Approximately 2000 lone soldiers in IDF combat units recently participated in a number of leisure trips to the Dor beach, as part of the Lone Soldier Appreciation Week that the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers organized in cooperation with the Friends of the IDF (FIDF). The trips were financed by members of the New Jersey FIDF branch, who themselves used to serve as lone soldiers in the IDF. During the trips, the combat soldiers enjoyed a number of entertaining activities on the beach, such as water slides, kayaking, surfing lessons, water trampolines, soccer, air hockey and alternative treatments. In addition to that, an international phone booth was installed at the beach, so that the soldiers could call their family members abroad for free. The soldiers did not leave with empty hands either: Each one of them received a gift voucher for various clothes shops; those vouchers were also a present from the New Jersey FIDF branch. The final ceremony at the beach was attended by the Commander of the Paratrooper Brigade and the commanders of the brigade’s battalions, and also the chairman of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers, Avigdor Kahalani, who told the soldiers: “You, who left your homes and families abroad in order to serve here in the IDF, you fulfill the dream of those who built this State, and embody the essence of modern Zionism.” The new Paratrooper Brigade Commander, Col. Aharon Haliva, thanked the donors for their gift: “The three dear donors, who are here with us today, know how to make sure that the commanders solve any problems a lone soldier might have. They care for the soldiers like a father cares for his children, and I want to thank you for this special donation.” Sami Bar-Or, one of the three financiers of the trips, explained the importance of the donation for these soldiers: “It is important to us that the lone soldiers in the IDF here today enjoy the Israeli atmosphere and their service as much as possible, so that they will remember that also during difficult moments of their military service, because the international Jewish community is behind them, supports them and thinks of them.”