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Working Together Among the Differences
By Anat Mendelsohn

I was born in Israel almost 21 years ago as the first generation in Israel in my family, since both of my parents made "Aliyah." I was raised on a kibbutz, though one that is a bit different than all the other kibbutzim because it's located right in Jerusalem. It's a kibbutz that is still traditional in its way of life but has been changing in recent years.

After I finished school I decided I wanted to postpone my army service and join a program called "Mechina." I was in the North in the beautiful Golan Heights for a whole year. This program taught me all about social change, leadership, Judaism, and strengthening my connection with Israel and my desire to work toward improving Israeli society. During the year's program, I learned to love this country—not only its beautiful scenery, which I saw on all the trips we took—but also to understand that it is a country with a lot of complexities, most of which appear to be unsolvable. But it feels right to be part of something big, something that isn't yet complete. And it was good to have a whole year before the army to think about these things. I don't think that kids in Switzerland have the chance to think about their country that deeply before they (don't) go into the army.

After the program, I joined the army, and now, two years later, I'm about to be discharged. Now, more than ever, I feel that there's no other place I'd rather have been born and raised. I do call myself "Zionist," although today that term is controversial, and I am aware that most people my age lack a lot of knowledge, nationalist spirit, and leadership. I think what I learned during my years in Israel is that it's amazing to be in a place where there's so much history—to be in the place where David fought Goliath, to climb up Masada and learn what happened there, to sit on the grass on a sunny afternoon and read Rachel's poetry. Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, you feel this is your country. You feel a part of that history.

As a soldier, I feel more honored than I ever did before. Wearing a uniform, you feel great warmth from people around you. I had the privilege in my army service to strengthen the sense of Zionism and Judaism among new immigrant soldiers. Working with these soldiers has taught me that there are a lot of things wrong and a lot to be done. I don't know if I'll be working in education in the future, but I do feel that living in Israel and being a good citizen—working in organizations and changing, or trying to change, your circles of friends and their ideas about Israel—is my goal.

The media always emphasizes how divided Israeli society is, but I've met a lot of different people in the army. Some of them live in the settlements. You see that religious people can work with secular people, and that immigrants and native Israelis understand each other and feel the same about living in Israel. We argue, but we sit down and talk about things, and that gives me the incentive to keep working to make this a better place.
I feel that this is my home. I can't imagine living in any other place.