The ISRAELI ARMY - a personal perspective 

“In a world where everyone is special, I’m proud to be average.” Such a refreshing statement. Being an average, good person is more than enough!

This guy loves his job and his country. He seems genuine and happy to share his opinions. A rarity; even more so, on RU-vid

"We need to be better than them in all areas, and we can't afford to lose." Excellent points.

I served in the IDF the military funded my studies (electronics engineering) I served in the Air Force, the skills you acquire in the military at such a young age prepare you for life in a great way. Thanks for ur videos! (-:

Love how humble and self aware this guy is

When my son was born, friends asked me what I wanted him to be when he grew up. I replied, "I want him to be someone other can rely when they lie down to sleep with him on watch. When we made aliyah, I wanted nothing more than for him to enter IDF, which he did after 18 months at mechina Ma'ale Ephraim. He served two tours in EGOZ. Simply put, he is now the man I prayed he would become. IDF turns out good people.

I love your humour🤣 “you’d rather fight in your Mazda than in the tank” I can somewhat relate to that I served in the Irish Defence Forces for a number of years, quite different in terms of need for a country but still proud of my service Thank you for these videos, such a great insight. Blessings x

Served in a combat unit in the IDF. Love my homeland with all my heart 🇮🇱.

My grandson and granddaughter live in Israel, so they will have to serve. I can only pray for peace.

Having served 21yrs 2 months and 3 days in the US Navy, I appreciate what you say. We used to have a draft and I think it was a mistake to get rid of it. When only a small percentage participate in the defense of their country, they tend to not be interested in keeping it free.

I am an ex-Catholic atheist in America and I have learned so much from you and I’m grateful. You are doing an essential service not just for Israel but for the world I believe.

You Are not average. You have a WONDERFUL RU-vid channel. Respect from Norway ❤️🇳🇴

I was in the U.S. Army 4yrs and studied you guys. served with a couple from IDF in training. Thx for this.

I am a US Air Force Veteran having served 7 years during the Cold War era and can appreciate your experience. Your experience was different than mine as yours was the immediate defense of your homeland. Mine was in defense of other people's homelands and mine. Even in the US Military, the term used commonly in my branch was "Needs of the (your branch) come first".

Obviously “average” has different meanings. From my brief experience, anyone who qualifies as a tour guide is not “average”. Thank you for your service.

I love the phrase about in a world of everyone being special, still being proud to be average !! Greetings from Italy!

I always find it such a pleasant surprise just how lush and green and _clean_ Israel is, such a beautiful land, you'd never believe it was the Middle East 🫶🏻💚

I really love every vid you make. So informative and non biased.

This guy rocks he s a great reflection of love truth and valor even though he s average

I’m a Christian American Man in Southern California and I appreciate your story Sir

I love your perspective 😄. I’ve seen these sides-22 years in the Navy as a nurse. I worked in hospitals and with the Marines.

Hi Oren, I understand where you are coming from. I was a Marine infantryman for 20 years and I loved it. What’s better is your experience in the army and the great IDF army! You explained everything clearly and made it enticing! Shalom, shalom! !מצוין

I have never had the good fortune to go to Israel, but I have always felt a great - kinship? ties to Israel. I believe in Israel and will always support you in whatever way I can. Love from Nancy in Canada.

Love your attitude and your self effacing style. Clear narration and just enough humour

very insightful and honest. My brother had what I would say would be a similiar experience. He was a a paratrooper in the 1973 Yom Kippur war.

As a American Citizen ( AMCIT) , and , a Prior Service USMC and US Army Enlisted Veteran, from 1987 to 1998, with 1 Year and 4 Months in the Army National Guard ( ARNG) and US Army Reserve ( USAR). I Myself, John Rodriguez, have honor and respect for ZAHAL ( Zava Ha'Haganah L'Yisra'el, " Army For the Defense of Israel", id est, Israel Defense Force ( IDF) . United States Armed Forces and Israel Defense Force: One Team, One Fight!!🇺🇸🇺🇲🛡️🗡️⚔️🪖💣💥🔥🇮🇱🇮🇱♥️❤️

Watching this nice video in November 2023. First of all, I say: love and peace be unto Israel and Jerusalem and ALL its beautiful people. I really loved the video as well as the special end of it with a peaceful view and a burner with a kettle. You are a true hiker and the son of ISRAEL )

I loved the personal tour through your army days, and taking us to where you went as a teenager. I just imagined showing you places from my teenage years growing up in Toronto, Canada, but I'm afraid I don't have something so noble to contrast it with as your mandatory army service. I did serve in the Army Reserves in Canada for 3 years, but like you said, there is a big difference between being in an army that might send you to keep peace or fight in a far away land, and being in a tank facing actually hostile people 30 kilometres from your actual home. My wife and I are planning to visit Israel as soon as we can, once the COVID pandemic is over, and I'm pretty sure we're going to try to seek you out as a guide!

I like the information given in this video. It really gets into details and is indeed different from other IDF videos. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

11:16 "I'd rather fight from my Mazda." LMAO. I enjoyed it very much Oren. Like most of your videos it was well thought out and intelligently presented. And while most of it was about the army, peace and your youth tied in together. In America we have huge oceans separating us from the dangerous places in the world. Other than urban violence Americans don't face existential threats while in Israel this is just a car ride away. What came across to me was that readiness for war, the hope for peace, and a youth overlooking the beautiful Sharon plain or other beautiful places in Israel all coexist within an Israeli lifetime. I lived in Israel in the mid 1980s and served in the IDF for 6 months (only 6 months because I was older, 30 when I entered Israel.) I was very gung ho and patriotic and was supposed to serve in either Combat Engineers, Artillery or Combat Medic when I finished Tironut. At the last minute at Lishkat HaGiyoos there was a mixup and I was shuffled off into a non-combat role, just alot of guard duty. I always felt badly that I wasn't allowed to express my patriotism but you mentioning that only 10% end up in combat units made me feel a little better.

Greetings from Crete,Greece.Just finished watching detailed videos of all the Israeli wars of the previous century and realized we have much more in common.I served 24 months in the airforce.We too here have reserves coming back for training, I find it cool because you meet old friends and catch up.We signed a defense pact too recently so thats cool.I ve had many Israeli friends that I met in the hotel I manage,and some very beautiful ladies still in active military serving .I ll sub it seems you have many informative videos.

I served as an officer in the Canadian military (armored corps) for 5 years. Very motivating, and we got to play with fun toys that most people never touch,

When one is a tourist, it is much easier to see "the sights" than to truly meet and interact with the inhabitants. Most interactions are "you sell - we buy" whether it is a souvenir or information that we're buying. By making videos such as this, you are giving us an insight into Israel we otherwise wouldn't have unless we rented an apartment, learned Hebrew, and had time to have conversations about our lives and our philosophies. Learning about the IDF and your experience therein, and as a kid growing up in the area, provides a window we don't otherwise get. Toda rabah.

When recently in Israel I took the high-speed train from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem. It was on a Sunday and there were many 17-22 year olds in military uniform sitting among my wife and I. I asked one of them why there were so many on the train and he replied that the Army arranges soldiers to visit Jerusalem to get to know Jewish history better. Imagine that! I just assumed that growing up in Israel that its history is automatically learned, but here was the Army providing the means to make sure their people know it. And of course you could imagine what this does for morale. Not only literally fighting for your home, which can be 50 km away as was mentioned, but you are fighting for 3,500 years of history which occurred right under your feet. The other impression which I got was just how mature these individuals were. No music blasting, no loud, boisterous behavior. What I heard were young men asking women if they wanted help with their backpack, and laughter among groups of people where it was obvious that they were quite close with one another. It was a memory I won't quickly forget. When I took the plane for home the next day and finally was on my local train headed from my airport to my house there were again young people on the train. The contrast, as you could imagine, was dramatic. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Yes, I loved the memories of your time in school alongside your experience in the army. While seeing the sites of a foreign country is great, it is knowing how people live day-to-day that makes one realize how much we share, and how it can bring us closer together.

Gam ani! I was also in IDF - Armoured Corps - M50's. I am proud to have served. Sworn in at Masada.

Went to Israel in 2019. Felt very safe and enjoyed all the interest and conversations with people from Israel. Shalom!

Outstanding video Oren and has made my must watch several times group of vids...Thoroughly enjoyed it!! Thank you for posting.

NIce work IDF .... BEST ARMY IN THE WORLD! You were privileged to serve in it!

I really think that it's wonderful that everyone is required to serve in the military there. The people in my country would certainly benefit from the more intangible things derived from service such as leadership training, teamwork and most of all a sense of community and shared responsibility for the defense of one's nation.

Shalom from New Zealand thank you for your honesty and insight Kia Ora

Thanks! great videos keep ‘em coming , gd bless the land of Israel Shalom

Your material is always interesting since it genuinely speaks of Israel and its societies. The idea of starting with the army and switching to peace and then to places for meeting girls is just another exemple of that. You rock ! Peace to you from Canada.

I love all your videos! I will be sure to comment on a more recent one to show you support.

Thank you for your "personal perspective". Your personal observations are what make your videos interesting.

Thank you 😊 lovely video. I miss my homeland. It use to look a lot like that but in Asia. God bless Israel! Stand strong and be safe pls.

I am really enjoying this unique view of your amazing country thank you

I really enjoyed my service at sayeret golani, honestly, the best 3 years of my life. my life went downhill after I left the service. amazing friends, interesting service, and i really felt like the place really pushed me to my limits and I liked that...and honestly, I served with amazing people. With regards to you saying you were not a good soldier, i think it all depends on how well you fit in your unit. I love walking, navigating, being on my feet, and I would have hated being in a tank.

Thanks for the information. My Israeli friends are mostly Sephardi, and gave me a different view. I'm sort of surprised you were a tankist. My Moroccan friends were all tankists, and while they loved their tanks, they said kibbutz elites got nicer postings. (They said loader was the worst position a tankist could have.) But, I do have a Mitzrachi friend, Lebanese, who isn't particularly bright, but was put in intelligence, probably because he spoke Arabic and French.

Interesting video. Its interesting to see a society that integrates its military. I'd love to see the Armour, Artillery and Airforce Museums. The Merkava is an interesting Tank But I wonder how it would be in western europe. But what the Israelis did to the Centurion is amazing.

Born in Egypt I was an innocent child and when started to know the world around me in my fifth and sixth grad in school start learn and been told to hate Isrial, as a child like any other child in world I started asking questions why. Why I have to hate Israel and what did they do in order to hate them but no one answered. The question start getting bigger and bigger in my mind and no one given me an answer until I become a 16 years old and a big disaster happened we lost the big war in 1967 and I keep asking same question why we have to hate our neighbors why all this chaos and big wars for nothing , we should love our neighbors but I face a bad problems because of one single question then I finally realize I need to get out of this Big circus to live a normal life and I left the country and moved on and I realized that was a loosing battle to ask that question so I moved on and I know I was right that Isrial is a beautiful country wonderful people and very lovely too and no need to have a grouchy leaders to lead the country and take them to war and kill people for nothing instead loving your neighbor as yourself, live and let everyone live around you how simple is that, beautiful truth and very easy to do simple life just open your hart and open your eyes and see Gods creations, enjoy your neighbors don’t fight them. I love Israel from the bottom of my heart God bless you Israel the land of Jesus Christ.

Good video! I enjoy your neutral tone - this is not "the best" or "the worst", you give the cultural explanations and I think I fascinating and important!

Since I discovered your channel about 10 days ago I have learnt a thousand things about your beautiful country and culture. The last time I visited Israel in 1990 I was obviously too immature to take in the complexities. Since then I have lived very close to the Middle East and appreciate Israel immensely for not just bearing up but flourishing in the face of opposition and enmity on all her borders. Thank you for your great work. You make the terrible tragedy of October 7th much more relatable to many of us goyim who wouldn't have known the half of it without your historical contextualisation. It must also be extremely stressful to deal with commentators who are hateful. I pray for you and your family as you serve by confronting lies.

Thanks for the video...filled in some gaps in my understanding. As a retired engineer, I decided to participate in Sar-el. Did four stints at various bases...enjoyed it. Thanks again for you great videos. I travel to Israel every year as a supervisor in archaeological digs. Presently at Shiloh...hope it doesn't get cancelled this year. Fifteen times to Israel at eight different digs. And yes, Latrun is a great museum...and not too far from Elvis! And when I dug at Gezer, we had our HQ at Neve Shalom.

Great video. That last scene was tranquillity.

May you be strong and never lose!

I was in the Armor Corps also, just in the US. Did 4 years. I loved the tanks, glad to hear you did too.

That was one of the best description of Army service that I have ever heard. I was US Army and served on M60A1 tanks (loader all the way to tank commander. I then volunteered for and served in Special Forces (Green Beret) as a communicator and an engineer. So I do have a lot of Army experience and think you did a great job on this video.

Very good video. Thank you!

You are doing a great job! Your videos show how much you love our country and respect our heritage..

Thank you for this great video, giving some insight in the best and most humanitarian army in the world. Much respect for all the Israeli who served. You never give up.

I really enjoy your videos … very informative

the ability to get along with strange people is the most important thing your learn in the army. :)

Thanks for sharing your experience. Greetings from Sri Lanka.

Well done. In my trips to Israel, I’ve always enjoyed hearing the first hand accounts of my tour guide’s experiences in the armed forces. During my visit in 2020 our guide told of his experience during the Yom Kippur war; absolutely fascinating.

Fantastic insight, as well as reflection over time. I served in a different time and place in Southern Africa, but the lessons of service, team work and our connection to each other are clearly expressed here. Very inspiring!

Shalom from California, USA. Excellent video. Videos like yours expressing your thoughts really makes one feel closer to your world and what you think about. The daily lives of others can be very similar to ours in some ways. Thanks for sharing.

What a great video! Thanks for weaving in the personal details with your the "army" travelogue; it was very enjoyable! -- the Lord bless you, and keep you, and make His face shine upon you.

Thanks for another great video. One of the most interesting things we saw in Jerusalem were the young girls walking around with M16 sling across their shoulder while talking like any 19-20 years old. I'm used to seeing soldiers with guns on the streets where I came from, but not young girls! The first person we talked to in our first night in Jerusalem was a 19-year old American from Brooklyn who came to Israel to serve in the IDF.

My own service was one of the best period of my life. Served in the navy from 2007-2009.

Always lovely. Charming, educational Todah rabah

Loved the view of green farmlands at the end. When I visited Israel a few years ago, I met two visiting grandmothers from Australia who were volunteering in the Israeli Army as a way to stay for several months in Israel. They worked doing laundry and got free home and food. They then had week ends off and would go exploring the country and stay at hostels for few days.

Thank you so much Oren for sharing your life experiences. I only recently discovered your channel (I was looking for impartial news on the 7th October Hamas attack and watched your excellent reportage, subscribed have have enjoyed watching several of your videos). I am an agnostic from a Christian background but many years ago studied religion and theology. From my studies in theology and especially the historical aspects, I have always understood that the Jewish nation remains the original and rightful occupier of Israel. Not only do I accept Israel's right to exist but to exist peacefully and in harmony with all Arab neighbors. Of course the fact that Israel is surrounded by hostile forces necessitates the maintenance of an effective army, and history has proven this to be a entirely true. I live in South Africa and when I was a young man we also had an effective system of conscription. I was never a supporter of the philosophy of apartheid, in fact I grew up in a liberal progressive home where my parents often spoke out about the unfairness and injustices of that system of government. However, regardless of my upbringing, I was obliged, like all 16 year old boys, to register for conscription. I have a few questions. Firstly, throughout the five years of high school we had a weekly 3 hour session every week called 'youth preparedness'. All the boys where issued with a cadet uniforms styled on the army uniform at the time which was to be worn on the day (inspection was held and we had pass inspection), and we received training in drill (marching), shooting and basic survival tactics. Does the IDF and the Israeli government practice a similar programme with scholars in schools in Israel. Secondly, as I gained a university level matric, I was allowed to study and gain a degree before reporting for national service. Every 6 months students like myself had to submit our latest results proving our progress to the exemption department of the SADF, who would then grant a 6 month deferment if they were satisfied. Does the IDF and Israeli government do something similar? I eventually qualified as a pharmacist and when I reported for national service, and completed my basic training, I was trained as an officer (along with all the other graduates) and served in my professional capacity. Again my question is, does the IDF do something similar? My final comment is that prior to my period of service South Africa was involved in an active war and most of my friends from school who did not study first saw active service on the front line, and some were even killed. However, not withstanding this, the conscription experience and long term effect on this cohort of young men was mostly beneficial, as it gave us all a sense of duty and responsibility, something which is sadly so lacking in many of todays young people. Conscription ended in South Africa in 1992, before the change of government to the African national socialist regime of the ANC. I discussed this aspect of conscription having a beneficial outcome for the young people involve recently with a Finnish friend (Finland also has a robust conscription policy and is possibly the best defense force in Europe) and he agreed that a well managed conscription programme has many more benefits than disadvantages, not just for the country, but especially the young men and women involved. I would appreciate to hear your point of view in this regard. Again thank you so much for the excellent content and the open and informative way in which you deal with interesting topics and some contentious issues.

Great piece! You have just made a new friend and admirer. Looking for your other videos! Shalom from Athens.

Very informative video. Thank you.

My heart is melting with every view I saw in this unique Video. Thank you so much.

I Love the IDF! The most Moral fighting Machine in the World. Thank you for your service. ❤🙏🏽🇮🇱🙏🏽❤

Wow! Extremely interesting video, Oren. Very insightful to hear your personal experience. I served for 6 years in the US Marine Corps and I always appreciate gaining new insights on military experience from people who served in other countries. What I would really like to know from you (I guess I'm recommending this as a subject for another video) is what do you think other nations can learn from the IDF? What is the IDF doing right that other nations can replicate? All the best to you and we'll see you in Israel when this cursed pandemic is gone.

Shalom from Canada!!

Hi Oren, love this style of video, good to get off the “beaten path.” Interested in less well-known sites because I’ve visited Israel so many times and lived there. Thanks!

I think serving in the armed forces is a brilliant way to get young people involved in their country. I wish Australia would bring it in for all young people, both men and women. Oren, you are a rare breed of great communicator. You bring such a great perspective to the situation you discuss.

Thank you for giving us nothing but the honest truth in every video Oren SheElohim Yevarach Otah Achi.

I love your dry humor! I love how you tell the stories of your world. Thank u so much.

Thanl you and GOD bless you for sharing your personal experiences. I have learned so much about Beautiful Israel from you. Shalom from Australia.

Excellent commentary once again. I always learn so much. Thank you!

Very good video about the best fighting force in the world. I also served in armed forces of country which used to be Czechoslovakia but unfortunately in the really bad communist era. And my experience is quite different from Oren's. We were taught to hate USA and Israel, but somehow this propaganda had totally opposite influence on my thinking. So long live Israel and great IDF.

thanks, oren, for a another very interesting vlog. really liked hearing about your army experience and the places you showed. my ex was in the tsahal tank corp during the yom kippur war as a senior medic in the sinai. needless to say, it wasn't easy. he went back to Israel a few years ago for a reunion with his tank unit so the ties he made with his unit were still close. thanks again.

You are a thoughtful and intelligent person, thank you for your videos, I enjoy learning more about Israel from you.

I was born aboard and served as lone soldier. Overall I enjoyed my tironut. It was regrettably during the first Intifada so after that I served in some pretty miserable locations. What I did get out of the experience was a true authentic connection with everyone else in society. In those days I also used to hitch or to ‘tremp’. I used to pretty much fall asleep as soon as I got into someone’s car and they’d wake me up at my destination. That could never happen now. I still remember my army number and still have my 1984 year army issue dubon! Anyone in the army will no how comfortable they were in the winter and also the funny side pockets in the hood. Be safe and thanks for the videos.

Shalom, shalom. My husband fought with Garin Hermon during the october war and they were situated at my border kibbutz. As an american who never experienced war close up, i was awe struck yet horrified by it all. My husband was in the tankim and he and his whole garin were shaken to their roots -we all were. These boys had barely finished basic when it hit. I believe that the pyschological impact was much greater than what was seen at face value. And all our heroes - Dayan, Golda- it was a terrible war and thank you for touching on it and the IDF.

Thank You ! 30 yrs ago, I was in Neve Shalom myself.

When I visited Israel in 1976 I met birdwatchers who spent their national service as bird reserve wardens. So cool.

Thanks for the great video. Really interesting! Love all your videos

Great video, very interesting. It's okay that your not a good soldier because we need good tour guides.

I served in the US Army for 20 years and was on tanks. I’ve always wanted to visit Latirn and hopefully meet Israeli Tankers. Very interesting video.

Shalom Oren! I enjoy very much all of your videos on visiting and traveling in Israel. This one on a slightly different topic was equally wonderful and informative! Keep up your good work!

A little late to comment here but thanks for the nice video about shiryon. I was in the totchanim (IDF artillery) in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Served across Israel, from the Sinai to the Golan. I have fond memories and appreciate the sacrifices of all those who preceded and followed me in uniform.

Good day, bravo for Izraels people's and Army!! I wish good luck from Czech republic 😄😄😄💓💓💓

Oren, you are amazing

Also, shalom from Canada! Thank you Oren for your videos! All the best!

I really enjoy your videos, on my first trip to Israel I dragged my wife along and spent half a day at the tank museum I love Israel and the people, we host young backpackers just out of the army, each one is special 🇦🇺🇮🇱