More Cows, Lishkat Giyus, and Gadna

So it’s been a while since my last post and several important things have happened since then. I have started to work regularly in the רפת (cowshed) starting work at either 2:30 or 5 AM each day, finishing around 10 AM, sometimes milking the cows and most of the rest of the time spent doing other chores around the cowshed such as cleaning the pens for the young calves, rounding up certain cows to be checked by the vet, etc. In keeping with my very detailed description of the cows, while milking the cows one day, I noticed from far that one of the cows looked like it had 2 tails. As I got closer in order to put on the suction cups for the milking, I noticed that it was not a tail, but was actually a placenta full of mud/poo still sticking out of the cow because she gave birth the day before. Apparently, unlike human births, it just takes longer to come out completely, and it usually just stays there until it falls out on its own. Just in case that description wasn’t clear enough, here is a picture...

I have decided to call my blog Basar Tari (בשר טרי) which translates to English as “fresh meat”, In Hebrew, this is used as slang for a new recruit to the army. Fresh meat because I really have no idea what is in store for me over the next 2 years. I have already been referred to as fresh meat once not only because I am only now beginning this whole complicated process, but also because this path is very unusual for someone like me – 22 years old and having just arrived from overseas. At the same time, I understand that everyone has to start somewhere, and I am ready to embark on this journey.


On Monday, we had our Tzav Rishon to determine our medical and psychological profile for the army, which ultimately determines what I am capable of doing in the army. Overall it was a bit of a stressful day, leaving the kibbutz at 7 AM returning a mere 9 hours later – at 4 PM. My results were as follows:

Psychological test (Kaba) – 54 (max is 56, so I think I did pretty well)

Medical profile – To Be Determined!

My 2 worries undertaking this whole process were my eyesight and flat feet. Prior to this visit, I had a separate appointment just for my eyes and I was told that they will not lower my profile at all (for those out there with glasses, my prescription is -5.00 and I am still capable of getting a 97 profile with just a סעיף for glasses). When it came to the flat feet, after taking 1 quick look at my feet, the army doctor (obviously Russian) says that my feet are completely flat – my arch is almost entirely unnoticeable – and if I’m lucky I’ll be able to get a 72 profile, which combat-wise is only good for artillery and would leave me with only non-combat jobs to choose from. The reason why my medical profile is still to be determined is because I was told that I have to see a foot specialist for my flat feet. It’s frustrating because I have never had any problems with my feet – I have been active with sports and running my entire life, and never have I even seen a foot specialist until now, but I can only hope for the best.

After arriving back to the kibbutz, each one of us met with our ‘adopted’ or ‘host’ families. It turns out that one of the sons in my family I already worked with a couple times milking the cows, but neither of us knew that we would be together after that. I think that the idea of having a family on the kibbutz who volunteers to take care of anything a lone soldier needs for 2 years – from cooking food to laundry to anything else that comes up is a really amazing thing and I already know that I can rely on them to help me out with anything when the need arises.

Early Friday morning, we had a mock ‘gibbush’ (=tryout) for elite units in the army. We got up early in the morning, had to be ready for 5 AM, and then it started. It wasn’t the most intense workout, but nonetheless it was very challenging. It included about an hour of walking/running with a stretcher which had on it about 75 kg, 4 people carrying it at a time, rotating between 10 people, some stretching, a lot of Matzav Shtayim (holding the push up position), some abdominal work outs, pull ups, and of course a while of sprinting as fast as you can, with the fastest people having the ‘honour’ to complete the mini sprints while carrying the stretcher. The practice ended with an hour nivut (navigation) in the avocado/banana fields around the kibbutz, in which we were given a satellite picture of the area, and given an end point with several checkpoints in between. Overall, it was a very good introduction to what is to come should I decide to try out for a sayeret (elite unit) in the army or any combat unit in the army for that matter.

This past week, my garin, along with all the other garinim from other kibbutzim, participated in Gadna on the army base in Sde Boker. It brought back a lot of memories because this is where I participated in a program called Marva 3 years ago, which serves the same purpose as Gadna, but was longer and more intense, lasting 7 weeks instead of only 5 days. The goal of these programs is to give people a taste of what the army is really like. At first I was caught a bit off guard with all the strictness and couldn’t believe I was back here for another ‘taste’ of the army, although this time a much more limited ‘taste’. However, I made the best of it, taking in the blistering hot sun, horrible food very often mixed in with a little bit of sand, and of course lots of running around and push ups. In hindsight it was an experience, and I think the best way to summarize the week is the way my friend put it “היה טוב וטוב שהיה” – it was good and good that it was (and not still is).

This past weekend I got off from the kibbutz so that I could go to Tel Aviv for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah. I was very happy to be there considering I was the only one from my immediate family who could take part in the celebration. Later that day, as is typical of the spontaneous way of life in Israel, I was offered to go see the final of Kochav Nolad (the Israeli equivalent of American Idol). My uncle, who owns a company which does fireworks and pyrotechnics was responsible for the fireworks at the performance and got some extra tickets, so I went with my cousins. I normally don't like these shows but being there in person, especially for the grand finale was really something special. Everyone there was really excited and just outright crazy!

Early Sunday morning I had to yet again go to the Lishkat Giyus, this time to meet with the head (lead) doctor. Someone must really like me there because this was my 4th time there in as many weeks. A couple days after the Tsav Rishon I went to the Lishka to see the foot specialist, where I explained my situation and was assured several times that everything will be okay and that my flat feet will not affect my profile at all. Just last week during gadna, I was told that they cannot officially give me my profile yet because now the head (lead) doctor at the lishka wants to see my feet. I’m starting to think that maybe I just have really beautiful feet, or it could just be that this is typical of bureaucracy here. Either way, I can finally say with somewhat confidence that I am done with the lishkat giyus, because after a little of back and forth with the head doctor, he agreed to give me a profile of 82. WHOOO!

I'm looking forward to having some free time the coming week to think over the decision that awaits me about where I want to serve – I will be getting my manila within the next week which is the army's suggestions of where I should serve.

I can only hope for the best and let the Israeli bureaucracy continue! Wishing everyone a shana tova and לשנה טובה תכתבו ותחתמו!