This cabin-time activity offers an opportunity for campers, counselors, and Israeli staff to bond as they consider the very real challenges of war, and consider the ultimate sacrifices that people sometimes are called upon to make.

This activity meshes "gadna"-style training with examination of the ethos of the IDF. It includes physical army "training," discussion of life in the army, and personal stories and anecdotes from your Israeli staff who have been through their own army experiences.

This activity encourages campers to explore their own leadership qualities through a discussion about the Israeli army. By reading a story about a young commander in the IDF, campers will reflect on their own capabilities to be a leader at camp and in their communities by discovering similarities between their own leadership qualities and the commander's leadership qualities.

This session addresses the complicated sentiments that the Israeli people felt about Israeli soldiers who fought and died during the 1948 War of Independence and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Campers learn about some of the key challenges facing Israel today, begin to develop or sharpen their opinions, and engage in discussion and debate as they grapple with the realities of multiple perspectives on burning issues.