Exactly two weeks from today we will welcome the Boston-Haifa Connection’s Hatikvah Soldiers Mission to town. This inspiring group of active duty IDF officers from our sister city in Haifa will be addressing audiences all over the Greater Boston area about their experiences in the military and their connections to the American Jewish community. 

In our most recent post earlier this week, we linked to two clips from a documentary produced following last year’s inaugural mission.

Below are two more clips that really showcase what the mission is all about. One of the things that struck me about the film is not only how the stories and experiences the officers share during their tours of the community impact the people they meet, but also the effect these meetings have on the officers. They return to Israel with an even deeper sense of purpose, knowing Jewish communities across the world look up to them.

The delegation is timed to coincide with an emotional period in the Jewish calendar. The officers will commemorate Yom HaShoah here in Boston, and they’ll also be with us in the days leading up to perhaps the most poignant day on the calendar, Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Thousands of Israelis have made the ultimate sacrifice and have died defending the ony Jewish state in the world, a reminder that these men and women have an immense burden placed upon them.

But just as we acknowledge this weight they carry on their shoulders, we must also remember these officers and the other soldiers with whom they serve are regular, everyday people. And an important part of the mission is that it shows the human side of the IDF and helps people see that despite what the media tries to portray, soldiers are just like any of us.

The Hatikvah Mission will be here from April 28th-May 4th, and there are multiple opportunities for you to meet and interact with the officers. Here are a few of events you should be aware of:

Friday, April 29 - Kabbalat Shabbat with Havurah on the Hill

Saturday, April 30 – Blue Party with BIG – Boston Israel Group (email bostonisraelgroup@gmail.com for more information)

Sunday, May 1st - Yom HaShoah Commemoration and 15th Anniversary of the New England Holocaust Memorial from 10:30am to 12:00pm at The Holocaust Memorial on Congress St., followed by Boston 3G’s Frozen Memorial

Monday, May 2nd - Buy A Soldier A Drink, a young adult community event sponsored by the Boston-Haifa Young Leaders, CJP's Young Leadership Division (YLD) and BIG - Boston Israel Group

Additional information about these upcoming events will be available on this blog, the JewishBoston.com events page and CJP.org. CJP has also created a special page on its website with information about the mission, which you can visit by clicking here.