who
are entering the army without the benefit of the
Hadas backbone. A one-day seminar will address the
complex issues and give the women an opportunity to
voice their concerns and find answers to their
questions. In addition, Tehar-Lev and Hadas halachic
authority Rabbi Shuki Reich have launched a hotline
that offers 24-hour-a-day assistance on religious
and general issues to all observant women in the
IDF.
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