What?
Beneath the Helmet is a film that follows the lives of five Israeli soldiers as they go through their military
service and learn about themselves, their leadership and their country. This is a great program tool to
put a face to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and create a sense of personal connection to Israel. You
can use the full film or short clips from their Basic Training for your next chapter program!
Who?
 Any Aleph or B’nai B’rith Girl in the BBYO International Order interested in
o Learning about Israeli culture;
o Supporting and protecting the Jewish Homeland;
o Leadership;
o Brotherhood or Sisterhood;
o Strengthening local Speak UP for Israel programming; and
o All things Israel!
How?
All BBYO teens have access to this great resource.
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Visit bbyo.org/azabbg/beneathhelmet to view and download the materials.
You can also visit www.beneathhelmet.com/bbyo-screening to view the film.
When?
December 2014 – December 2015
Prayer for Israel’s Defense Forces
‫ מי שברך‬Mi Sheberach May He who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless the
members of Israel’s Defense Forces and its security services who stand guard over our land and the
cities of our G-d from the Lebanese border to the Egyptian desert, from the Mediterranean sea to the
approach of the Aravah, and wherever else they are, on land, in air and at sea. May the Lord make
the enemies who rise against us be struck down before them. May the Holy One, blessed be He,
protect and deliver them from all trouble and distress, affliction and illness, and send blessings and
success to all the work of their hands. May He subdue our enemies under them and crown them with
deliverance and victory. And may there be fulfilled in them the verse, “It is the Lord your G-d who goes
with you to fight for you against your enemies, to deliver you.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)
And let us say: Amen
From the Koren Siddur
Want to learn more ways to Speak UP for Israel? Visit bbyo.org/speakup or be in touch
with Joey Eisman at [email protected] or 202-857-6632 today.
Identify: Who am I?
I am a Jewish teen interested in connecting with my Homeland. On a normal basis, I think about about school,
friends, family and BBYO; but I know that my brothers and sisters in Israel are experiencing a different journey.
On a normal basis, they think about what unit they will be joining in the IDF after high school.
Entering the IDF
In Israel, conscription (or the draft) exists for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18, although non-Druze Arab
Israeli citizens and others can be exempt. These teens begin basic training, are provided the tools to protect
Israel and create a connection to their fellow soldiers and their homeland. There are many units and many jobs
within the IDF, and each soldier serves a necessary role towards the safety and protection of all Israeli citizens.
Beneath The Hemet the Film
Okay…finally time to watch the movie online! Click here, enter the requested information and begin streaming!
You should have some options as to what you can watch. Scroll down and check it out. Oh…and want to make
this more meaningful? Well, we made it easy. You can find discussion questions here and a moderator’s guide
here. Consider adding some flair to your next program by inviting parents, friends (and potential new members)
and Israeli citizens by issuing tickets to your screening or putting up a movie poster – you can find those here
and here. You can also speak to your regional staff member to host a community screening!
Connect: Who are we?
We are like all other teens from all around the world--Israel to America--trying to understand our identity and
ourselves. We are still trying developing ourselves and looking for those answers.
Hard Times and Meaningful Discussions
During Basic Training, soldiers are pushed to new physical and mental limits. They are challenged to create
fraternity and build bonds with fellow soldiers. They learn about their leadership and their role in Israel. Towards
the end of Basic Training, soldiers take the following oath after discussing why they serve and what loyalty is.
"I swear and commit to maintain allegiance to the State of Israel, its laws, and its authorities, to
accept upon myself unconditionally the discipline of the Israel Defense Forces, to obey all the orders
and instructions given by authorized commanders, and to devote all my energies, and even sacrifice
my life, for the protection of the homeland and the liberty of Israel."
The oath was composed in 1948, upon the formation of the IDF.
COMING SOON – Basic Training Clips
Don’t have enough time to watch the full movie, check out these great five-minute clips. Click here to view short
clips and here for discussion guides as we see our five soldiers grapple with failure, leadership, fraternity and
responsibility. The same topics we often discuss in the International Order.
Improve: For whom are we responsible?
We are Jewish teens who have developed a commitment to our Homeland and have an understanding of the
lives of our peers serving in the IDF. It is our responsibility to teach others about Israel and the IDF. We want
others to know that the IDF is a moral army, which operates and is built upon a code of ethics and values – the
Spirit of the IDF:
The Israel Defense Forces are the state of Israel’s military force. The IDF is subordinate to the
directions of the democratic civilian authorities and the laws of the state. The goal of the IDF is to
protect the existence of the State of Israel and her independence, and to thwart all enemy efforts to
disrupt the normal way of life in Israel. IDF soldiers are obligated to fight, to dedicate all their strength
and even sacrifice their lives in order to protect the State of Israel, her citizens and residents. IDF
soldiers will operate according to the IDF values and orders, while adhering to the laws of the state
and norms of human dignity, and honoring the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and
democratic state.
Ways to Get Involved
BBYO and the worldwide Jewish community are focused on supporting and standing with our Homeland. BBYO
has teamed up with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), The Centre for Israel and Jewish
Affairs (CIJA), the Canadian Jewish Political Afficars Committee (CJPAC) and StandWithUS to bring you
Teens4Israel where you will learn about Israel and gain practical advocacy training so that you can speak and
stand up for her. Consider making this your next chapter program!
Learn more at bbyo.org/azabbg/teens4israel.
Visit the resource library on the AZA BBG website by clicking here and discover new Speak UP for Israel
programs you can use to strengthen your chapters connection to our Homeland!
To learn more about Beneath The Helmet or Jerusalem U please visit
www.beneathhelmet.com or www.jerusalemu.org respectively.