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January 15, 2010
Big life-changing leap
Winnipegger Daniel Schachter is an IDF paratrooper.
RHONDA SPIVAK
Nineteen-year-old Daniel Schachter, a former Winnipegger, took a big leap just over a year ago when he made aliyah to Israel. He took a second big leap when he decided to become a paratrooper in the Israel Defence Forces.
Schachter, whose father spends half his year in Vancouver and the other half in Winnipeg, is a “lone soldier” in the IDF, meaning he’s there without any family. His mother, brother and sister live in Winnipeg.
Schachter decided to become a paratrooper after speaking to a number of other soldiers in Israel.
“During my first three months in the army, I was [on] a special base called Michve Alon. Soldiers go there to learn about Zionism and new immigrants, who don’t know how to speak Hebrew well, also go there. There, I had a chance to talk with soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade, or commanders from the Paratrooper (Tzanhanim) Infantry Brigade. Lots of the soldiers I was with at Michve Alon wanted to be paratroopers and there was a certain hype about it. I guess I just got swept up in the hype of everyone going to try out to be a paratrooper.”
Schachter admitted that it is prestigious to be a paratrooper in the IDF.
“In Israel, lots of people see the paratrooper brigade as the ‘poster boys’ of the army because of their special uniform, their battle history – most famously, the reunification of Jerusalem in the Six Day War – and because you need to pass physical and mental testing to get accepted to the unit. Israeli paratroopers are instantly recognizable with their red boots and paratroopers tunic [yerkit], which is different than the rest of the IDF infantry,” he said.
Schachter told the Independent that it’s an intensive process to become a paratrooper. “I had to pass a one day gibbush [physical and mental test] to be accepted. Only a small handful of guys who try out for the paratroopers get selected to join the unit. From my battalion, only two of the 40 guys who tried out were accepted. At the gibbush, we did lots of crawling, sprinting in a circle and holding sandbags over our heads. It was a great experience, although probably one the toughest physical things I’ve ever done.”
As with other infantry brigades, Schachter underwent tironut (basic training).
“After that there is advanced training, which is specific to your job with-in the unit. For example, snipers have different advanced training than someone who operates the MAG [heavy machine gun]. What separates the paratroopers from others is that, at the end of advanced training, we do a two-week jump course – training to jump out of planes. After completing a few actual jumps, you get awarded your ‘wings’ ... a prestigious pin for your uniform.”
Of the morale in the paratrooper unit, Schachter said,” I believe that the morale in the paratrooper unit is one of the highest in the IDF. Because it is a ‘volunteer’ unit, almost everyone there wants to be there and has their reason for joining. After being at the base, I’ve already made some good friends, who really respect my decision to come to Israel.”
As well, Schachter was one of four soldiers from his platoon to be sent to a medic course, which is held at a separate base for three months.
When asked why he made aliyah, Schachter said, “In [public] high school, every time we came across any subject that somehow related to Israel or Judaism it fell to me to explain it, especially in English class, where there were plenty of references to the Bible. Since I was the most knowledgeable about Israel, I was constantly asked questions about Israel or the Arab-Israeli conflict and I think that made me realize that, even though I could read books about Israel, I was representing something that I [had] never experienced. I felt ... I could spit out certain facts, but I didn’t actually have any connection to Israel.”
Schachter is now living with the Aziza family on Moshav Even Yehuda, near Netanya. Schachter connected with the family, who also are former Winnipeggers, through the Internet.
“I wrote ... asking if anyone was interesting in adopting a lone soldier ... after a couple of days, I got a message from Tali Aziza, saying that she had talked with her family and they were more than willing to have me stay with them.... I am really happy, because they treat me so well.”
Rhonda Spivak is a Winnipeg freelance writer.
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