The color of defense: the first female military painter to make history in the IDF

When Shabbat Sheva Schneider joined the IDF, she did not imagine that she would break boundaries and redraw the borders of the army. About a year after she joined as a training instructor, she was summoned to a meeting with the deputy commander of the base - who appointed her to the unique position. "Soldiers told me that my drawing made them feel like they were in enemy territory," Lavala told

Voila system!

news

04/08/2022

Thursday, August 04, 2022, 2:15 p.m. Updated: 3:17 p.m.

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share by email

• Share in general

• Comments

  Comments

In the video: Sergeant Batsheva Schneider, the first female military painter (IDF spokesperson)

From north to south, in the air, at sea and on land.

When Shabbat Sheva Schneider joined the IDF, she did not imagine that she would break boundaries and redraw the borders of the army. No, this is not a metaphor. Schneider was privileged to be the first military painter - and now, upon her release, she tells about her unique role and the difficult path to it.

"At first I didn't understand "Where did I end up," she tells Walla about her landing at the Tzalim base of the infantry.

After a few months, I asked my commanders in the unit to let me paint, no matter where.

I asked again and again until they approved me, and so I started painting on signs, I moved to the container, and then to the 'Little Gaza' training complex."

After a year on the job, she became an operations sergeant who performs 12-hour shifts - and after each shift, she continued to paint in dining rooms at the base.

At the base, word began to spread about the soldier who paints, and soon she was summoned to a conversation with the deputy commander of the base who noticed the potential, the need and the significance of the position.

"He decided to allow me to move around and paint between bases, and that's how a new position was created - military painter," she recalls.

Schneider against the background of one of her works (photo: IDF spokesperson)

Schneider with "large uniformed" soldiers (photo: IDF spokesperson)

With her release, she marks six months in the unique position - and leaves behind a legacy with three successors to the position.

"I was able to move between bases from north to south, and paint for the air force, the navy and the infantry. I painted for the most elite units in the army - Sheitat 13, Yehalam, 669, and more.

I designed wallpapers in the renovation of a food court in the city of the Behadim, and I painted in a joint project with soldiers in the recruiting office. I personally presented a painting to Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, and I painted in the project together with the soldiers of the 'Gdolim in uniform' program.

" "Mali", she wishes to point out.

"Also the commanders from the previous positions who let me paint while on duty - but especially to my current commanders, who believed in me, trusted me, and without them none of this would have happened. They gave me a free hand because they saw my true passion and intention. They saw the potential and meaning here , and made me do my best.

According to her, she had hundreds of conversations with soldiers who told her how her job affected them and made them do the things they love.

"Soldiers told me that my painting changed their training in the Lashbia and made them feel like they were actually in enemy territory, and soldiers who tell me that the painting in their dining room makes them feel better every day.

Amazing people and friends I've met, and amazing officers and opponents who do everything to improve the feeling of their soldiers."

More in Walla!

GIMAL Mabot: The reform in military medicine is revealed

To the full article

Schneider against the background of one of her paintings (photo: IDF spokesperson)

Schneider with "large uniformed" soldiers (photo: IDF spokesperson)

Schneider says that her liberation project was one of the most significant in the service.

"The mural she did together with soldiers from 'Gdolim in uniform', a program that integrates boys with disabilities into the IDF.

I painted with them for several days, at their base and where they work.

At first I came hesitantly, I have never done anything like this, after all there is added value here and I will have to really guide soldiers on what to do and how, and not just paint.

But when I arrived - they were so excited and ready to work, that I didn't have to try too hard.

They were curious and worked together in an amazing, friendly and happy way.

Everyone got involved in the work and together we created an impressive and colorful mural that I'm sure they are proud of."

Now, upon her release, she plans to continue working in the field. "My service showed me that this is the place for me, and the power that is in creation, painting and art.

I am released with a huge smile, thanking all the people who crossed the road with me, and many plans for the future."

Col. Nati Kern, Deputy Commander of the Military, said that the drawing section in the IDF was established out of a desire to combine creativity and emotion that breaks the army's state line - and between an environment that simulates as much as possible the challenges and scenarios that future fighters will encounter. "As part of training in the IDF" "There are different and varied ways to simulate a real operational environment," he tells Walla.

"For me, the story of the military painter in the IDF is a good way to create a simulated environment that will allow all the soldiers in the various forces a service experience that breaks the routine.

This, with an emphasis on common spaces to which a message is conveyed through the painting that cannot be conveyed directly and to create a burst of emotion as realistic as possible in the face of operational challenges or scenarios that the soldiers are going to encounter on command day."

Keren added that as always - a good initiative usually comes from below.

"Bat Sheva is very ambitious and pushes forward with tremendous talent and she put before my eyes the potential that exists in trying a new idea. The drawing section is a key component that was added to the best way to make training in the IDF successful.

My message is that every soldier in the IDF, whoever he is, if he has a creative idea that can improve the military system, it is his duty to offer it. I am sending a message to the commanders to give the place to those soldiers."

• news

• Army and security

Tags

• IDF

• Drawings