Commander Coral
As a commander of lone soldiers, Coral is responsible for much more than just their basic military training—she also plays
a nurturing role, helping them adjust to Israeli society both mentally and physically. Lone soldiers need this extra support
because they come from many different countries around the world to serve in the Israeli army. They leave their family, friends
and support networks behind and must adjust to a totally new environment.
Coral’s is a difficult job that demands dedication and love.
PLAY FILM COMMANDER CORAL (3:35 minutes)
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ASK: In what way is Coral like a parent?
EXPLAIN each of the film’s three Take-Away lessons, and discuss the questions that follow.
Example: Coral gets up before her soldiers and goes to bed long after they’ve gone to sleep. She
barely has time to shower or make phone calls—and she loves her job.
Take-Away
#1
Selfless giving
is fulfilling.
ASK
• Why do you think Coral loves her job so much?
• How is it possible to sacrifice so much and yet feel so rewarded?
Example: Coral is a female commander who must lead and take responsibility for several hundred
male trainees—but she takes what comes in stride and doesn’t allow the soldiers to intimidate her.
Take-Away
#2
We have
intrinsic worth.
ASK
• What do you think would be difficult about being the only woman in charge of several
hundred men?
• In what way does valuing yourself help you succeed in life?
Example: Coral finds meaning in teaching soldiers even the most basic skills, like lacing their boots and
wearing their uniform properly.
Take-Away
#3
The mundane can
be meaningful.
ASK
• Why do you think it is more meaningful to teach these basic army skills to lone soldiers?
• Is there something in your life that from one angle seems mundane, but if looked at differently
would be inherently meaningful?
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LONE SOLDIER
Sometimes there are things we want badly—we work toward them, we plan for them and we give our all to get them. But
sometimes life throws us a curve ball, messes up our plans, and we’re left to figure out how we’re going to deal with it.
Oren really wants to serve in a combat unit so that he can protect Israel and the Jewish people in his own way. It’s his life-long
dream, and it prompts him to come to Israel and join the IDF as a lone soldier. The term “lone soldier” means that he serves
in the IDF without the support of home and family. Mekonen is also considered a lone soldier because his family’s economic
situation prevents his mother from giving him the basic support that is considered standard for Israeli soldiers.
Halfway through training Oren collapses, and the doctors are concerned that he may have a serious health issue that will
prevent him from serving as a combat soldier.
PLAY FILM LONE SOLDIER (5:17 minutes)
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ASK: How does being away from home and family make this situation even more difficult for Oren?
EXPLAIN each of the film’s three Take-Away lessons, and discuss the questions that follow.
Example: Oren and Mekonen come from completely different backgrounds, yet they feel as close as
real brothers.
Take-Away
#1
The Jewish People
are one family.
ASK
• What aspects of being a lone soldier cause Oren and Mekonen to relate so strongly to each other?
• Oren and Mekonen feel that their bond starts with their Judaism. Why do they feel that way?
Example: Oren and Mekonen had both gone through a very strenuous training session when Oren
collapsed. Though completely exhausted, Mekonen mustered his strength and ran to get help.
Take-Away
#2
Friendships grow
through giving.
ASK
• How can different experiences change a friendship?
• When have you gone the extra mile for a good friend? How did it affect your friendship?
Take-Away
#3
When life gives
you lemons, make
lemonade.
Example: Oren’s entire future as a combat soldier hangs in the balance, yet he makes the extra effort
to remain positive.
ASK
• What are some ways that people react or respond to unexpected challenges or difficulties?
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the rough day
We all have hard days—days when we’ve blown a test or had a misunderstanding with a friend. Whatever it may be, we do not
always meet the expectations of others or our own expectations of ourselves.
In this film clip, we see Eden, the commander, disappointed in his soldiers over their carelessness with their equipment.
PLAY FILM ROUGH DAY (3:13 Minutes)
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ASK: Do you think there is a value to setting boundaries and having consequences?
EXPLAIN each of the film’s three Take-Away lessons, and discuss the questions that follow.
Take-Away
#1
Small things
can have big
consequences.
Example: Eden pays attention to all of his soldier’s equipment, from gun magazines to water bottles.
No detail seems too small for him.
ASK
• Why does Eden care so much about these small details?
• Do you see any areas in your own life where a small thing can have big consequences?
Take-Away
#2
We become
great by taking
responsibility.
Example: Eden tries to impress on his soldiers the importance of taking proper care of their equipment.
He comes down very hard on them when they don’t.
ASK
• Do you think Eden is being too hard on his soldiers?
• Has there been a moment when you have not met your own or other’s expectations?
Example: Eden goes out of his way to give Eilon, one of his soldiers, a creative punishment that differs
from the standard one. The standard punishment in the army is to be kept on base over Shabbat, or to
be delayed from going home on time before Shabbat begins.
Take-Away
#3
Learn to fail or
fail to learn.
ASK
• Why do you think Eden punishes Eilon this way?
• How can you learn from your own failures?
• Have you ever failed and learned from the experience?
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the candid conversation
What does it mean to be loyal? What does it mean to be loyal to Israel? Is it enough to like a pro-Israel post on Facebook? Does
it mean standing up for Israel at school? Does it mean making aliyah or serving in the IDF?
Clearly, loyalty and responsibility can mean different things to different people.
Israeli soldiers are required to take an oath of loyalty to defend Israel and her people. This oath requires them to sacrifice their
lives if necessary. In this clip, the commanders have a discussion with the soldiers about loyalty to prepare them to make this
commitment.
PLAY FILM THE CANDID CONVERSATION (4:57 minutes)
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ASK: • Why is it important for the soldiers to discuss loyalty and understand their oath?
• If you were sitting with the soldiers, how do you think your answers would differ with theirs?
EXPLAIN each of the film’s three Take-Away lessons, and discuss the questions that follow.
Take-Away
#1
Clarity leads to
commitment.
Example: Commander Ofir is committed to giving his soldiers clarity on the meaning of loyalty before
they take their oath at the Western Wall. He took valuable time away from training to have this
discussion.
• How does clear direction help you stay loyal and committed?
• Think of a time when you did not have a clear direction. Did it affect your commitment?
Take-Away
#2
Loyalty expresses
itself in different
ways.
Example: The soldiers all have different opinions about what constitutes loyalty, and Commander
Ofir considers most responses valid.
• How would you define loyalty?
• Do you feel responsibility toward Israel?
• In what way does living outside of Israel shape your understanding of loyalty to Israel?
Take-Away
#3
Loyalty requires
selflessness.
Example: Commander Ofir emphasizes at the end of the discussion that the soldiers are here to serve
Israel—Israel is not here to serve them.
• What does selflessness mean to you?
• Why do you think Commander Ofir feels that selflessness is such an important part of loyalty
to Israel?
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war week
Many of us have had moments when we feel the pressure of life—those last few push-ups or that last hour of cramming for
exams—when you feel that if you learn one more thing your head is going to explode.
Eden’s soldiers are experiencing a different kind of pressure.
The following film clip depicts one of the last major exercises before the end of the soldiers’ training. “War Week” puts soldiers
in the field with almost no sleep, no food, no shelter, extensive marches and multiple live-fire exercises. It is, by far, the hardest
week of training.
PLAY FILM WAR WEEK (3:12 Minutes)
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ASK: Eden wants his soldiers to understand the bigger picture behind everything they do. What do you think he wants
his soldiers to learn from this week?
EXPLAIN each of the film’s three Take-Away lessons below, and discuss the questions that follow.
Take-Away
#1
You are capable of
more than you think
because we all
have unlimited
potential.
Take-Away
#2
Difficult
circumstances are
opportunities for
personal
growth.
Example: Oren feels like his commander Eden pushes him and his fellow soldiers more than any of
their other commanders. Eden wants each soldier to give 200%.
ASK
• How do you benefit from pushing past your assumed limits? How do you think we limit ourselves?
Example: During War Week, all the soldiers experience incredible pain and both mental and physical
exhaustion.
ASK
• How might War Week prepare the soldiers for life outside the army? What skills can the soldiers
take home?
• Was there a time in your life when you were challenged and grew from the experience?
Take-Away
#3
Mistakes are an
opportunity to
learn and grow.
Example: A senior commander stops Eden and some of the soldiers in the middle of an exercise
because they are making a mistake that could endanger them when they go to the front line.
ASK
• What’s the hardest part about being criticized?
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