22:
53:(IDF) who does not have support in Israel, either because they do not have immediate family in Israel or they are estranged from their family in Israel. Lone soldiers serve in regular IDF units, including combat units, and receive special entitlements from the IDF, Israeli government ministries, and charity organizations, such as increased salaries, housing assistance, and additional leave. As of June 2022, there were approximately 7,000 lone soldiers from over 60 countries.
675:
683:
103:
religious backgrounds, shunned by their families for joining the army. Irregular lone soldier status can also be given if both of an IDF soldier's parents are working abroad for the
Israeli government. If a soldier marries while serving in the IDF, he or she loses lone soldier status. A lone
388:
A lone soldier is entitled to at least twenty four hours every two months to run personal errands, and these cannot be on a Friday, Saturday or
Israeli national holiday. A soldier is entitled to one errand day every month while they are in training.
77:, orphaned natives). According to an IDF spokeswoman, 8,217 personnel born outside Israel enlisted between 2009 and August 2012. The most represented countries of origin were Russia and the United States, with 1,685 and 1,661 recruits respectively.
319:
A lone soldier can rent his or her own apartment, and receive up to NIS 1,700 towards the rent monthly from the IDF. The original rental contract must be examined by the IDF before financial assistance can start.
84:. As of 2014, there are about 2,800 lone soldiers in the IDF, one-third of whom from the United States and Canada. As of June 2022 that number had risen to 7,000 soldiers from over 60 countries.
400:
For when a lone soldier's mother or father visits Israel; Fridays and
Saturdays are not included; A lone soldier may only take four days if their family visits Israel while they are in training
861:
93:
reported that about 46% of the approximately 5,000 lone soldiers in the military at that time had family in Israel but were estranged from them. An IDF adviser to lone soldiers told
87:
Where a soldier's parents live in Israel, but he or she is not in contact with them, it is possible for him or her to be designated an "irregular lone soldier". In early 2011,
998:
411:
Overseas leave dates are chosen by a lone soldier's commander. Once during a combat soldier's service, the IDF will pay for him or her to visit family abroad.
331:
These are free of charge and located throughout Israel. It is possible for a lone soldier to live in one from up to three months before he or she enlists.
357:
A lone soldier can request through the IDF a fully furnished, free-of-charge apartment belonging to the AWIS. Soldiers do not choose their own roommates.
469:
942:
143:. Levin had told of an idea for a center for lone soldiers which would provide them with meals, support, and advice. With the support of Tziki Aud, a
211:
According to the Lone
Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin, a lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces has the following rights while serving:
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276:
187:
762:
734:
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253:
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21:
190:. They are also given help with housing and the right to extra time off, including 30 days per year to visit family overseas.
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170:) and Sean Carmeli from the United States and Jordan Bensemhoun from France. All three were killed in the
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26:
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711:
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Lone soldiers receive a higher basic salary from the IDF, as well as financial assistance from the
148:
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Where a lone soldier has financial difficulties, he or she may be granted time off to earn money.
623:
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135:. Levin's death received a great deal of attention; over 2,000 people attended his funeral on
124:
61:
Lone soldiers are generally either non-Israelis of Jewish background volunteering under the
766:
765:. Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin. Archived from
38:
937:
573:
967:
167:
100:
62:
618:
987:
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only; starts a year after arrival in Israel, and must thereafter be renewed annually
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soldier's benefits are also at risk if his or her parents themselves move to Israel.
70:
500:
163:
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66:
606:. Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin. 2012.
651:
136:
95:
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employee who had known Levin, a group of former lone soldiers established the
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ran Keshet, which flew the parents of lone soldiers to Israel for one week.
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791:. Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin
788:
962:
739:
343:
862:"State-of-the-art building for lone soldiers breaks ground in Israel"
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29:(IDF). The IDF's ranks include "lone soldiers" from across the world.
20:
922:
917:
676:"Lone soldiers' benefits said to keep parents from making aliya"
972:
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The IDF gives leave to any lone soldier who wishes to attend a
927:
208:, Israel, to provide housing for more than 200 lone soldiers.
496:
80:
In 2005, 80 percent of the 2,500 lone soldiers were from the
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30 days per year, starting from the eighth month of service
978:
Lone
Soldier Preparation Program at Mechinat Keshet Yehuda
351:
Association for the
Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers (AWIS)
246:
Supermarket money cannot be used to buy alcohol or tobacco
923:
Chayal el Chayal -- The Lone
Soldiers Home Away from Home
119:, United States, moved to Israel in 2002, and joined the
952:
977:
707:"U.S. Family Lays 'Lone Soldier' Son to Rest in Israel"
574:"Meet Israel's organizations helping IDF lone soldiers"
523:"Russian American Jews pledge to help Israeli soldiers"
437:
dinner. Dinners are organized by organizations such as
948:Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers
647:"'Lone Soldiers' in IDF Now Include Hareidi Youth"
973:The Benji Hillman Foundation - HaBayit shel Benji
735:"A young Zionist, a lone soldier, a fallen hero"
463:
461:
248:Supermarket money not spent each month is lost
918:Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin
8:
601:Rights for Lone Soldiers Serving in the IDF
470:"Enlisting From Afar for the Love of Israel"
99:in 2012 that most of these were youths from
928:Tzofim Garin Tzabar - Lone Soldiers Program
889:"Lone soldiers mark Thanksgiving in Israel"
16:Soldier without immediate family in Israel
595:
593:
591:
589:
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548:"IDF adds 'errand day' for lone soldiers"
367:
298:
243:150 per month for supermarket purchases
218:
811:"Lone Soldier Benefits | IDF Info"
457:
342:The IDF can help a lone soldier join a
645:Ben Gedalyahu, Tsvi (2 January 2012).
619:"IDF sets up lone soldiers department"
73:, although other possibilities exist (
999:Lone soldiers in the Israeli military
123:of the Israel Defense Forces. He was
7:
968:"Lone soldiers - anything but alone"
953:Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
674:Gorshkov, Boris N. (20 April 2007).
497:"Garin Tzabar Lone Soldiers Program"
277:Ministry of Housing and Construction
188:Ministry of Housing and Construction
151:in memory of Michael Levin in 2009.
578:The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
158:, three lone soldiers were killed:
69:programmes or immigrants under the
42:
933:The FIDF/NBN Lone Soldiers Program
14:
271:) only; must be renewed annually
943:Lone soldiers at the IDF website
733:Berman, Daphna (20 April 2007).
617:Katz, Yaakov (23 January 2011).
468:Rudoren, Jodi (14 August 2012).
254:Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
184:Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
445:, and the Lone Soldier Center.
204:Lone Soldier Home will open in
166:in the Gideon Battalion of the
705:Moore, Molly (4 August 2006).
1:
267:(Jewish immigrants under the
938:The Jewish Agency for Israel
836:"Lone soldiers' less lonely"
416:Leave for financial reasons
887:Oster, Marcy (2011-11-24).
682:. p. 6. Archived from
1030:
521:Kraft, Dina (2005-12-16).
893:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
840:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
552:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
527:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
443:American Jewish Committee
385:One day every two months
312:
156:2014 Israel-Gaza conflict
195:Jewish Agency for Israel
131:on 1 August 2006 in the
193:Beginning in 2001, the
133:Battle of Ayta ash-Shab
397:Eight days every year
339:Kibbutz accommodation
313:Israel Defense Forces
238:Increased basic salary
30:
994:Israel Defense Forces
866:Cleveland Jewish News
430:Special dispensation
419:Special dispensation
234:Israel Defense Forces
162:(from Los Angeles; a
115:, born and raised in
108:Notable lone soldiers
51:Israel Defense Forces
49:) is a member of the
27:Israel Defense Forces
24:
963:Mahal IDF Volunteers
769:on 19 September 2012
763:"Michael Levin, z"l"
427:Thanksgiving dinner
215:Financial assistance
172:Battle of Shuja'iyya
121:Paratroopers Brigade
712:The Washington Post
686:on February 1, 2013
328:; Soldiers' hostel
149:Lone Soldier Center
82:former Soviet Union
67:Tzofim Garin Tzabar
1004:Military of Israel
680:The Jerusalem Post
624:The Jerusalem Post
475:The New York Times
281:NIS 402 per month
258:NIS 540 per month
129:Second Lebanon War
90:The Jerusalem Post
31:
449:
448:
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295:Help with housing
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25:A soldier of the
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1014:Family economics
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958:HESEG Foundation
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125:killed in action
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439:Nefesh B'Nefesh
405:Overseas leave
394:Parental visit
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354:AWIS apartment
305:Housing option
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17:
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43:חַיָּל בּוֹדֵד
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269:Law of Return
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200:In 2024, the
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160:Max Steinberg
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145:Jewish Agency
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113:Michael Levin
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71:Law of Return
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898:15 September
896:. Retrieved
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872:15 September
870:. Retrieved
868:. 2023-09-08
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846:15 September
844:. Retrieved
842:. 2007-02-25
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819:. Retrieved
815:the original
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795:16 September
793:. Retrieved
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773:16 September
771:. Retrieved
767:the original
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747:16 September
745:. Retrieved
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728:
718:16 September
716:. Retrieved
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690:15 September
688:. Retrieved
684:the original
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669:
659:15 September
657:. Retrieved
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630:16 September
628:. Retrieved
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558:15 September
556:. Retrieved
554:. 2014-05-15
551:
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532:15 September
530:. Retrieved
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504:. Retrieved
501:Garin Tzabar
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481:15 September
479:. Retrieved
473:
435:Thanksgiving
382:Errand days
326:Beit HaHayal
325:
285:
262:
210:
202:Saban Family
199:
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164:sharpshooter
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117:Pennsylvania
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35:lone soldier
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32:
18:
652:Arutz Sheva
154:During the
137:Mount Herzl
127:during the
96:Arutz Sheva
47:Ḥayal Boded
988:Categories
821:2013-06-29
789:"About Us"
743:. Tel Aviv
603:(pamphlet)
452:References
374:How often
57:Background
655:. Beit El
506:19 August
141:Jerusalem
336:Kibbutz
186:and the
178:Benefits
740:Haaretz
344:kibbutz
441:, the
377:Notes
308:Notes
228:Notes
101:Haredi
39:Hebrew
364:Leave
63:Mahal
900:2023
874:2023
848:2023
797:2012
775:2012
749:2012
720:2012
692:2012
661:2012
632:2012
560:2023
534:2023
508:2015
483:2012
284:For
261:For
75:e.g.
241:NIS
139:in
65:or
990::
891:.
864:.
838:.
737:.
709:.
678:.
649:.
621:.
586:^
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460:^
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33:A
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37:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
