One semester was enough for Salomon Wask from Mexico City to retire from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Hebrew Americana in his hometown.
However, the reason why he decided to stop attending the school benches was not due to difficulty or a feeling of disgust, but out of a pure Zionist desire to enlist in the IDF and serve as a soldier.
"Back in Mexico, I started training in a gym and independent training. I am interested in serving in a combat unit," he says of his preparations for the IDF Reconnaissance Day, which is an initial formation for the IDF's elite units.
In the meantime, he enjoys the help and support of Garin Zabar, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and that this year, for the first time, Garin has set up lone soldiers on the purity of young men and women from Latin American countries.
Two and a half weeks ago, he immigrated to Israel, and here he continues to prepare for the IDF.
Salomon is training, Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
Salomon, 20, was born and raised in the Mexican capital, Mexico City to Paula and Marco, and is a year younger than his sister Nicole.
"I studied at a Jewish Zionist school, where we were told about the complex reality in Israel. I am a Zionist and love Israel. I visited Israel twice and felt that if the people here are fighting for the Jews of Mexico, then I should do my part in defending the country."
He said that despite the occasional wars and security incidents that befell Israel, he did not shy away and wanted to serve in the army as a fighter. "I decided that I too should do something for the security of the country. I am not afraid."
Scouts Garin Zabar is a program for individual immigrant soldiers of the Hebrew Scout movement in Israel and is intended for young Jews and Israelis living in the Diaspora and interested in serving in the IDF. It is noted that according to data from the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, about 80% of them remain and settle in Israel after military service and establish a home and family here.
Every year, 400 new immigrants join the program, and against the background of the increase in the number of immigrants to Israel, the Lone Soldiers program is currently inaugurating another building in Garin Sabar village in Raanana, populated by a new nucleus from Latin America consisting of 14 members from Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Chile.
From Mexico to Israel, Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
"Young people see Israel as an opportunity to develop and see the importance of starting the aliyah process already in the army," says World Scout CEO Elad Sandrowitz. ".
Salomon, for his part, explains the family complexity of the decision to come to Israel and enlist. "It's hard. On the one hand my family is proud and on the other hand a little sad that I'm leaving and making sure I'm a fighter. My mother and sister supported me from the beginning. My father had a bit of a hard time with enlisting in a combat unit "Crossing the whole world, getting to Israel and enlisting, but for me this is a wonderful thing."
