Week 16 – הגנ”ם 2

Another week of הגנ”ם: sleepless nights, pointless labor, and cleaning dishes. Unsurprisingly it’s these weeks when I’m reminded most by the guys around me about my life pre-army. “Yoni, when you left high tech for the army did you think you’d be washing dishes?”, they gibe. They’re not wrong to ask. I definitely feel the “why am I doing this” question during weeks of pointlessness. I’ll remind myself that doing annoying work is part of the training of a combat soldier. To be able to accept a task no matter how disagreeable or pointless it seems and to do it even if takes hour. But, I still think about my life before; the career, friends, freedom and just remind myself that I chose the army, all of the army, and that will include the annoying stuff as well.

That isn’t to say that the week didn’t have it’s interesting and fun moments.  On Sunday, I finally had the first aid course. I learned how to put on the different types of bandages and the whole procedure if your friend is wounded and bleeding.

I left Sunday night for my Monday Yom siddurim. I met up with Jeremy and Ilan for lunch and then walked to Orayta where we caught Mincha and I walked with Rav Judah to the bus station. We spoke about my religious life and my life in the army – a really welcome catch up.

We also had a Yom Keif for the Chayalim bodedim on Wednesday. We went bowling in Beer Sheva and had the mandatory “we really appreciate all that you’re doing and wanted to show our appreciation in a small way” speech from a few high ranking people on base. It’s great.

Back on base, in the evening, I was randomly selected to go to a meeting with representatives from all the other plugot. We met with a sgan aluf from army logistics. He asked about our experiences on base from a logistical perspective and we were invited to complain/comment on things that weren’t run well and areas the base could improve.

We were told that this Shabbat our Pluga was called up to do shmirot in Chevron. So at the end of week, we went to the shooting ranges to make sure our scopes were zeroed and did a full מסדר ציוד to make sure we had everything and to pack for Chevron.

Earlier in the week, though, I put in a special request to be let out for Shabbat. My family in Modiin has had the custom to do a Shabbat thanksgiving since they made aliyah. My aunt and uncle from New York were in Israel so every family member in Israel was planning on being there. My request was approved, so my shabbat plans were modiin instead of Chevron.

Over Shabbat, I spoke with my uncle, a doctor in Maccabi and the army, about the pain I’d been having in my left shoulder and arm and he analyzed me. My aunt’s a physical therapist, so she was also able to work on it and give me stretches.

Saturday night we all went bowling and wanted to do a family movie night. I say wanted to because after about 30 minutes of the movie, everyone except my aunt and uncle left the room from boredom. Next time I won’t choose Sidney Lumets Network, a masterpiece. Whatever; guess the kids can’t appreciate one of the great scripts 🙂