Rarely does a media outlet show the human face of the IDF. But the Christian Science Monitor has done that with a report about the extensive support offered to ‘lonely soldiers’ (hayalim bodedim):
Because of the stressful nature of army service, it is recognized that some soldiers need extra support. Currently there are about 6,000 young men and women in this category. A “lonely soldier” may be an orphan, or his family may have been killed in a terror attack. She might be a new immigrant, or estranged from her family. What he or she needs most are the simple things many other Israeli soldiers take for granted: a home-cooked meal, a welcoming place to go to on weekends, and someone who understands the tremendous pressure of Israeli military life.
