Caldwells Resident Volunteers For Israeli Army

On Monday, 19-year-old West Caldwell resident Joshua Drill joined 58 other young men and women as the Israel Defense Forces’ new “lone soldiers,” or members without immediate family living in Israel.

According to a release, Drill and his compatriots will join the 850 existing lone soldiers from the U.S., and the 2,800 lone soldiers from around the world, who are currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The program and flight were facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel, JNF-USA and Tzofim-Garin Tzabar.

According to a release, Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Friends of the IDF (FIDF), is responsible for administering adjustment programs for thousands of lone soldiers serving in the IDF through the Lone Soldiers Program.

Other volunteers included Eitan Benchabbat, 19, and Avioz Hanan, 21 from Teaneck; Tal Bluevise, 18, from Livingston; Michael Bruck, 18, from Paramus; Joshua Drill, 19, from West Caldwell; Joseph Levy, 18, from Cherry Hill; Lihi Moshe, 18, and Dotan Rand, 18, from Fair Lawn; Cochava Silvera, 18, from Bergenfield; Jesse Talmud, 22, from East Brunswick; and Ariel Zuckerman, 18, from Oakhurst.

Photo courtesy of Shahar Azran

Pictured above: From left, Jonathan, Joshua and Paula Drill