BBQ for IDF soldiers: Kicking Off Elul Zman with Chessed and Connection

August 28, 2025

Our first night event of the year set the tone for an incredible Elul zman! Under the leadership of Rav Ari Deutscher, Head of Evening Programming, our talmidim traveled to an army base in Ariel to host a BBQ for IDF soldiers. It was an evening designed to express our hakaras hatov, heartfelt appreciation, for the chayalim who dedicate their lives to protecting Am Yisrael and keeping our country safe.

The boys jumped right in, organizing, cooking, and serving with enthusiasm and teamwork. Together they prepared food for about 100 soldiers, 50 who joined the event in person and another 50 who were out on missions and returned later to find a warm, home-cooked meal waiting for them. We weren't allowed to take photos with the chayalim but you can imagine their energy, excitement and gratitude was palpable as they returned back from duty to a warm meal and smiling faces. It helped our talmidim truly understand how valuable each expression of hakaras hatov means to our heroes.

The night was filled with music, dancing, and simcha as another group came to make this meaningful moment a part of their bar mitzvah celebration. It was deeply moving to see our talmidim and other Jews they had never met before coming together, uniting in joy, gratitude, and shared purpose - to experience firsthand what it means to honor those who serve and to express appreciation not only with words, but with action.