The IDF of the year 2022:
gifts and treats worth hundreds and thousands of shekels are showered on soldiers in elite patrols and cause competition between the parents, the prominence of the class differences between them, and great tension between the different teams in the same patrol itself.
For example, bags worth 800 NIS were purchased for fighters at "Agoz", coats worth 400 NIS at Sierer Golani, mountain shoes worth 1,000 NIS at Maglan, and luxury watches worth 3,500 NIS at Dovedvan.
In most units, hundreds more shekels were collected for deployments and choppers for the fighters.
The parents of the fighters are raising the money in the WhatsApp groups they set up, and also from anonymous donors, uploading photos from pampering events we organized for the team.
Bags worth NIS 800 were purchased for the fighters in "Agoz", photo: Vertical
Everything is done with good intentions, but puts parents whose hands can't reach into embarrassment.
In a conversation with five parents from different units, they describe the situation and request that the IDF intervene and stop the inflation of the show treats.
"It's a very unpleasant situation," says Anat, a breadwinner whose husband is unemployed and her son serves in an elite unit.
"One time I put 500 shekels. Then they collected a few hundred shekels more, and I couldn't give any more. Every time they open a paybox group. Of course they write that no one has to pay, and that everyone puts in as much as they like. But come on, soul, everyone sees You died or you didn't die. There is such a competition between the parents who is the most indulgent.
"A level of acceptance is created between parents in the unit. Those who are the richest and most connected also have direct contact with the commanders. And there are those who host all the team members in the villa and upload photos of the soldiers from the private pool next to the pampering catering. When my son's team was close to the living area ours, it was expected that I would invite everyone for a layout of some 5,000 NIS. We were afraid that we would not meet the standard set by the others, so we did not invite," says Anat.
Prohibit giving gifts
"I personally had a difficult experience with a group of parents on one of the patrols," says Menachem, whose son serves in a select unit.
"There was a sense of competitiveness in this WhatsApp group about who indulges more with food and gifts costing tens of thousands of shekels. In my opinion, the IDF should ban receiving gifts from parents.
Don't even start with it.
This creates pressure on parents.
So what, because I won't give a big gift my son will be kicked off the track?
Maybe I'm not doing enough for my son?
Such thoughts must not run through the parents' heads.
Some people don't have the skills.
It is especially serious when it happens during a route, because the soldier whose father gave everyone watches worth 3,500 shekels each, will receive a higher score in the sociometric (a social assessment questionnaire that the soldiers fill out for their comrades during the route and affects their chances of staying, 11). And even after the track it's problematic, because it could create jealousy between the teams. One team gets watches and the other doesn't. It's not normal. It needs to be stopped."
Soldiers in training // Archive photo: Dover Tehal,
IDF: Contrary to procedures
An IDF spokesperson responded: "Cases of the type described in the article are contrary to IDF orders.
According to the order, there is an absolute prohibition on receiving donations for IDF soldiers, including through gifts other than through the procedure established in the orders, which includes submitting an orderly application to the association for the soldier and confirming the donation with the professional officials in the personnel department.
The IDF will work to refine those orders among all units and reduce cases of this type."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us