Though born in Israel, Oren Giladi spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Switzerland. And even though immersed in that culture — “I gained politeness and the love of chocolate” — he still felt alienated.
“All my friends said I was completely different from the others,” Giladi said in Mequon on Nov. 10, “because I am a Jew.”
He therefore decided to return to Israel, where he felt he would “never be different from the others.” And he joined the Israeli army, becoming a member of a paratroop unit.
In fact, he became one of five young Israeli soldiers featured in a new documentary film, “Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front,” produced by Jerusalem U, a Jewish education and identity-building project.
The film is slated for official release on Dec. 17. But about 140 Milwaukeeans previewed it on Nov. 10 at the Marcus North Shore Cinema in Mequon.
They saw a portrait of five young Israelis involved in military training that took place about two years ago. Three of them then were new soldiers, two of them were trainers.
The camera followed them from the start of the program, through hikes, first rifle range experience, first parachute drop and battle drills.
It also showed the personal lives of the featured soldiers. How one had to struggle with dyslexia and seemed to be on the verge of delinquency, but ended up becoming a commander.
How another planned on evading army service, but instead became an instructor helping soldiers integrate into the Israel Defense Forces. How one from Ethiopia almost had to leave the army because of the debts hanging over his family.
And it showed Giladi visiting his family and friends in Switzerland on leave, and apparently having a good time, but still wanting to return to Israel.
Giladi emphasized that “in the [Israeli] army, you will never feel racism. In my unit, there were people from all over the world” — not just Ethiopia, but the United States, Yemen and “even Mongolia.” And not all of them are Jews; Giladi said some were Druze and Christians.
And this film, Giladi said, “is very important” because it “shows the human face of the Israeli army.”
In fact, filmmaking of this type constitutes one of the primary endeavors of Jerusalem U, according to David Coleman, co-producer of the film and Jerusalem U’s director of distribution.
Coleman also spoke at the screening. “What we do at Jerusalem U is produce films that entertain, and produce educational programs through films, that help to educate people and connect them to their Jewish roots and connect them emotionally to Israel,” Coleman said.
“Our goal is to make people proud of being Jewish, because unfortunately today, not everyone who is Jewish is proud to be Jewish,” Coleman said. He expressed particular concern about Jewish college students. “Many of these students are uncomfortable, embarrassed and certainly not proud of Israel or being Jewish.”
“We hope that this film can give pride to young college students and young high school students,” he said.
Cathy and Arnie Peltz were the primary sponsors and organizers of the event. Arnie Peltz spoke about how during a visit to Israel “a few years ago,” he encountered Jerusalem U and met Coleman and Rabbi Raphael Shore, who founded the organization in 2009.
The screening was also sponsored by Cheryl and Mark Brickman, Karen and Bill Elliot, and Marilyn and Harry Pelz; and the host committee comprised Karen and Marty Forman, Deb and Moshe Katz, and Randy Mays.
More information about other Jerusalem U projects and films can be found at the website JerusalemU.org.
Loading ...